F.—B.

No. 8. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Adelaide, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Adelaide, 29th May, 1902. Eastern Extension Cable Company notify from Ist June next the rate for Government and Press messages between Europe and New Zealand will be those of—tariffs to Australia increased by fourpence Government and twopence Press, making the total charge for Government messages 2s. 4d. per word and for Press Is. 2d. per word.

No. 9. The Manager in Austbalasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Secbetary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 2nd June, 1902. Bate for troops messages to South Africa reduced to tenpence-halfpenny per word from first instant.

No. 10. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Pest Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 3rd June, 1902. New Zealand Times publishes Government rate to Europe via Extension two and fourpence but vid Pacific two and threepence. Latter incorrect, as rates announced by Berne are same by both routes—namely, two and fourpence. Pacific cable Government rate twopence only applies to intercolonial traffic.

No. 11. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 4th June, 1902. Kate for Government international messages via Pacific two and threepence correct —Pacific intercolonial cable rate for both international and intercolonial Government messages fixed at twopence before cable open. Berne did not specifically announce rate for Government messages.

No. 12. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 4th June, 1902. See Berne telegram 1201 of 25th April, which states New Zealand international telegrams are submitted to existing rates. Berne also announces in telegram 1193 of 24th April Pacific cable rate thirty centimes. Commonwealth confirm the above, and say Pacific cable rate of twopence applies only to intercolonial Government messages.

No. 13. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, oth June, 1902. Berne circulars do not seem to affect Government rate Pacific cable. The announcement in No. 1201 that " international messages subject to existing charges" was on advice from this office, and, of course, made prior to uniform transit rate being adopted by Commonwealth. Federal Post Office subsequently informed us that it had advised Berue of reduced rates for New Zealand, otherwise we should have communicated direct with Berne. General Manager, Pacific Cable, announced that his Board had fixed rate for British Government messages at twopence a word, and added, " British Government rate would include Colonial Governments." There can be no doubt that the twopenny rate was to apply to international as well as intercolonial. In any case, Board would not be likely to raise rate for Government international messages to the level of ordinary, and leave intercolonial rate one penny lower. There is not a Government rate over the Sydney-Wakapuaka cable.

No. 14. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, sth June, 1902. Receipt acknowledged your service advising reduction rate to tenpence - halfpenny word for troop messages to South Africa.

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