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No, 9. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Under-Secretary, Lands and Survey Department. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 22nd May, 1906. 1 forward herewith copy of a request from the General Manager of the Pacific Cabrfe Board, who was recently in Wellington, that Block IV, Mangonui Survey District, consisting of 15 acres 2 roods 16 perches of Crown land, for which the Board has been charged £32, might be vested in the Board. A copy of subsequent correspondence, including Solicitor-General's opinion as to the course to be pursued to meet the desire of the Pacific Cable Board, is also attached. I shall be glad if you will arrange for the preparation of a Bill as decided upon by Cabinet. Particulars of the block of land will be found in the New Zealand Gazette of the 13th February, 1902, No. 12, page 339. Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. The Under-Secretary, Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington.

No. 10. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Under - Secretary, Public Works Department, Wellington. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 28th May, 1906. Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay. In reference to my memorandum of the 26th March last [No. 27, F.-8, 1906], replying to yours of the 7th March, on the subject of the land at Doubtless Bay reserved by Government for the purposes of a cable-station, but presumed to have been subsequently purchased by the payment of £32 by the Pacific Cable Board, I have now to inform you that the amount of £32 is not being refunded meantime. It is proposed to sell the land to the Board, and, as there is no legislative power to do so at present, that power will be sought at the coming session of Parliament. Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, Wellington.

No. 11. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the General Manager, Pacific Cable Board (at Sydney). Sir,— Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 31st May, 1906. In reply to your letter of the 20th April last about an area of 15 acres 2 roods 16 perches at Doubtless Bay reserved by Government for the purpose of a cable-station, I have now the honour to inform you that it is ascertained that the Government has no power to alienate the land permanently without further legislation. As the period for which the land could be leased would be too short for your purposes, I propose seeking the necessary legislative authority at the coming session of Parliament. Meantime the amount of £32 which it was proposed to retransfer to you as wrongly paid for the fee-simple of the land will be retained in anticipation of being treated as the purchase-money or part purchase-money of the land in question. I have, &c, Albert Pitt, C. H. Reynolds, Esq., General Manager, Pacific Cable Board, For the Premier, care of the Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney.

No. 12. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubless Bay. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, Ist June, 1906. In reference to recent correspondence, I have now to inform you that Mr. Reynolds has been written to from this office, and informed that, as it is impossible to alienate the area of 15 acres 2 roods 16 perches permanently without further legislation, legislative authority is to be sought for the purpose at the coming session of Parliament. Meantime the amount of £32 paid for the land is being retained as the purchase-money or part of the purchase-money ultimately. Thomas Rose, Acting-Secretary. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay.

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