TELEGRAPH CABLE NEGOTIATIONS. (PAPERS RELATING TO A PROPOSED SECOND LINE FROM AUSTRALIA.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, F-04a

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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

TELEGRAPH CABLE NEGOTIATIONS. (PAPERS RELATING TO A PROPOSED SECOND LINE FROM AUSTRALIA.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Iso. 1. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— Sydney, New South Wales, 18th May, 1876. I have the honor to invite the attention of your Government to the subject of making provision for a second telegraph cable to connect the Australasian Colonies with the rest of the world. 2. As might have been, and indeed was, predicted long ago, very great inconvenience has arisen from telegraphic communication between Australia and Europe being confined to a single line. The evidence taken by a Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly of this colony, in the year 1873, was strongly in favour of a second line. The evidence of merchants and professional gentlemen who had given great attention to the subject of telegraphy, showed that its use was very much limited between places very far apart, except where comparative certainty of communication was guaranteed, by the existence of more than one line. It was stated, for example, that no merchant would dare to conduct his financial business with the mother country, as a rule, by means of telegraphy, if he had to depend on a single line. And this uncertainty, it was alleged (to say nothing of its generally depreciating effect upon the value of telegraphy as a means of communication), greatly reduced the class of business alluded to, and in a variety of ways limited the number of messages along the lines. 3. There appear to be four prominent modes of making provision for a second line :— Ist. By the use of the line from Sydney to New Zealand, and thence by the Sandwich Islands to San Francisco. This line would probably cost something like £2,100,000, which, without the aid of America, would, however desirable, be too expensive. Mr. Cracknell, our Superintendent of Telegraphs, will shortly visit America, and will then endeavour to ascertain whether, notwithstanding that the Great Republic has up to this time done little or nothing for cable communication, there be any prospect of aid from that quarter. 2nd. By a cable from Normanton, in Queensland. This line would ultimately take the same course as Nos. 3 and 4, the lines which appear to be the only ones from which Australia can now choose ; and as it would require 700 or 800 miles more cable than the longest of those lines, it must, I fear, be passed by, as each mile costs upwards of £300. 3rd. By a cable from Port Darwin alongside the present cable,* and substantially following the same course on land through Java, and taking the route

* See Postscript. I—F. 4a. v

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through Sumatra and via Malacca, in place of the cahle to Singapore, &c. This line would he the least expensive of all the lines, hut would have the objection, a very great one, of passing through Dutch telegraph offices, thereby causing difficulty in interpreting telegrams, and the still greater objection of having to pass through the disturbed portions of Sumatra occupied by turbulent tribes. 4th. By a cable from Port Darwin, touching at Copang, and at some convenient place to enable it to serve as a second line from Java, and on to Singapore, &c. This line would, lam told, cost something like £750,000; but as it would be entirely clear of interruption for Australian messages, it would he in that regard superior to No. 3, as well as being free from other objectionable features of that route. 4. In considering the question of the early establishment of a second cable, for the reasons I have already given, it appears to me that the only course open is to adopt either No. 3or No. 4; and in considering how best to bring about an arrangement that could be acted upon with least inconvenience and delay, I think the business should be intrusted to the contractors of the present cable. 5. Any other mode of proceeding would meet with great difficulty. South Australia, without whose co-operation any second cable from Port Darwin would be impossible, could scarcely be expected to permit it even if it had the power — which I understand, by its agreement with the present contractors, it has not—to allow a competing cable from that place; and as the present contractors are in every way as capable as others, and are, I believe, quite willing to enter upon the work, and, having already officers, appliances, &c, for working the present line, could work the second at greatly less expense than any other company could, it seems to me that it would he best to treat with them. 6. In making this arrangement, it would be very desirable to include in it a reduction of rates to £3 per message, and 6s. per word over ten words, which I understand is in accordance with the Company's expressed willingness, as stated in their recent communication to South Australia on the subject, for an annual subsidy of £20,000. 7. Leaving with the Company the whole of the earnings of the new cable, the same way as those of the present cable have been left, I think that for a payment of £15,000 of subsidy they would supply it. Of course, the provisions for keeping the second line open would be similar to those for keeping the present line open. 8. In order to provide for these annual payments of £35,000,1 would propose that the Colonies of Victoria, New Zealand, Queensland, Tasmania, and New South Wales should contribute rateably according to their population. 9. South Australia, in consideration of the great efforts and great expenditure she has already made in the cause of telegraphic communication with Europe, should, I think, not be called upon to contribute, unless, indeed, she objected— which I presume is highly improbable —to an overland line from Normanton to join her line at the Roper River. 10. In the event, however, of South Australia making such objection, it would be only reasonable for her to come in and share and share alike with the other colonies; and in that case, it would be desirable to connect with the South Australian overland line by a line from Wilcannia, in New South Wales, to which place a line is about to be constructed. 11. I am, of course, aware that objection may be made to the absence in the proposals herein made of providing for a second land line throughout the Australian Continent, unless South Australia permitted connection from Normanton, in which case all that would be required to insure a second line would be placing one from the Roper to Port Darwin—a very small affair ; but very little inconvenience ever arises by delays in working the internal lines. 12. The arrangement for payment for messages passing over the lines of the -respective colonies could be carried out in the same way as they now are, modified by way of reduction, perhaps, if that could be agreed to. 13. Should your Government be willing to enter upon the arrangement I have proposed, the amount you. would become responsible for would not be great, and would, of course, be liable to favourable modification should South Australia determine not to allow communication from Normonton to the Roper.

