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No. 127. The Genebal Managee, Pacific Cable Board, Southport, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Southport, 21st April, 1902. I posted you from Melbourne on eleventh full particulars of our rates. We hope to open cable on Wednesday, 23rd, before I leave. As vid Southport normal and cheapest route to Fiji for international messages, have asked Australia to wire Berne to circulate rates—sevenpence per word Fiji, twopence word Norfolk Island, plus rate from Queensland to destination. Same additions apply New Zealand. You may like to notify Berne also on seeing my letter. Our rates, excluding terminals, &c, are: Southport-Suva, Doubtless Bay-Suva — sevenpence ordinary, fivepence British and Colonial Government, threepence Press ; Southport-Norfolk Island, Doubtless BayNorfolk Island —twopence ordinary, one penny Government; Southport-Doubtless Bay—threepence ordinary, twopence Government, one penny Press; Norfolk Island-Suva — fivepence ordinary, fourpence Government. Directly intercolonial rates settled please wire me. Many thanks to Sir J. Ward, Logan, and yourself for your help and kindness.

[See Nos. 96-99.]

No. 128. The Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 22nd April, 1902. I accept your proposal for New Zealand halfpenny terminal rate Australian traffic Pacific cable, and agree to accept your letters prepaid penny rate, Government having agreed to accept such letters from all parts of British Empire.

No. 129. The Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 23rd April, 1902. Are we correctly informed that New Zealand transit rate on ordinary Government telegrams to Norfolk Island and Fiji vid Doubtless Bay will be one penny per word ? If so, what will be the rate on Press business by the same route, and what will be your terminal rate on Press business from and to Australia ?

No. 130. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th April, 1902. Oub transit rate on ordinary and Government telegrams for Norfolk Island and Fiji vid Doubtless Bay one penny per word. Press rate same route sixpence per hundred words or fraction. Similar rate for Press to and from Australia.

No. 131. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 24th April, 1902. Undebstood your uniform penny terminal rate to be adopted forthwith, we doing same halfpenny. Brisbane last night advised that penny each State to be paid. This raises our rates to Victoria, New South Wales, to sevenpence and to sixpence, as against sixpence and fivepence vid Sydney and strangles traffic over Pacific cable. Glad if you would put right and advise me at once. Brisbane also announced through Pacific cable authorities that rate Southport onward for our international messages five and penny. This makes our rate five and fivepence, as against five and twopence vid Sydney cable, and effectually shuts out our international traffic over Pacific cable. Through rate should be same as vid Sydney. Early reply will oblige. Urgent that public be informed of rates.

No. 132. The Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 24th April, 1902. Notification of rate for business over Pacific cable could not be issued until your final approval received, which only came yesterday afternoon. Instructions have now been given as to uniform rate of fourpence-halfpenny Australian-New Zealand traffic. Bate for onward business vid Queensland now receiving attention. Will advise when settled.