F.—B.

No. 220. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. Sib,— Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 27th May, 1903. I have the honour to forward copy of letter [not printed] from the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral to the Chairman of the Pacific Gable Board, advising what had been done in re the canvass undertaken at the request of the Board in the interests of the Pacific cable. The result should be regarded as highly satisfactory to the Board. I have, &c, B. J. Seddon, Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 221. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Prime Ministee. (Telegram.) London, 28th May, 1903. Pacific Ocean telegraph-cable booklets, &c, are being issued in this country. I will urge Board to take steps of a similar kind in the colony.

No. 222. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. g IE Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 9th June, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th March last, with reference to the action of the Eastern Telegraph Company in touting for business. My letter of the 27th ultimo will have advised you of the action taken in this colony in the matter of canvassing in the interests of the Pacific cable. It is difficult to understand why the Board hitherto have paid so little heed to the activity of the Eastern Company's representatives, particularly with the knowledge that the Pacific business had suffered in consequence. Very determined canvassing on the Board's behalf will now have to be done in Australia, where the Eastern Company, having its own offices, and having been allowed to canvass without hindrance, has obtained a very strong footing, which it will be difficult to remove it from. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, For the Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 223. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Commonwealth of Australia, Postmaster-General's Department, SlB> _ Melbourne, 23rd June, 1903. * In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant [not printed], forwarding an extract from a report by the canvasser at Dunedin for the Pacific Cable Board, I have the honour by direction, to inform you that inquiry is being made as to the action referred to therein on the part of a counter clerk in the Chief Telegraph Office, Melbourne, in recommending the Eastern Extension route for cablegrams. I am to add that the officers of this Department have been instructed that, so far as they are concerned, a strictly impartial attitude is to be observed in connection with both the Eastern Extension' Telegraph Company and the Pacific Cable Board with respect to telegrams tendered for transmission, and that an instruction has also been issued that in those cities where the Eastern Extension Company has been allowed to open its own offices for the reception and delivery of telegrams to be sent over its cables such telegrams for places beyond the Commonwealth, except those for New Zealand, are not to be accepted at this Department's offices. New Zealand business is not covered by the agreements under which the company has been allowed to open its own offices I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Bobert T. Scott, Secretary.

No. 224. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable, Doubtless Bay, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 3rd July, 1903. Southport wires : " Have advice of appointment of Melbourne and Sydney canvassers, and believe they are at work. Expecting to hear from them daily."

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