F.—B.

4

circuitous and expensive route owing to an interruption of the direct route during the transmission of the message. Tho question has been raised whether the original terminal administration has the power to divert such telegrams without collecting the additional tariff, and I should be glad to be favoured with your view of the reading of the regulations. A case in point would be a telegram from Queensland to Switzerland, charged by this colony's route at a tariff of 3"75fr., but owing to the interruption of the Australian land lines forwarded via the British Pacific Cable, by which the normal tariff is 4r'65 fr. per word. I am, &c, The Director, International Bureau, Berne. W. Hibbeedine, Traffic Accountant.

Enclosure 2 in No. 2. The DiRECTOB, International Telegraph Bureau, Berne, to the Eastern Telegraph Company, London. (Translation.) International Bureau of Telegraph Administrations, Sir,— Berne, 29th May, 1905. By your letter of 22nd May last, referring to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Regulation XLII and to paragraph 5 of Regulation LXXVI of the London Convention, you ask us if an original terminal administration can, on account of an interruption, transmit telegrams by a more expensive route than that for which the rate has been collected. It seems to follow from the terms themselves of Article XLII that the interruption which gives the right to the benefit of the more expensive route, with pro rota division of the cheaper rate, should take place during the course of transmission. There can then be no doubt upon the question submitted. From the moment an interruption takes place upon its own lines, the original terminal administration is not justified in accepting a telegram for a route that it knows to be interrupted, and it should apprise the sender, and call upon him to pay the full tariff of the more expensive route. Accept, &c, For the International Bureau of Telegraph Administrations, E. Feet, Director. The Director, The Eastern Telegraph Company, Electra House, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C.

No. 3. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Sir, — Melbourne, 17th July, 1905. I have the honour to enclose for your information a copy of a notice giving particulars of the alteration of standard time in India, also to send you copy of letter [Enclosure 1 in No. 2] to the Berne Bureau in reference to " diverted traffic " referred to in my letter of 17th April [Enclosure in No. 3, F.-8, 1905], and the latter's opinion on the point raised. I have, &c, W. Warren, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Manager in Australasia.

No. 4. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Sir,— Melbourne, 18th July, 1905. I have the honour to inform you that the Adelaide and Sydney Government Telegraph Departments have introduced a new checking system for the daily international message accounts, and wish the New Zealand portion to be included; but apparently you have not so far been asked by them to fall in with it. I therefore enclose for your perusal copies of service messages exchanged between our Messrs. Selfe, Nelson, and Raymond, La Perouse, on the matter, and to ask if your Department has any objection to the adoption of the new system for settling the New Zealand accounts. If not, will you please so advise Mr. Selfe, so that it may be carried out in accordance with the Adelaide and Sydney Departments' wishes? I have, &c, W. Warren, Manager in Australasia. W. Gray, Esq., Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. E.E. Misc. 05/73.] ...... •