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14 I have placed these views on paper, in the hope thereby to obtain consideration for the important question of satisfactory telegraphy between Australia and the rest of the world, and am certainly unweddecl to any particular mode. Will you be good enough to give the matter your early attention, and inform me whether or not you are willing to entertain the project ? I have, &c, The Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. John R-obertson. P.S. —It may be, and I think it likely, that the best course for the second cable will be found to be by way of the shallow seas north of Timor, instead of the course of the present line to the south of that island ; but, even so, the length of cable would not be much greater.—J. R.

No. 2. Memorandum by the Commissioner of Telegraphs on the proposed Duplication of Cable Communication with Europe, and Arrangement for Reducing Cable Charges. I have carefully considered the despatch of the Premier of New South Wales, dated May 18th, 1876, relative to establishing a second line of cable communication with Europe, and reducing the cost of messages. This despatch has crossed a memorandum by me on the subject of cable communication generally, suggesting a Conference of the Australasian Colonies to consider the question. Before reviewing the proposal of the Hon. Mr. Robertson, I must record my sense of the liberality of the views he expresses, so wholly free as they are from that local bias which too often prevents combined action on the part of these colonies. I agree with Mr. Robertson as to the necessity for a second line of cable communication. "With a single line only, business on a large scale cannot be conducted with implicit reliance on the use of the cable. These colonies suffer on account of their distance from Great Britain and Europe; had the distance been less, they* progress would have been and would be much greater. It is obviously their policy to do all that science places in their power, at a reasonable cost, to lessen the disadvantages of distance. A second line of cable, which would insure permanent communication, and a low rate of charge for messages, would powerfully aid in that direction; and I believe the colonies would wisely expend a reasonable amount upon such objects. If the plan which has for a long while been under consideration, of the English, Indian, and Colonial Governments acquiring the through line, cannot be carried out, I am of opinion that the Eastern Extension Company is in the best position for contracting to duplicate the line. It must, however, be borne in mind that if an arrangement were entered into with the present Company, competition would be wanting; and, therefore, it should be a condition of such arrangement to limit the charges to be made. I ana of opinion that this would be preferable to trusting to competition, with all the chances of amalgamation or mutual agreement to keep up prices, that would probably soon follow the commencement of open opposition. Mr. Robertson appears to have forgotten that the reduction of rates to which he refers is one of the conditions contained in the contract between the two colonies and the Eastern Extension Company for the construction of the New Zealand Cable. By that contract the Company covenants, for the sum Mr. Robertson mentions, to reduce the rates as he suggests, namely, to £3 for ten words, and 6s. a word additional, for an annual subsidy of £20,000. This applies only to as far as Port Darwin; thence to Adelaide, Melbourne, &c, the rate is, I believe, Is. a word. When the contract was made, the rate between London and Australia (Darwin) was £8 6s. 6d. per twenty words, and half that amount for each additional ten words, or for any addition of less than ten words. Subsequently, after

