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No. 162. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 23rd May, 1902. What is Press rate to Tasmania ?

No. 163. The Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 24th May, 1902. Youe wire yesterday : The Press rate to Tasmania is the Commonwealth rate as arranged between Australia and New Zealand, plus Tasmanian cable charge, which is two shillings per hundred words.

No. 164. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th May, 1902. Assume that reduced intercolonial Press rate applies Eastern Extension cable as well as Pacific. If so, from what date? May I also assume that your uniform penny terminal rate will now be applied to New Zealand business vid Extension as from date opening Pacific cable? I also express hope that you will not debit us with higher terminal rate than eightpence a word on our international traffic vid Pacific from date opening of cable to first proximo

No. 165. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's-Department, Melbourne. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 6th June, 1902. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of telegrams exchanged with your office on the subject of terminal, transit, and international cable rates, and on other matters relating to cable traffic, between the 10th April and the 27th ultimo, which I think covers the whole of the messages. The Postmaster-General much regrets that there should have been any misunderstanding on his part of your intention not to apply your uniform penny terminal rate to New Zealand business sent vid the Eastern Extension Company's cables. It is quite true that the Hon. Mr. Drake, in his reply of the 22nd April, did say, " I accept your proposal for New Zealand halfpenny terminal rate Australian traffic Pacific cable " ; but this did not suggest to Sir Joseph Ward that the penny rate was to be restricted to the Pacific cable. In his proposal to the Hon. Mr. Drake, he, as a matter of course, assumed that the reduced rates were to cover traffic by both routes. Mr. Eeynolds in no way indicated that the Commonwealth terminal penny rate was not to be applied to both cables, and your telegram of the 28th April seemed to bear this out. The Postmaster-General is exceedingly gratified that your minimum terminal and transit rates on international business have been applied to New Zealand messages, and that the colony should also have secured an international rate of 3s. 4d. per word ; and I am to convey to you Sir Joseph Ward's appreciation of any action of your Department in assisting to secure the concessions. Itis assumed that Victoria and Queensland have secured the three-shilling rate without being committed to any of the conditions in the agreements between the Eastern Extension Company and the Governments of South Australia and New South Wales. Beferring to my service of the 27th ultimo, I am to express the hope that you may see your way to claim no more than Id. a word on our messages to Australia vid Extension during the interregnum, and that you may be able to apply the same terminal rates on our international business via Pacific as vid Extension from the date of the opening of the Pacific cable until the end of last month. I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. The Secretary to the Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.

No. 165 a. The Secbetaey, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Commonwealth of Australia, Sic, — Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, 21st June, 1902. I have the honour, by direction, to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 6th instant, forwarding copies of telegrams exchanged with this office on the subject of terminal, transit, and international cable rates, and on other matters relating to cable traffic, between the 10th April and the 27th ultimo.