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No. 76. The Eight Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. Sir,— Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 26th June, 1905. I have the honour to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your letter of the 13th April last, forwarding copy of the circular letter prepared by the Ottawa Board of Trade on the subject of the Empire cables. I had already received a copy of the circular from the Board of Trade, and the Postmaster-General has just replied to it. I forward a copy of Sir Joseph Ward's letter herewith. I have, &c, Albert Pitt, For Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. ITel. 05/543(1).]

No. 77. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary to the Board of Trade op the City" of Ottawa, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 26th June, 1905. I have the honour to inform you that the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon has referred to me your letter of the 20th January last [not printed], covering report of the Council of your Board on the " Empire cables " movement, and detailing the steps taken to ascertain the views of commercial and trade associations thereon in the British dominions; and also your subsequent letter of the 15th March [No. 41, F.-8, 1905], forwarding copy of your Board's circular letter No. 3 on " Empire cables." I thank you for the communications. The subject is one in which the New Zealand Government is in sympathy with your Board. I may explain that Sir Sandford Fleming had also brought the question under the notice of this Administration, and suggested that it might be discussed at the forthcoming Pacific Cable Conference. He was, however, informed that the subject was regarded as being of such importance as to claim the consideration of a Conference of Premiers to be specially assembled for the purpose. . I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. Cecil Bethune, Esq., Secretary to the Board of Trade of the City of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. ITel. 05/543.] . . _ Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,550 copies) £21 4s.

By Authority : Johh Maokay, Government Printer, Wellington.-—1906. Price 11-.]:::.'.":■:. " .