P. 4, page 35 : reprinted as Appendix to this paper.

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the St. Petersburg Conference, the Company voluntarily altered the rate to 9s. 6d. a word to Darwin. lam of opinion that it would be a retrograde step to return to other than a word-rate; and instead of the bonus being paid for a tariff of £3 for ten words, and 6s. a word additional, I should recommend that 6s. a word be stipulated for. I do not think that £20,000 a year is an excessive subsidy for such a reduction : indeed, some correspondence which took place in England showed that it was not unreasonable. After a time, as population increased, it might be gradually diminished. South Australia has always expressed itself desirous of arranging for a reduced tariff, and has never shown any disinclination to share the expense. I think that that colony should pay a portion of this subsidy, but should be excepted from contributing to the subsidy for a new line. The route the duplicate line should take is very important; and Ido not think any duplication will be satisfactory which stops short of India, whence there are two lines to Europe. I am of opinion that better routes can be found than any of those mentioned by Mr. Robertson, by making the point of departure some part of the coast of Western Australia. Telegraph communication between Albany (King George's Sound) and Adelaide will be completed in nine months; and from Albany, communication with the North is already extended as far as Geralton (Champion Bay). If North-West Cape, which forms one side of Exmouth Gulf, be taken as the point of departure, telegraph communication between it and Champion Bay can be readily effected—more readily, I believe, than communication between Normanton and Darwin. It would give a duplicate line from every part of Australia —for there are duplicate lines between Adelaide and the Eastern colonies —to the point of departure from the Australian coast. If Port Darwin were the point of departure, there would be a duplicate line to it, if it were connected by a land line with Normanton; but, as I have said, that would be more costly than completing the communication to North-West Cape. Between the two lines there would be a saving of about 200 miles in the extension to North-West Cape. This saving of land line is not very great, and other considerations for or against Port Darwin or North-West Cape, as the point of departure, should be considered. The choice seems to rest between the two; for lam of opinion the American route is too costly for present consideration, and to make the cable depart from Normanton would involve a needless waste of money, to say nothing of the dangers of the coral seas. Recent inquiries in England show that a cable from Normanton can answer no useful purpose. There are three routes from Western Australia worth considering, — Ist. To the eastern end of Java, thence through Java, and a second line to Singapore. 2nd. To the western end of Java, with a line to Singapore. 3rd. To Galle. The first would resemble the present line from Java to Singapore; the difference would be on the Australian side. As I am advised, the distance from Darwin to Banjassangi, a bay at nearly the eastern extremity of Java, by present line, is 1,040 miles; whilst from North-West Cape to 4 the same bay in Java the distance would be 800 miles. There seems to me no question of the advantage of this route over the present: it is much shorter, and it would, as I have already mentioned, connect with a totally independent Australian land line. But even if the distance were greater, it would be a preferable route, for there would be much less danger from coral formations and other obstructions between Western Australia and Java than along the present line. The comparison just made is with the route now used. If a comparison be instituted between the routes I have suggested and the one which Mr. Robertson favours, the result will be as follows : — Erom Darwin to Singapore by Copang would involve a distance by sea of about 1,890 miles. This does not include the detours that might be required to avoid islands and shoals, of which there are many. By the present route the sea distance is only 1,555 miles, and the land line about 600 miles. By Route 1, from Western Australia, the distance to Singapore would be about 1,315 miles by sea, and 600 by land.

See F. 4, Nos. 9 to 12, Part 111.

