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of Great Britain, Canada, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland in raising the required capital; (3) that a Board of Commissioners, selected by the contributing Governments, on which New Zealand shall have one representative, shall be empowered to raise the required capital for the construction, laying, and maintenance of the cable ; (4) that the provisional Board, on which New Zealand shall have one representative, be empowered to invite tenders, arrange scheme of management and other preliminaries, with a view to preparing for legislation ; (5) that the rates shall be unanimously agreed to at the outset, subsequent changes to be authorised by fixed majority of the Board of Commissioners; (6) thai the cable shall be jointly owned and maintained by the contributing Governments ; (7) that New Zealand shall join such of the Australian Colonies as are prepared to do likewise, upon the basis of a guarantee of four-ninths of the cost of construction and annual deficiency (if any) by such colonies, New Zealand's proportion of the guarantee not to exceed in any case one-ninth of the whole cost.

No. 105. The Hon. the Peemiee, Sydney, to the Hon. the Peemiee, Wellington. Sic, — Premier's Office, Sydney, New South Wales, 9th October, 1899. With reference to your letter of the 21st ultimo [not printed: confirms No. 89], I have the honour to acquaint you that this Government assented to the proposition made by the Hon. the Premier of Victoria, that New Zealand should be allowed one representative on the Pacific Cable Board, and that the two other representatives should be balloted for by Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales. Sir George Turner conducted the ballot, by mutual agreement, the result being that Sir Andrew Clarke, Agent-General for Victoria, and Sir Julian Emanuel Salomons, Agent-General for New South Wales, were selected as the representatives of Victoria, Queensland, and this colony. Upon receipt of the result of the ballot, I requested His Excellency the Governor to advise the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies by cable, and also cabled our Agent-General accordingly. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. William John Lyne.

No. 106. The Hon. the Pbemieb, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Peemiee, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 12th October, 1899. Pacific cable : Does it not seem premature to introduce Bill until after the Board has considered the matter fully ? The amount mentioned by you seems scarcely sufficient. At all events, it might be exceeded by a few thousand pounds, which would be awkward.

No. 107. The Hon. the Peemieb, Sydney, to the Hon. the Peemieb, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 12th October, 1899. Youe telegram of sth, Pacific cable : The late Government considered that nothing need be done in the matter of obtaining legislation or putting matter before Parliament until Board appointed to prepare estimates, invite tenders, suggest tariff, &c, with a view of preparing for legislation, had furnished its report. Imperial Government were distinctly informed that, so far as this colony was concerned, any proposals must be subject to approval of our Parliament. We concur in our pre-' decessors' view of the matter.

No. 108. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 21st October, 1899. Glad to hear Parliament passed Pacific Cable Act. Strong Press pressure here and Sydney. Have you wired. Crick?

No. 109. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Wellington, to the Manages, Indiarubber, Guttapercha, and Telegraph Works Company, Sydney. Sic,— General Post Office, Wellington," 23rd October, 1899. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the sth instant, forwarding a chart of the Pacific Ocean showing soundings along the route of the proposed cable. I have, &c, W. C. Walkee (for the Postmaster-General). The Manager, the Indiarubber, Guttapercha, and Telegraph Works Company (Limited), 279, George Street, Sydney.