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No. 124. The Hon. Secretary, British Empire League in Canada, Toronto, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. British Empire League in Canada, Toronto Branch, 11, Equity Chambers, g IR _ Toronto, 6th February, 1900. I have the honour to forward to you, by direction of the Toronto Branch, British Empire League, a copy of resolutions adopted at a meeting of the League held in Toronto on the 30th January, 1900. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. H. F. Hooper, Hon. Secretary.

Enclosure in No. 124. The following resolutions were adopted at a meeting of the Toronto Branch, British Empire League, at St. George's Hall, on the 30th January, 1900 :— Besolution No. I.—Moved by Lieut.-Colonel G. T. Denison, seconded by Bev. Dr. J. Potts: Whereas (1) the Pacific cable has been recognised by Parliament to be an undertaking of peculiar importance to Canada, to the Australasian Colonies, and to the Empire ; (2) serious delays in its establishment have heretofore been caused manifestly by the hostile influence of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company; and (3) the Eastern Extension Company is now engaged in a supreme effort to defeat the project, which, if successful, will subordinate the most important public interests to private gains: ~.,.. . In consequence of these efforts, and in order to prevent the subjection of the interests of the colonies and the Empire to private purposes, an appeal should at once be made to our Government and to all the Governments concerned, urging in the strongest terms: First—That it is of vital importance to take prompt action in causing the Pacific cable to be proceeded with as a State undertaking, and completed with the least possible delay ; second—That the Home Government, the Government of New South Wales, and other Governments be earnestly asked not to assent to any agreement granting concessions to the Eastern Extension Company which does not contain a clause° reserving power to cancel such agreement in the event of the exigencies of the public service demanding this; third—That the time has come when ultimate State proprietorship of all cables between British possessions should be kept prominently in view, and that, therefore, in all agreements giving permission to lay new cables by private capital a condition be attached, in explicit terms, empowering the Imperial Government to assume ownership.—Carried unanimously.

No. 125. The Hon. the Premier, Sydney, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, Bth February, 1900. I have received the following cable from the Premier of Canada: " Canada strongly objects to last proposals of Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, or any other that will remove control over telegraph business from local Governments and give Eastern Telegraph Company free hand if competing with Pacific submarine cable."

No. 126. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Brisbane. (Telegram.) Wellington, 12th February, 1900. Re Pacific cable: I am glad to hear that your colony will co-operate with New Zealand and Canada. In this course I fully concur. We are anxious to have the Pacific cable whether the Cape cable is laid or not, and anything we can do to bring this about will be gladly attended to.

No. 127. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. o Premier's Office, Wellington, 16th February, 1900. Eeferring to your letter of the 15th December last, transmitting copy of the instrument received from the Colonial Office appointing the members of the Pacific Cable Committee, I have now the honour to inform you that a disturbing factor has been introduced into the Pacific-cable project by the proposals of the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company. These have led to a difference of opinion among the Governments of the Australasian Colonies, which will retard any definite action on the part of this colony until the report of the Pacific Cable Committee is received. The proposals were considered at the Conference of Premiers in Sydney in the last week of January. New Zealand was not represented, and lam not yet in possession of an official report of the proceedings. I learn, however, from the Press that Mr. Warren has recommended his company to agree to forego the concession of terminal facilities until the Pacific cable is completed, and to reduce°its rates at once. The Conference also adopted the recommendations made by the Secretary of State for the Coldhies to the effect that rates once reduced should not be increased, and that the landing-points of the cable should not be determined upon without consultation with the British military authorities. It is reported to-day by Press telegram that the assent of the company has been obtained. I have, &c, J. G. Ward (for the Premier). The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

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