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By Route 2, from North-West Cape to Singapore the distance would he 1,618 miles, or ahout 300 more miles of cahle than Route 1, but no land line. It would require much less cable (over 250 miles) than the line proposed by Mr. Robertson, and about a hundred miles more than the present route, but, as I have said, with a saving of the land line. It would probably be better than No. 1, for it Avould be independent of the Java land line ; a mere transmitting station at Java would suffice. It would thus be a more complete duplicate of the present line, whilst the Java Government would perhaps make the terminal charge, if any, much less than the charge for using the whole extent of land line, and the saving would probably repay the extra distance of cable. Before proceeding to consider the third route, which proceeds direct to Galle from Australia, I will put in simple form the distance to Singapore from Australia by the various routes already referred to :— Ist. From Darwin by present route, through Java to Singapore —1,550 miles sea and 600 land. 2nd. Erom Darwin by Mr. Robertson's route, via Copang, to Singapore — 1,890 miles sea. 3rd. Route No. 1, from Western Australia, via east end of Java, to Singapore—l,3ls miles sea and 600 land. 4th. Route No. 2, from Western Australia, via west end of Java, to Singapore —1,618 miles sea. To the first two of these routes, about 600 miles of land line must be added, for the distance from Normanton to Darwin ; and to the last two, about 420 miles of land line must be added, for the distance from Geralton (Champion Bay) to North-West Cape. Route 3, that from Western Australia to Galle, is in some respects the best, if considered only in the light of a thorough duplication to India. The distance to Galle from Western Australia would be 2,673 miles. A convenient stopping place on the way might be found at the Cocoa Islands. The distance from Singapore to Madras, by way of Penang, is 1,641 miles. Adding this distance to the present route, the route proposed by Mr. Robertson, and Nos. 1 and 2 from Western Australia, we have, against 2,673 miles to Galle, these results respectively to Madras: — Present route —Land line, 600 miles ; sea line, 3,191 miles. Mr. Robertson's—Route by Copang, sea line, 3,531 miles. Western Australia, No. I—Land1 —Land line, 600 miles; sea line, 2,956 miles. Western Australia, No. 2 —Sea line, 3,259 miles. Possibly the Company may have reasons, in connection with their line to China, for preferring to duplicate the line by Singapore to laying a new line by Galle. Taking, however, the two minimums, we may conclude that 2,673 miles of cable can be made to form an entire duplication to India, and 1,315 miles a duplication to Singapore, exclusive of the land line through Java. In all cases, lam taking the distances roughly, without allowing for slack. The two lines just mentioned would probably mean a cost of £450,000 to Singapore, and £900,000 to Galle. Mr. Robertson estimates the cost by his suggested route to Singapore at £750,000. That from Singapore to Madras would scarcely be less than £550,000, unless the line was carried up the Malay Peninsula by land, a route to which there are insuperable objections. I am not aware on what grounds Mr. Robertson names £15,000 as the subsidy for a second line. I should consider it reasonable if it conditioned for a complete duplication through to India, whether by way of Singapore or Galle. If it only provided for duplication to Singapore, I doubt whether it is worth entering into the transaction; and I should be decidedly averse to it if the duplication did not include a second land line through Australia. If we do not disapprove of the amounts named, I do not think we should make it a condition to adopt the Western Australia route, however much it seems to be preferable. If it is still desired to use the Darwin route, let it be so, but only on the conditions of through communication from Normanton to Darwin, which would give a second land line throughout, and of an entirely separate communication from the point of departure in Australia to India. 2—F. 4a.

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I have before suggested that South Australia should not be called on to contribute to the £15,000. I agree that, with this exception, both amounts should be subscribed by the colonies, which, in each case, should contribute in proportion to the population. There are so many details, that I am of opinion correspondence will not settle the matter. It would be better to have it considered by a Conference; besides that, to discuss many questions connected with cable communication, a Conference is desirable, as pointed out by me in the memo, to which I have already referred. As nothing can be decided on behalf of this colony without the approval of Parliament, it will be desirable that this Government should as early as possible be made aware of the course likely to be acceptable to the other colonies, in order that authority may be asked during the coming Session to enable the Government to take part in the Conference or agreement, as the case may be. In conclusion, I express the hope that this colony will be able to cordially co-operate with New South Wales in effecting the great work desired. Wellington, 13th June, 1876. Julius Vogel. Since writing the above memo., I have had brought under my notice the letter from the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, dated 2nd June, and have received a letter from Mr. Audley Coote, dated the 6th June. Copies are attached. The Colonial Secretary's letter does not alter the opinion I have expressed about the American route. In addition to its costliness, the route is objectionable, on account of its involving the use of the lines of a private company, w^ith numerous transmitting stations across the Continent of America. The cost of messages from San Francisco to England alone, is nearly as much as is proposed to be paid through to England from Australia. Mr. Coote's letter, strangely enough, proposes the routes I have already suggested. With respect to the offers which this gentleman makes, it is to be remembered that his principals were not willing, or not able, to carry out the arrangements he formerly made. Wellington, 16th June, 1876. Julius Vogel.

