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view of the urgency of the various matters requiring consideration by the Board, it has not been found possible to defer its appointment until the receipt of the reply of the Victorian Government to that telegram. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. M. F. Ommanney.

No. 24. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Peemieb. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— Ist March, 1901. Eeferring to my letter of the 28th January last, I beg to transmit herewith copy of letter of introduction which I have given to Mr. E. E. Peake, C.E., who, as member of the firm of Messrs. Clark, Forde, and Taylor, is proceeding in the "Britannia" with the Pacific cable surveying expedition. I trust that the Government will be able to arrange so that the " Britannia" may be met at the Bay of Islands by their representative, and that he will be authorised to acquire, with as little delay as possible, the land required for the cable-house and station. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves,

Enclosure in No. 24. The Agent-Genebal to the Hons. the Premier and the Postmaster-General. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 26th February, 1901. Mr. E. E. Peake, to whom I am giving this letter for presentation to yourself, is proceeding with the surveying expedition which is being sent out for the purpose, inter alia, of selecting the landing-place of the Pacific cable at the most convenient point on the New Zealand coast. I therefore beg that you will give Mr. Peake, who is a member of the firm of Messrs. Clark, Forde, and Taylor, the consulting engineers of the Pacific Cable Board, every facility and assistance in your power in the performance of the work with which he has been intrusted. I have, &c, [The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.] W. P. Eeeves. [The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.] [Bead here No. I.]

No. 25. The Hon. the Peemieb to the Agent-General. Pacific Cable. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 21st March, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that it has been observed, from a newspaper extract giving specifications of the cable, that the proposed landing-place in New Zealand is Parenga, near the North Cape. I desire to bring under notice that, assuming the cable must be landed approximately far north, it would be a material convenience to the Post and Telegraph Department of this colony were Ahipara substituted. This place is probably little further from Norfolk Island than Parenga. Its position is indicated in the accompanying map. The main advantage arising from the change would be that the cable would be brought from sixty to seventy miles nearer to Auckland, thus reducing the distance of the land-line between the cable-station and that centre. I shall, therefore, be glad if you will bring this matter to the notice of the Pacific Cable Board, and ask that, if not already done, a preliminary survey might be made with a view to choosing the best possible place for landing a cable. Another matter to which I should like the Board's attention called is the provision for a cablestaff in New Zealand. No doubt, as the cable belongs to the different British Governments, a Government staff will have charge of it. It is obvious that with only one staff the expenditure would be considerably minimised, and the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department would be prepared to take charge of the cable and find the necessary operating and electrical staff at the cable-station in this colony, if desired. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, for the Premier. : The Hon, W. P. Eeeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 26. The Hon. the Postmaster - General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmastee - Genebal, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 28th March, 1901. Pacific cable and . . . telegram [not printed] from Secretary of State for Colonies giving outline London Committee's report: This Government agrees with proposals so far as relate cost of manufacturing and laying cable, estimated annual expenditure, and proposed cable-rate of two shillings a word ; but I should be glad to learn views other colonies before forwarding reply to Secretary of State. Consideration of the above questions may, I think, be deferred until receipt of the full report. You are no doubt aware that we passed Act last session fixing New Zealand's proportion of guarantee at one-ninth of the whole cost and total cost of cable at £1,700.000. Will you kindly forward copies of this message to Postmasters-General, Victoria and Queensland, for reply ?