5

P.—B

No. 5. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 17th October, 1905. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th July last, forwarding copy of correspondence between the Eastern Telegraph Company and the International Office at Berne, on the point whether a terminal administration should, on the occasion of an interruption, divert messages to a more expensive route only after collecting from the sender a higher charge. I note your remarks in regard to interruptions south of Norfolk Island, either on the Australian or the New Zealand side, and trust that the decision of the Commonwealth will be favourable to your proposal. A copy of the instruction issued to our officers as to the treatment of diverted cable traffic is enclosed herewith for your information. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The General Manager, The Pacific Cable Board, Queen Anne's Chambers, Tothill Street, Westminster, London, S.W. [B.E. Misc. 05/106.]

Enclosure in No. 5. [Extract from Official Circular dated 2nd October, 1905.] In the case of temporary interruptions to the Pacific Cable between Norfolk Island and New Zealand, or to the New Zealand land lines (such as happened on the 2nd August last), messages for Norfolk Island, Fiji, Fanning Island, Sandwich Islands, America, Great Britain, and Germany, presented unrouted, or marked "via Pacific," must bear the route indicator " via Extension and Southport." All other messages should bear the indicator "via Extension." Rectifying services referring to cablegrams that have been diverted " via Extension and Southport " are, if presented after communication has been restored, to be marked and sent " via Pacific." [E.B. Misc. 05/99.] j

No. 6. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 26th January, 1906. In reply to yours of the 18th July last, I beg to state that the proposals made therein for a departure from the present method of accounting are not acceptable, mainly on the ground that they involve additional accounting-work and complicate the adjustments on international messages. If it can be arranged to effect settlement with your company at Nelson for all traffic beyond the confines of New Zealand, matters would be very much simplified, and I would have no hesitation in recommending the adoption of such an arrangement if it meets with your approval and that of the other Administrations concerned. I have, &c, W. Gray, Secretary. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Melbourne. [E.E. Misc. 06/10.] . : ;

No. 7. 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, 2nd February, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th January, and to note your opinion that, if a settlement at Nelson for all traffic beyond the confines of New Zealand could be arranged, it would very much simplify matters. lam therefore submitting the same to our superintendents, Sydney and Nelson, for their-consideration and report. I have, <fee, W. Warren, The Secretary, Posts and Telegraphs, Wellington. Manager in Australasia. [E.B. Misc. 06/15.]