No. 3. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir, — Sydney, New South "Wales, 2nd June, 1576. With reference to my letter of the 18th of last month, on the subject of making provision for a second telegraph cable to connect the Australasian colonies with the rest of the world, I have the honor to inform you that Monsieur Simon, the Consul of France at Sydney, has written to acquaint this Government that, if it were proposed to lay down a second line of telegraph between Australia and Europe by way of America, the Government of New Caledonia would be disposed to cooperate in the enterprise, in so far as concerns the securing a minimum of interest to the company undertaking the speculation. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary of John Robertson. New Zealand, Wellington.

No. 4. Mr. Audley Coote to the Hon. Sir J. Vogel. Sir,— Petty's Hotel, Sydney, 6th June, 1876. Permit me to inform you that I have made three new proposals to this Government for the duplicate cable to London, as I have always been afraid of the shallow water and coral to the north of Australia, and which, in my humble opinion, is not the best route.

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No. 1. Viz., By cable to be supplied from. " Exmouth Gulf," North-West Cape, Western Australia, to Banjoewangi; thence overland by existing Dutch lines, via Batavia, to Singapore ; from Singapore by overground lines, via Rangoon, Calcutta to Kurrachee; thence by Indo-European lines to London. No. 2. By cable to be supplied from Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, to Anjer or Batavia; thence through Sumatra to Singapore; thence to Rangoon, Calcutta, and Kurrachee; thence by Indo-European lines to London. No. 3. By cable to be supplied from Perth, Western Australia, to Ceylon; thence by Indian Government lines to Kurrachee ; thence by Indo-European lines to London. I have also included a land line from Perth to Exmouth Gulf. I have, &c, The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, Premier, &c, Audley Coote. Wellington, N.Z.

No. 5. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New South Wales. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, Sir,— 16th June, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters, No. 189, of May 18th, and No. 323, of June 2nd, relative to making provision for a second telegraph cable, to connect the Australasian colonies with the rest of the world. In reply, I have the honor to forward to you six printed copies of a memorandum by the Commissioner of Telegraphs, which has been approved of in Cabinet, and represents the views of this Government. Copies of the paper are being forwarded to each of the other Australian Governments. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Daniel Pollen. New South Wales, Sydney.

No. 6. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Hon. the Chief Secretary, Victoria. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, Sir,— 16th June, 1876. I have the honor to enclose, for the information of your Government, copies of a Parliamentary Paper, containing correspondence respecting a proposed second telegraph cable, to connect the Australasian colonies with the rest of the world. I have, &c, The Hon. the Chief Secretary, Victoria, Daniel Pollen. Melbourne [Similar letter to Governments of South Australia, Queensland, WesternAustralia, and Tasmania.]

No. 7. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel to Mr. Aublet Coote. Sir,— Wellington, 16th June, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge, with thanks, your letter of June 6th, respecting a proposed duplication of the telegraph cable from Australia. I have, &c. Audley Coote, Esq., Sydney. Julius Vogel,

