43

p. $

No. 59. The Hon. the Postmaster-General (at Doubtless Bay) to the Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, London. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 26th March, 1902. The first section of the Pacific cable, connecting New Zealand with Norfolk Island and Australia, finally completed to-day at Doubtless Bay. I have specially attended, to be present at the landing of the cable. I send you the first message, and hope by the end of the year to have the satisfaction of cabling you vid Vancouver. The work, when completed, will further weld another important link in the chain which binds the whole of the British Empire.

No. 60. The Hon. the Postmaster-General (at Doubtless Bay) to the Bight Hon. the Marquess of Londonderry, Postmaster-General, London. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 26th March, 1902. The first section of the Pacific cable, connecting New Zealand with Norfolk Island and Australia, finally completed to-day at Doubtless Bay. I have specially attended, to be present at the landing of the cable, and I send you one of the first messages. I hope the cable will be completed by the end of the year, thus forming another important link in the chain which binds together the whole of the British Empire. The cable will probably be open to the public by the first of May.

Telegrams of same text sent to the Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London ; the Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London; J. H. Henniker Heaton, Esq., M.P., London ; the Hon. W. Mulock, Postmaster-General, Ottawa; and Sir Sandford Fleming, K.C.M.G., Ottawa.

No. 61. The Hon. the Postmaster-General (at Doubtless Bay) to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral of Australia, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 26th March, 1902. I have attended at Doubtless Bay to-day and have had the pleasure of witnessing the landing of the first section, and the completion of the Pacific cable between New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Australia. I offer you my congratulations on the important historical event, and I hope that by the end of the year the cable will be completed to Vancouver. I have no doubt it will be of material advantage to the inhabitants of the contracting colonies.

Telegrams of same text sent to the Bight Hon. E. Barton, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, Melbourne ; the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Melbourne; Sir John Madden, Chief Justice, Melbourne; the Hon. A. Peacock, Premier, Melbourne; the Hon. J. See, Premier, Sydney ; the Hon. B. Philp, Premier, Brisbane ; the Deputy Postmasters-General, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane ; and the Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

[Other telegrams of similar import despatched to various local bodies.]

No. 62. The Bight Hon. the Marquess of Londonderry, Postmaster-General, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, 26th March, 1902. Lord Londonderry thanks Sir Joseph Ward for telegram announcing completion first section Pacific cable, which he trusts will have good results anticipated.

No. 63. The Secretary, General Post Office (at Auckland), to the Assistant Secretary and Inspector, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, 26th March, 1902. Doubtless Bay reports that cable through to Norfolk Island at 3.15 p.m. Inform Press Association and newspapers.

No. 64. The General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, Mangonui, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral (at Auckland). (Telegram.) Mangonui, 26th March, 1902. Your wire [not printed] about the proposed cable reserve: I presume that views your Government will be communicated to Pacific Cable Board. Will not desire to reserve any unnecessarily large sum, but impossible to forecast accurately when repairs will be required, or their extent or cost. Five years' experience should teach us much; but to insure prompt repairs, however large, and prevent disorganization of Budgets in bad years, it is found essential to accumulate gradually sufficient reserve,