F.—Ba.

with; Article 14 entirely omitted, as company will provide their own offices at Sydney and Melbourne; Articles 15 and 16 remodelled to suit altered circumstances ; Table A struck out of schedule. Other alterations are only dates and names, to admit New South Wales and Victoria." We have sent following reply : " We are prepared to accept Adelaide agreement with such alterations as are necessary by reason of New South Wales and Victoria coming in at the present time. Article 14 of Adelaide agreement omitted. Bates from Ist February to be as in your telegram. We will instruct our Agents-General to sign amended agreement in London at once in these terms. Will you take necessary steps to inform Berne? "

No. 46. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 18th January, 1901. Have perused Adelaide agreement, 14th April. It would now be convenient were you to indicate for my consideration the amendments proposed to be inserted in supplemental agreement as applying to this colony.

No. 47. The Hon. the Premier, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 19th January, 1901. Pacific cable: Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasrnania some months ago agreed with the Eastern Extension Company to grant permission to at once open offices for direct transaction of business, and have obtained considerable reduction in charges. Postmasters-General of New South Wales and Victoria had a conference, and agreed in writing to give similar privileges from date of completion of Pacific cable, but getting reduction at once —that is, from Ist proximo—PostmasterGeneral of Victoria being under a misapprehension of exact position of matter. New South Wales has instructed Agent-General, and he has signed agreement, but on matter being reported to Victorian Cabinet it was determined not to do anything which would be a breach of the terms on which the contributing parties entered into contract. However, New South Wales having obtained the advantage, we are naturally desirous that our people should be in as good a position as the other States, if other parties interested do not consider we are breaking faith with them. I shall, therefore, be glad to know whether, under the circumstances as they now exist, you will object to Victoria entering into the proposed agreement. The matter of allowing the Eastern Extension Company to have separate offices was not thought of or taken into consideration at the time of the negotiations, and a large number of our people consider that the proposed agreement is justifiable, and therefore I shall be glad if you can give your consent. Telegraph reply.

No. 48. The Hon, the Acting-Premier, Wellington, to the Hon. the Premier, Brisbane. (Telegram.) Wellington, 20th January, 1901. Pacific cable: Premier, Victoria, wishes to know whether it would be considered breach of faith with other interested Governments if his colony, in making agreement with Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for reduction international cable rates, agreed that company should have separate office in Melbourne from date opening Pacific cable. New South Wales has already consented to separate office in Sydney. Sir George Turner, however, does not feel justified in going so far in respect of his colony until he obtains views other Governments. As we have been acting in concert with you, I shall be obliged if you will favour me with your views, so that I may advise our Premier, who will be in Melbourne this week.

No. 49. The Hon. the Acting-Premier, Wellington, to Hon. the Premier, Melbourne. (Telegram.) * Wellington, 21st January, 1901. Pacific cable and your telegram of nineteenth. : Am in communication with Premier, Brisbane, and when his views ascertained will telegraph our Premier, who should be in Melbourne to-day.

No. 50. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 23rd January, 1901. Principal amendments to admit New Zealand in Adelaide agreement are roughly as follows : Ist, in third recital Adelaide agreement referred to : 2nd, in Article 5 reference to Table B omitted: 3rd, Article 14 entirely omitted, as company will provide their own offices in principal towns of New Zealand : 4th, Articles 15 and 16 remodelled to suit altered circumstances —namely, in Article 15, Government to provide and maintain a special wire between Wellington and Wakapuaka for company's exclusive use, which will be worked by company's staff, Government receiving their terminal

76