F.—B

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It has occurred to me that possibly the Telegraph Department might undertake the erection of these buildings. The Cable Board desire to know as soon as possible whether the work could be done by New Zealand, and will be glad, therefore, if a reply to their inquiry can be transmitted by cable. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. W. P. Beeves.

Enclosure in No. 38. The Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, to the Agent-General. The Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W. Sir,— 27th November, 1901. In compliance with a resolution passed at the last meeting, " That, in view of the large amount quoted by the San Francisco and Californian firms for supplying and erecting stationbuildings at Fanning Island, further tenders be invited from English and colonial firms," I now hand you copy of the letter, and plans prepared by Messrs. Clark, Forde, and Taylor for this purpose, in order that you may have an opportunity of procuring a price or prices from such firms resident in New Zealand as might be willing to undertake the contract. I am, &c, Hugh Latham, Secretary. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand.

No. 39. The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster - General, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, 11th December, 1901. Expect cable reach New Zealand middle March. Hope buildings will be ready. Please order arrangements water-supply, furniture.

No. 40. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Public Works Department, Wellington, 12th December, 1901. (Memorandum.) Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay. Beferring to my memorandum of 7th instant [not printed], I have now to advise you that the Cabinet on that date authorised the acceptance of the tender of Mr. C. H. Frankham, of Auckland, for the erection of the necessary buildings, in the amount of £4,779, and on Monday morning as soon as the papers were received the District Engineer at Auckland was instructed by telegraph to accept the tender accordingly. In Mr. Logan's minute of 30th October [not printed] he requested that the time for completion of the several buildings should be fixed as follows—For the cable-hut, 31st January, 1902 ; for the office and officers' quarters, 31st March ; for the two residences, 30th April—and the contract conditions were drawn accordingly. Mr. Vickerman now wires as follows : "As the time allowed for completion is rather short, can I extend it in respect of the officers' quarters and residence for twelve days in each case, as it is now twelve days since tenders received? " Though such extension would perhaps be equitable to the contractor in view of twelve days having been lost in accepting the tender, it is possible that your Department may not be able to see its way to grant any such extension of time for the completion of the buildings, as they may perhaps be actually required by the dates mentioned. Kindly let me know quickly whether the extension may or may not be granted. H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office.

No. 41. The Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington, to the Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, Wellington. General Post Office, Wellington, 13th December, 1901. (Memorandum.) Pacific Gable Station, Doubtless Bay. Beferring to your memorandum of yesterday's date, I beg to inform you that this Department will offer no objection to the time for the contract being extended for twelve days. J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, Wellington.

No. 42. Sir Sandford Fleming, Ottawa, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. Sir, — Ottawa, 7th January, 1902. I beg leave to enclose, for the information of your Government, a letter recently addressed to the Honourable Mr. Mulock, Posimaster-General, in which two proposals under the con-