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On going into the matter, I regret to find that this Department is not in a position to supply the information, but the Pacific Cable Conference will, no doubt, be able to obtain the desired particulars. With kind regards; I am, &c, J. G. Ward. Sir Sandford Fleming, K.C.M.G., Winterholme, Ottawa.

No. 32. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to His Excellency the Governor, Wellington. My Lord, — Downing Street, 9th December, 1904. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, with reference to my despatch of the 30th July, the paper noted in the subjoined schedule. I have, &c, Alfred Lyttelton. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

: >":~,J Enclosure in No. 32.'3 7v< The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Ottawa. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth December, 1904. I had hoped that, when the questions connected with the terms of reference to the Pacific Cable Conference and its composition had been settled, and the various Governments had nominated their delegates, it would be possible to arrange for the assembly of the Conference without further delay. On the 27th June I informed Lord Minto by telegram that Sir Sandford Fleming had been selected as the representative of New Zealand, and, on the Ist July, I sent another telegram, announcing that Lord Jersey had been selected as the representative of the Commonwealth of Australia in the place of Mr. Copeland, deceased, and requesting that Sir W. Mulock, the Canadian representative, might leave for England as soon as possible. I pressed this request in my telegrams of the 4th and Bth July, with a view to securing the assembly of the Conference in the course of that month. To these telegrams I received no reply; but I learned indirectly that Sir W. Mulock would not be able to leave Canada before the Ist August at the earliest. T thereupon decided, in view of the inconvenience of holding the Conference in the holiday season, that it would be best to postpone it until the first fortnight of November, and Lord Minto informed me in his telegram of the 19th July that this time would suit both Sir W. Mulock and Sir S. Fleming. On the 13th October, and again on the 20th October, I inquired by telegraph when Sir W. Mulock and Sir S. Fleming would arrive in England. On the 25th October Lord Minto reported that, as the Dominion general election was then impending, it would not be possible for Sir W. Mulock to attend the Conference at the time named, and that it had better therefore be postponed indefinitely for the present. It was, however, promised that as soon as the Ministry met after the election —say, in three weeks —a definite answer would be sent. I duly arranged for the further postponement of the Conference, but I have not yet received the communication promised in Lord Minto's telegram of the 25th October, and I have recently learnt from the Press that Sir W. Mulock has left Canada for Mexico on official business with the Government of that Republic. As your Ministers will understand, I am anxious to give to the Governments of Australia and New Zealand an early indication of the date on which the Conference will begin its deliberations. I shall, therefore, be glad if you will inform me when it will be possible to arrange for Sir W. Mulock's presence in London. It is hardly necessary for me to point out that it is most important that the difficulties which have led to the appointment of the Conference should not be allowed to continue to exist any longer than is absolutely inevitable, and that it is, therefore, desirable that Sir W. Mulock should be here at the earliest possible date. I shall be glad if you will keep Sir S. Fleming informed of any arrangements made in connection with the Conference. I have, <fee, Alfred Lyttelton. Governor-General the Right Hon. Earl Grey, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 33. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, Downing Street, sth January, 1905. With reference to my despatch of the 9th December last, I have the honour to transmit to you for the information of your Ministers, copy of a correspondence with the Canadian Government from which it will be seen that it has now been arranged that the Pacific Cable Conference shall'meet as soon as possible after the 7th May next. T have, (fee., Governor, the Right Hon. Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., &c. Alfred Lyttelton.