P.—Gc

1875. NEW ZEALAND.

FURTHER PAPERS RELATING TO THE NEW ZEALAND ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH CABLE.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. E. Fox to the Hon. Dr. Pollen. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 9th July, 1875. I have the honor to forward to you, by direction of Sir Julius Vogel, the accompanying synopsis of the Telegraph Cable Contract, which has this afternoon been received from Mr. Mackrell. I have, &c, The Hon. Dr. Pollen. E. Fox.

Enclosure in No. 1. Messrs John Mackbell and Co. to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel, K.C.M.G., and Sir D. Coopeb, Bart. Deab Sib, — 21, Cannon Street, E.C., London, 6th July, 1875. In compliance with your instructions, we now report to you the arrangement which, after so much trouble, you have succeeded in concluding with the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited). To enable the result of your negotiations to be duly appreciated, it should be borne in mind what was the extent of the obligation which the colonies were willing to come under in order to secure improved telegraphic communication with England, and cable communication between New Zealand and New South Wales. For these purposes, according to the agreement entered into on behalf of the Governments of your colonies and the Government of Queensland, the three colonies were willing to take upon themselves the responsibility of a guarantee which might have extended to £62,000 a year, one-third of which was virtually to be considered as payable in respect of a cable to be laid between New Zealand and New South Wales, whilst the expected limit of cost of a message between those colonies was to be not exceeding 15s. for twenty words, and 9d. per additional word. By the arrangement which you have concluded, as will be presently seen, not merely has all that is now apparently really necessary for the accommodation of your colonies been secured on much more favourable terms, in a financial point of view, but messages of not exceeding ten words will be transmissible between your colonies at half the cost contemplated, with the prospect of a future reduction in the tariff; besides which the opportunity is given to make arrangements on very favourable terms for a reduced tariff for messages between the colonies on the one hand, and London, Java, Singapore, India, Penang, and Hong Kong on the other. The agreement you have now concluded bears date the 24th June, 1875, and purports to be made between His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby as Governor of New Zealand, and His Excellency Sir Hercules Eobinson as Governor of New South Wales, with the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited). The Governors are to permit the Company to lay a submarine cable between the coast of Blind Bay or Golden Bay, in New Zealand, and the Telegraph Station at Sydney. The Company are, within a specified time, or such further time as may be allowed by the Governors, to enter into a bond fide contract with some responsible person or company for the construction of a cable according to a design to be approved on behalf of the Governors. The cable is to be laid and opened for use, and all the necessary stations, operators, apparatus, instruments, appliances, &c, are to be erected or provided by the 30th April, 1876 ; but the Governors are to grant an extension of time, as they may think reasonable, if the laying of the cable be delayed by causes over which the Company have no control. I—F. 6c.