F.—S.

No. 108. The Hon. the Postmastee-Gbnbeal, Wellington, to the Chaieman, Pacific Cable Board, London. (Telegram.) Wellington, 27th January, 1903. Pacific interrupted again. Most vexatious, besides injuring route. New business only just secured suffers, and probably checked. Much obliged your advising me cause so many interruptions, and that measures already ta.ken obviate further breaks. Public need some such assurance.

No. 109. The Chaieman, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Hon. the Postmastbe-Genkral, Wellington. (Telegram.) London, Ist February, 1903. Inteebuptions due to breaks on Canadian Pacific land-lines between Vancouver City and coast. Board has urged for weeks past and is still urging Canadian Government to put their alternative line into thoroughly efficient condition, and are also negotiating with Canadian Pacific Railway for a cable to be laid, in substitution exposed part of their land-lines. A cable cannot be laid for some months; meanwhile Canadian Pacific Railway authorities assure they are sparing no expense to maintain line.

No. 110. The Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Supekintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay. (Telegram.) Wellington, sth February, 1903. Abe Southport's hours the same as yours ?

No. 111. The Supebintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay, to the Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, sth February, 1903. Southpoet is open continuously.

No. 112. The Supeeintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay, to the Seceetaby, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 6th February, 1903. You will be pleased to hear that Canadian Pacific Railway have purchased cable for stretch between British Columbia and Alberni, thus cutting off weakest part of land-line. It will be laid by " Iris " on her arrival.

No. 118. The Secbetaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Supeeintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay. (Telegram.) Wellington, 6th February, 1903. Exceedingly pleased to hear that Canadian Pacific Railway purchased cable. Regret, however, there will be such a long interval before it is laid. When is " Iris " expected to reach Vancouver?

No. 114. The Supebintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay, to the Secbetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 6th February, 1903. " Ibis " will probably arrive at Vancouver in June. She proceeds to Fiji first to ship cable.

No. 115. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington, to the Secbetaey, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sic, — General Post Office, Wellington, 11th February, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th November last [No. 87], submitting revised proposals of the proportion of the liability to be borne by this Government in connection with the capital expenditure and working of the cable and land-line at Doubtless Bay. In reply, I have to say that the Government agrees to the first proposal —namely, that it pays 6 per cent, on half the capital outlay, this sum to be deemed to include the colony's proportion of

26