13

F.—Ba

The question is one the Government is in entire sympathy with, and should the matter come before the Pacific Cable Conference, will you be good enough to urge that the change be agreed to, and at the same time support any action which may be taken by the Commonwealth delegate to this end. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, For Prime Minister. Sir Sandford Fleming, K.C.M.G., " The Lodge," Halifax, Canada.

No. 48. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 9th September, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ultimo, advising that the Pacific Cable Conference would be held during the first fortnight of November, which time would be convenient for the Canadian and New Zealand delegates. I have, &c, J. G. W t ard, For Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 49. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 19th September, 1904. I have the honour to refer to your letter of the 15th May last [enclosure 2 in No. 21], a copy of which has been forwarded to me, addressed to the Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay, covering a statement of the amounts due by the New Zealand Government to the Board for the working of the Doubtless Bay Cable-station during the year ended the 31st March, 1904. The amount dve —namely, £423 17s. 4d. —will be paid into the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland to the credit of the Board's account, as requested. The Department is unable to reconcile the figures in the statement showing the amount on which the New Zealand Government pays rent to be £7,509 6s. 5d., with those in this office, and I should be obliged if you would furnish me with a schedule of the items making up the total. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, Queen Anne's Chambers, Tothill Street, Westminster, London, S.W.

No. 50. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 30th September, 1904. I have the honour to inform, you that the General Manager of the Pacific Cable Board, London, writes as follows: "The outpayments in the case of diversions via Australia are sd. a word to Australia and 3d. to the Eastern Extension. We have long endeavoured to induce the Australian Government to accept a special transit rate of Id. during times of interruptions between La Perouse and Southport. This question has been held over for discussion at the Conference which is to be held in November next. Meanwhile, as a partial solution, I would invite your attention to Reg. XLIL, 1 and 2, of the London Convention (1903), under which in a case of interruption telegrams can be diverted to a more costly route without increased cost for a period of twenty-four hours." The above has special reference to land-line interruptions in New Zealand necessitating the diversion of international traffic to the Eastern Extension Company's cable and to your Government's lines between La Perouse and Southport. I should be glad to know whether it may be assumed that effect will be given to the rule in the case of diverted traffic hereafter. I have, <fee., W. Gray, Secretary. The Secretary to the Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.

No. 51. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, 30th October, 1904. Cable Conference .further postponed for the present owing to Canadian general elections. Governor-General of Canada has, I understand, informed Fleming.

No. 52. The Empire Cables. —Circular Letter from the Board of Trade of the City of Ottawa, Canada. To whom it may concern. Sirs,— _ Ottawa, 20th April, 1904. 1. The President and Council of the Ottawa Board of Trade have the honour to reaffirm the hearty approval of its members in the movement to complete the cables of the Empire.