F.—B

15

however, unable to throw light on the subject, and the Secretary of the Board, in his letter to me of the 2nd September, states that they have no means of getting the information. It appears to me that if New Zealand and the Commonwealth each charge—the one Id., the other sd. per word— the total number of words must be known by the respective Governments, and, indeed, is probably published in the parliamentary returns. If lam right in this supposition, may I ask you to let me know, on receipt of this, the total business by both systems for the years 1902 and 1903, and oblige, Yours, &c, ° Sandford Fleming. Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G., Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 29. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Prime Minister. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London S.W., Sm _ 29th October, 1904. 1 beg herewith to transmit copy, received from the Colonial Office, of a telegraphic correspondence with the Governor of Canada, from which it will be seen that the Pacific Cable Conference is postponed for the present. I Reeves. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 29. His Excellency the Governor-General, Ottawa, to the Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies. (Telegram ) Ottawa, 25th October, 1904. Referring to your telegrams of 13th October and 20th October, Pacific cable, as general election is now pending it will be impossible for Mulock to attend Conference at the time named. It had better therefore, be postponed indefinitely for the present. As soon as Ministers meet after election-say, in three weeks-definite answer will be sent. My Government ask me to send above. Much regret delay.

Enclosure 2 in No. 29. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Ottawa. (Telegram ) London, 27th October, 1904. Referring to your telegram of 25th October, am informing other Governments of postponement of ' Conference. Presume Fleming has been informed.

NO. 30. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, London, s, _ General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd November, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th September with reference to the proposed free transmission of messages over the Pacific cable between Sir Sandford Fleming and myself on matters to be discussed at the Pacific Cable Conference. I re-ret that the Board should have prohibited the free use of their cable for the transmission of messages on business concerning the Board and not the New Zealand Government which in respect of its own official business, does not expect or wish to have the free use o the cable It is considered that had the messages been sent over other lines, in addition to the Pacific cable, the case would have Ken on an entirely different footing; and the Board's decision s regarded as illiberal well What might have to be done in regard to other contributing Governments doelnot it is submitted, really affect the point raised, as the messages in question did not go beyond the Pacific cable system/while those emanating from the Imperial Government necessarily were transmitted over the Atlantic cable and the Canadian and Australian land lines as well as the t, •,> vi I have, &c, Pacific cable. y Q Ward> Postmaster .General. The General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, Queen Anne's Chambers, London, S.W.

No. 31. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to Sir Sandford Fleming, Ottawa. General Post Office, Wellington, Bth December, 1904. MY October last, asking whether you could be furnished with particulars of the total telegraph business which passed between Australasia and Europe over both the Eastern and Pacific routes during the years 1902 and 1903.