9

F.—B

ultimo amounted to £18,803, or £1,197 less than the amount (£20,000) guaranteed under the agreement of April, 1895. I should, therefore, be glad to receive a cheque for £1,197 at your early convenience. Should you desire to have the above figures confirmed by your Government, and would like to send a telegram to New Zealand on the subject, I shall be happy to transmit the message, free of charge, if you will forward it to me. The above will be the final payment under the tariff guarantee agreement of April, 1895, which, as you are aware, terminated on the 30th ultimo. With regard to future tariff arrangements, the company decided from the Ist instant to abolish the ten-word tariff over the New Zealand cables and try the experiment for one year of applying the international rate of 3d. per word to the intercolonial traffic, making the charge for Government intercolonial telegrams the same as for ordinary messages. The Postmaster-General of New Zealand was duly apprised of the company's decision by our representative in Australia, and has expressed his satisfaction with the arrangement. I have, &c, The Hon. W. P. Beeves. F. E. Hesse, Manager.

Enclosure 2 in No. 46. The Secbetaey to the Agent-Geneeal, London, to the Manages and Secbetaey, Eastern «. Telegraph Company, London. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 15th May, 1900. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant (copy of which will be sent to the colony), giving the result of the figures telegraphed Home as regards the message-receipts over the New Zealand cables for the year ended 30th April last. In reply lam to inform you that the Agent-General is at present without instructions in the matter from his Government. He assumes, however, that he will receive authority to pay in due course. I have, &c, Waltee Kennaway. F. E. Hesse, Esq., Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, London.

No. 47. The Hon. the Pbemieb, Wellington, to the Agent-Genebal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 25th May, 1900. Telegbaph early as possible estimated cost manufacture and laying telegraph-cable between La Perouse and Wakapuaka.

No. 48. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Pbemieb. (Telegram.) London, 31st May, 1900. In reply to your telegram 25th, new cable : Present price of telegraph material £220,000, delivered and laid under guarantee. It will be better, larger type than present New Zealand and Australian cable; 1,380 knots.

No. 49. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Pbemieb. (Telegram.) London, Ist June, 1900. With reference to telegram yesterday, working new cable will be 374 [letters] per minute with duplex, 206 [letters] simplex machines.

No. 50. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Pbemieb. Sib, — Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Ist June, 1900. In accordance with the instructions contained in your cablegram of the 25th instant, I requested Sir W. H. Preece to furnish an estimate of the cost of manufacturing a telegraph-cable and laying it between La Perouse and Wakapuaka, and herewith I transmit copy of correspondence relating to the matter, by which it will be seen that he estimates the cost, at the present enhanced price of material, to be £220,000, the proposed cable to be of a larger and better type than the existing cables. I attach copies of the cablegrams that have passed. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Reeves.

Enclosure 1 in No. 50. [See No. 47.] 2—E. 8.