5

F.—2

No. 19. Mr. Browning, Superintendent Cable Company, Wakapuaka, to Dr. Lemon, Wellington. (Telegram.) Wakapuaka, 18th January, 1886. Kindly deliver following. A copy has been delivered to Sydney Postmaster-General: " Chairman, Eastern Extension Company, to Sir Julius Vogel.—With every desire to give cheap rates, company will have no alternative but to put up existing tariff unless subsidy renewed for another full term with Press guarantee and ten words minimum, or for five years without proposed reductions. After nearly ten years' working, receipts with subsidy give only five and three-quarters per cent, on capital invested, or, calculating amortization for renewing cable, less than two per cent. Fortunately, cable has not been interrupted, otherwise return would be much smaller; but we cannot expect immunity to continue, and must therefore be prepared to meet increased expenditure." Dr. Lemon, Wellington. W. W. Browning.

No. 20. The Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Agent-General, London. (Telegram.) Waiwera, 18th January, 1886. Inquire of principal makers cash cost making according to their own specification, and laying, cable between New Zealand and Australia along present route. The Agent-General, London. Julius Vogel.

No. 21. The Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. (Telegram.) Waiwera, 18th January, 1886. Cable Company insists on ten years, and refuses to make minimum less than ten words. Have refused to entertain, and have cabled Agent-General to ascertain what new cable can be obtained for. Probably cost much less have new cable. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Sydney. Julius Vogel.

No. 22. ■ The Hon. Sir J. Eobertson to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel, Waiwera. (Telegram.) Sydney, 20th January, 1886. Our Cabinet have agreed with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company in reference to cable charges on the terms submitted to you, with a ten years' currency, subject to the ratification of Parliament by this Government. So far as it is concerned the matter now remains with you either to approve or decline. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, Waiwera. J. Eobertson.

No. 23. The Hon. Sir J. Vogel to the Hon. Sir J. Kobertson, Sydney. (Telegram.) Waiwera, 20th January, 1886. Cable. In reply to your telegram 20th, our House limited extension subsidy to five years, and that on condition of sixpence a word for ordinary messages, threepence Press without minimum ; and we cannot exceed authority. I explained this to your Postmaster-General. The Hon. Sir J. Eobertson, Sydney. Julius Vogel.

No. 24. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W, 22nd January, 1886. I duly received your telegram of the 18th, directing me to inquire from the principal makers here the cost of making and laying a new cable between New Zealand and Australia. I communicated at once with Mr. Preece as to the firms to whom I should apply, and he told me there were only three of whom it would be worth while to inquire prices—namely, Messrs. Siemens Brothers; the Indiarubber, Guttapercha, and Telegraph Works Company ; and the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company. I have accordingly written to those firms, and hope shortly to be able to send you a telegram of what they would be prepared to do. I have, &c. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

No. 25. Dr. Lemon to the Agent-General, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 25th January, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th November last, covering a copy of a letter from the Agents-General to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, which has been read with interest. I have, &c. Sir F. Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G, G. Lemon, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. (For the Postmaster-General.)