A.—2

No

18.

(No. 57.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 16th August, 1904. I have the honour to inform you that I have received from the Governor of the Transvaal a report on the services rendered by certain officers employed by the Central Judicial Commission, Pretoria, in connection with the investigation and the assessment of the claims of protected burghers. 2. Major Mclnerney, the Chairman of the Commission, states that Major G. E. Johnstone, New Zealand Contingent, who was specially employed for the work in connection with military compensation claims, performed his duties with marked ability, and I shall be glad if you will bring this report to the notice of your Ministers. I have, &c. Governor Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., &c. ALFEED LYTTELTON.

No. 19. (No. 59.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th August, 1904. With reference to my predecessor's despatch (No. 61) of the 22nd August, 1903, and subsequent correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letterjjfrom the Treasury, enclosing copy of the Auditor's report on the accounts of the Pacific Cable Board for the year ended 31st March last. 2. I shall be glad if your Ministers will make arrangements, as soon as possible, for paying to the Imperial Government the sum of £9,750 2s. 9d. I have, &c, ALFEED LYTTELTON. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Plunket, X.C.V.0., &c.

A.-2, 1904 No. 23.

Enclosures. Sir, — Treasury Chambers, 15th August, 1904. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Lyttelton, that the Pacific Cable Board's account of the expenses of the cable for the period ended 31st March last has now been audited. A copy of the Auditor's report is enclosed herewith, from which it will be seen that the deficit on the working of the cable for the period in question amounts to £87,751 4s. 5d., and the sums therefore recoverable from the colonial Governments are as follows : — £ s. d. . Australia, six-eighteenths .. .. .. .. .. 29,250 8 2 Canada, five-eighteenths .. .. .. .. .. 24,375 6 9 New Zealand, two-eighteenths .. .. .. .. .. 9,750 2 9 63,375 17 8 I am accordingly to request that you will move the Secretary of State to communicate with the colonial Governments concerned in order that these amounts may be paid as soon as practicable to the credit of the account of the vote for telegraph subsidies and Pacific cable. A copy of the printed account as presented to Parliament is also enclosed. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. G. H. Murray.

Sir, — Treasury Chambers, 9th July, 1904. I have the honour to report that I have audited the accounts of the Pacific Cable Board for the year ended 31st March, 1904, in accordance with the instructions conveyed in their Lordships' minute of the 17th April, 1902 (3998/02), and have found them correct. The annual expenses of the cable, as described in section 3 (2) of " The Pacific Cable Act, 1901," so far as they were not met out of the receipts arising in connection with the cable, amounted, in the year ended 31st March, 1904, to £87,751 4s. 5d., and a sum of £63,375 17s. Bd., representing thirteeneighteenths of the net expenditure, is therefore recoverable from the colonial Governments, viz.,— £ s. d. Australia, six-eighteenths .. .. .. .. .. 29,250 8 2 Canada, five-eighteenths .. .. .. .. .. 24,375 6 9 New Zealand, two-eighteenths .. .. .. .. .. 9,750 2 9 63,375 17 8 I beg to submit that the account forwarded with the Pacific Cable Board's letter of the 4th instant (11980/04) be presented to Parliament in compliance with section 7 of " The Pacific Cable Act, 1901." I have, &c, The Secretary to the Treasury. G. 11. Hunt.

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