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It was decided to secure the services-of Mr. Scott, a naval architect, to superintend the construction of the maintenance steamer, and to have the plans and specifications for the steamer put in hand at once. Several members of the Board protested against the looseness of the cable contract on the point of provision for maintenance. It would appear that the Telegraph Construction Company is only bound to maintain each of the three sections of the cable for thirty days after each is- laid down. This seemed to us unsatisfactory. ..... Some correspondence was read from the engineers on the selection of Sout.hport, Queensland, as the landing-place of the Australian end of the cable. It appears that the staff will be able to find quarters in the village of Southport, and that it will not be necessary to" have any built for them. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

No. 11. The Superintendent of Electric Lines (at Mangonui) to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Mangonui, sth July, 1901. Landing-place selected in a small bay in Doubtless Bay called Harris Green, about four miles from Mangonui. I think it very suitable place for cable-station, much more so than near Whangaroa or other places examined. We examined coast to North Cape, including Ohoura Bay and Parengarenga. Please wire me Hon. Commissioner's approval of this landing-place that I may give it to Mr. Peake in terms of articles of contract. We shall leave here to-morrow morning, weather permitting, to complete soundings between Doubtless Bay and position east of the North Cape. Expect " Britannia " will reach Auckland on Sunday.

No. 12. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent of Electric Lines (at Auckland). (Telegram.) Wellington, sth July, 1901. The Commissioner has approved of Harris Green, Doubtless Day, selected by Mr. Peake and yourself as the landing-place for Pacific cable. Presume nothing further is t required at present ; ■■• •

No. 13. . ; ''v The Superintendent of Electric Lines (at Auckland) to the Engineer, Pacific Cable Board,. i Auckland. T Sir,— Auckland, 7th July, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that the Hon. Sir Joseph G. Ward, Commissioner. of. Telegraphs, has approved of Harris Green, Doubtless Bay, as the landing-place for the Pacific cable. I have, &c, : ; B. E. Peake, Esq., J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines. Engineer, Pacific Cable Board, Auckland.

No. 14. ■ y. The Superintendent of Electric Lines (at Auckland) to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, Bth July, 1901. .... Have communicated Hon. Commissioner's approval of landing-place to Mr. Peake. Nothing more required at present. I am bringing with me to Wellington copies of plans of buildings, &c. With regard to the land required for buildings, it belongs to a Mr. Harris at Mangonui. I only saw him for a few minutes, as steamer could not wait. The land is poor and not much value, with the exception of a small piece of level ground near the beach. Mr. Peake thinks we should acquire twenty acres, making provision for a paddock. Before finally settling the matter I propose that Mr. dimming, architect from Public. Works Office here, who accompanied us when we examined the ground, should go to Mangonui and visit the place with Mr. Harris, showing him exactly'what we want. Mr. Harris may then submit an offer which, if reasonable, can be accepted ; if otherwise, it can be acquired under Public-Works" Act. I will call at Land Office here and get a sketch of the site, &c. The cable-house for landing' cable will be near the foreshore, which is no one's property. Would be glad of approval of proposal to send Mr. Cumming before I leave Auckland, so that I can arrange with his office.

„ : ' No! 15; • Mr. C. W. Clarke, s.s. •" Britannia," Auckland, to the Soperintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington. . . . ■ .... ... Sir, — S.s. " Britannia," Auckland, 9th Ju1y,.1901. As Mr. Peake, Engineer to the Pacific Cable Board, wishes to have a two-roomed cablehouse erected at Doubtless Bay in place of the one we have on board for this terminal point of the