9

F.—B

No. 9. The General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, London, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The Pacific Cable Board, Queen Anne's Chambers, Sir,— Tothill Street, Westminster, London, S.W., 27th October, 1904. In acordance with the request contained in your letter dated 19th September, I have the honour to forward a schedule of the items which make up the capital cost of the Board's New Zealand station up to the 31st March, 1904. This return does not include the cost of instruments and electrical appliances, &c, amounting to £2,179 6s. Id. I have, &c, C. H. Reynolds, General Manager. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.

Statement showing the amount on which the New Zealand Government pays Rent to 31st March, 1904. £ s. d. Contract payments for buildings ... ... ... ... 4,937 16 10 Pipes, &c, for water-supply ... ... ... ... 477 6 6 Wages, laying pipes, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 94 1 1 Freight on pipes, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 26 16 9 Salary of overseer ... ... ... ... ... 106 15 0 Furniture ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 4 6 Travelling expenses of officers ... ... ... ... 22 9 8 Advertising ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 18 0 Purchase of land and transfer expenses ... ... ... 138 3 0 Value of Crown land reserved ... ... ... ... 32 0 0 Mess-room extension for billiard-room ... ... ... 36 0 0 Office and workshop fittings, etc. ... ... ... ... 91 3 6 Furniture ... ... ... ... ... ■■• 1,512 11 7 £7,509 6 5 C. H. Reynolds, General Manager. Fredk. J. Adye, Accovintant.

No. 10. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Under-Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 27th October, 1904. Referring to the provision which your office is making on the supplementary estimates to meet the Pacific cable deficiency, I have to inform you that the Secretary of State for the Colonies lias forwarded through His Excellency the Governor copy of the auditor's report on the account of the Pacific Cable Board for the year ended the 31st March last, which shows that the amount payable by this colony is £9,750 2s. 9d. W. Gray, Secretary. The Under-Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington.

No. 11. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. gm Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, Bth November, 1904. I have the honour to refer to your letter of the 30th January last [No. 36, F.-8, 1904], forwarding an amended estimate of the receipts and expenditure of the Pacific cable for the year ended 31st March lust, and to inform you that, from a despatch dated the 19th August, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor, it has been ascertained that actual deficit on the working of the cable amounted in the year to £87,751 4s. sd. The proportion of the deficiency for which this colony is liable is £9,750 2s. 9d., and provision has been made for payment of the amount. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, for Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

No. 12. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the Agent-General. g IR; _ Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 22nd November, 1904. Adverting to my letter of the Bth instant, I have now the honour to inform you that payment of the sum of £9,750 2s. 9d., New Zealand's proportion of the Pacific cable deficiency for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, was arranged by cable message on the 18th instant. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, for Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, London.

2—F. 8.