23

F.—B

For sub-enclosure to Enclosure 1 in No. 27, see enclosure in No 34, F.-8, 1901.

Enclosure 2 in No. 24. The Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, to the Agent-General. Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, Sir,— 21st August, 1901. With reference to your letter <$f the 9th instant, enclosing a copy of a memorandum from Mr. Peake to Sir J. G. Ward in reference to the arrangements for the acquisition of land and for the erection of the necessary buildings required by the Board in New Zealand, I am requested to state that the Board approves of the terms of the memorandum. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Hugh Latham.

No. 25. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 28th August, 1901. I beg to inform you that I have received an intimation from the Pacific Cable Board to the effect that Mr. Charles Henry Beynolds, CLE., late Director-General of Telegraphs in India, has been appointed as General Manager under the Board, and that that gentleman will enter on his duties in the course of the ensuing month. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Walter Kennaway, for the Agent-General.

No. 26. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 28th August, 1901. I beg to transmit herewith three copies of an Act of the Imperial Legislature providing for the construction and working of a submarine cable from the Island of Vancouver to New Zealand and to Queensland. I also enclose further extracts [not printed] from the Times, containing report of the discussion in Parliament on the passing of the above-mentioned Act. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Walter Kennaway, for the Agent-General.

Enclosure in No. 26. 1 Edw. VIL, eh. 31.—Pacific Cable Act, 1901. An Act to provide for the Construction and Working of a Submarine Cable from the Island of Vancouver to New Zealand and to Queensland. [17th August, 1901.] Whereas it is expedient to provide for the construction of a submarine cable (in this Act called " the Pacific cable ") from the Island of Vancouver on the west coast of the Dominion of Canada to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean, and thence by means of two cables to New Zealand and to Queensland respectively, at an estimated cost of two million pounds: And whereas it has been arranged that any sum required for the repayment of any money borrowed under this Act, and for the annual expenses of the cable (including interest at the rate of three per cent, on borrowed money), shall (so far as not covered by receipts) be ultimately provided as to five-eighteenths thereof by His Majesty's Government and as to thirteen-eighteenths thereof by the Governments of Canada, of the States of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, and of New Zealand (in this Act referred to as " the colonial Governments "), and that any profits arising from the cable shall be divided between His Majesty's Government and the colonial Governments in the same proportion : And whereas it is expedient to make provision with respect to the construction and working of. the cable by a Board of management to be called "the Pacific Cable Board " : Be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. The Treasury shall, as and when they think fit, issue out of the Consolidated Fund or the growing produce thereof such sums, not exceeding in the whole the sum of two million pounds, as may be required by the Pacific Cable Board for defraying the costs of the construction of the Pacific cable, and for the repayment of any temporary loan raised for the purpose of the cable before the passing of this Act. 2. (1.) The Treasury may, if they think fit, at any time borrow money for the purpose of providing for the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund under this Act, or repaying to that fund all or any part of the sums so issued, and all sums so borrowed shall be paid into the Exchequer.