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A.—2.

No. 7. (No. 38.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd May, 1903. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Treasury, stating the approximate amounts of the contributions which will be payable by the Governments of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, towards meeting the deficit on the working of the Pacific cable for the two years ended the 31st March last. 2. Your Ministers will observe that it is desired that these amounts shall be forthcoming soon after the final making-up of the account of the Pacific Cable Board for the year 1902-03, which will probably take place in August next. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure. Sir,— Treasury Chambers, 16th May, 1903. Adverting to the financial arrangements which were embodied in the Treasury minute under " The Pacific Cable Act, 1901, "communicated to your Department by Treasury letter of the 20th November, 1901, and subsequently agreed to by the contributing colonies, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they have received from the Pacific Cable Board an approximate statement of the annual expenses of the cable in the two years to the 31st March last. From this statement it appears that the deficit on the working of the cable for the period in question is estimated by the Board to have amounted to £87,512 2s. 4d.,which sum has been provided in the first instance out of the grant voted by Parliament in the year 1902-03. The contributions due to be repaid by the colonies would be, on the basis of this estimate, approximately as follows: — £■ Australia, six-eighteenths ... ... ... ... ... 29,172 Canada, five-eighteenths ... ... ... ... ... 24,310 New Zealand, two-eighteenths ... ... ... ... ... 9,724 When the particulars of the audited expenditure are available —probably in the month of August next —my Lords will cause a precise statement of the sums erne to be furnished for payment by the representatives of the colonies. But in the meantime lam to request that Mr. Chamberlain will cause the colonies to be informed of the amount of their liabilities as now estimated, in order that any necessary arrangements may be made to provide for payment of the contributions when ascertained. lam to point out that it will be necessary to obtain these contributions soon after the final making-up of last year's account, in order to place the Cable Board in funds for payment of the first instalment (£77,545) of the annuity to the National Debt Commissioners. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. W. Hamilton.

No. 8. (General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th May, 1903. With reference to your despatch (No. 123), of the 23rd November, 1901, α-i, igoa, and to my reply, " General," of the 25th January, 1902, I have the honour to No - 66 - -state for the information of your Ministers that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been requested to notify the Belgian Government of the adherence of the Colony of New Zealand to the International Convention of 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property, as notified by the additional Act of 1900. j 2. I have to request you to remind your Ministers that it will be necessary to bring the law of the colony into conformity with the Convention as modifi by the additional Act, if this is not already the case, and I shall be glad to be furnished with information showing that such conformity exists, together with copies of the laws bearing upon the question. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.