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. APPENDIX. TELEGRAPH CABLE COMMUNICATION. Memorandum by the Commissioner. The Commissioner of Telegraphs is very much impressed with the necessity which exists for the Australasian colonies coming to a common understanding, and acting in concert in future, with respect to cable communication with other countries. At the recent Telegraph Conference at St. Petersburg, they were not represented, though subjects of great interest to them were under consideration, and somo resolutions were arrived at from the effect of which they already suffer. The Commissioner specially alludes to the tea-letter per word regulation, and to the regulation imposing an increased charge for inquiry concerning, and correction of, mistakes. It is believed that outside Europe these regulations were left to the discretion of the companies ; but it is a significant indication of the little consideration these colonies have received, that even the results of the Conference do not appear to have been officially communicated to them. The Commissioner does not doubt that if the attention of the English Postal authorities be directed to the subject, arrangements will be made to admit of the Australasian Colonies being represented at the nest Conference. To enable this to be done, however, it is necessary they should arrive at an understanding between themselves. The Commissioner is under the belief that by means of these Conferences, and otherwise, the various Governments of Great Britain, Europe, and India exercise great control over the cable companies. The two companies communicating with India, as also the one which from India communicates with Australasia, are certainly to a considerable extent under the regulating influence of the Government of India. It was alleged to the Commissioner, during recent negotiations in England, that the Indian Government would not allow the two companies working between India and Europe to compete with regard to prices, but insisted upon a certain tariff not being reduced. Probably the action of the Indian Government was not correctly described, or there is some good reason to justify it; but it would be important to these colonies to understand what that action is. The Government of India always show courteous attention to these colonies, and doubtless would answer any inquiries. But it would be better that the inquiries should proceed unitedly from the colonies, than from a single one. It would be still better if the Government of India would depute some one to represent them at a Colonial Conference. It is not too much to gay that Australasia is dependent upon India for the nature and facilty of its cable communication. At the Conference of the Australasian Colonies, held at Sydney in 1873, the opinion was entertained that it was undesirable the charge of cable communication between Australia and England should be in private hands, and the whole people subjected to heavy charges, to profit shareholders in joint-stock companies. The idea was that the Imperial, Indian, and Australasian Governments should jointly raise the money necessary for either purchasing or constructing a through line, and that while each country and colony should retain the revenue received in its hands, each should contribute to the interest, maintenance, depreciation, and charges, in proportion to the revenue it derived. This proposal found no favour in the eyes of the then Imperial Government, and there does not seem to have been any communication with India on the subject. But the policy of the present Imperial Government is widely different; and a project which would give to Great Britain, India, and the Australasian colonies a national line, would probably not be unacceptable to a Government that has shown so much interest in keeping open the road to India and Australasia. The purchase of the Suez Canal shares, with the presumption it establishes that England will at least insist upon the neutrality of that highwa}', affords the means of an unbroken communication between England, India, and Australia, without passing through any foreign country. The Lisbon Station avoided, and the Canal neutral, the through route of the Eastern Company might be considered free from any foreign complications ; and, by avoiding Java, the same would be the case with the Eastern Extension route. At any rate, the subject is well worthy of revival. Considering that the interior systems of telegraph of Great Britain, India, and the colonies are all in the hands of the respective Governments, a connecting Government cable appears to be a natural consequence, whilst to allow the cables to remain in private hands seems to be wholly inconsistent. Another pointy apparently not of much present moment, but one that with time will gather importance, and which cannot be too soon dealt with, is that of the naming of towns and cities. When a telegraph station has a name of which there is no duplicate in any other part of the world, the expense of designating the part of the world may be avoided in transmitting a message. But when it possesses a name similar to another elsewhere, the cost of sending messages to it is always enhanced; and with a rate of 10s. 6d. a word, the consideration is not a slight one. Eor example, for messages to Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch, the name New Zealand is unnecessary, but for messages to Wellington it is otherwise : there are Wellingtons in other parts of the world. Even in New Zealand itself, there are several cases of two towns of the same name, and there are similar examples on the Australian Continent. The transmitter of a message to Maryborough, for example, would have to designate whether he meant Maryborough in Victoria or in Queensland. Simple precautions would prevent the duplication of names in future. There are other matters, relating to both internal and external telegraphy —such, for instance, as tariffs, conditions, regulations, &c. —about which uniform action by the colonies is most desirable. These various considerations point, in the opinion of the Commissioner, to tho desirability of the Australasian colonies coming to some understanding in relation to the telegraph. It might be desirable to have a Conference, or else for the colonies, by correspondence, to take united action.

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If the other colonies agree that it is desirable to move the Imperial Government to admit the colonies to representation at the next Conference, and to obtain from that Government and from the Government of India information as to their views upon the points herein raised, such request might be made by indorsing this memorandum, without the necessity of an immediate Conference, and the Conference could be held when the answers had been received. The Government of New Zealand, on receiving an intimation to that effect from the other colonies, would, on their and its own behalf, make the necessary representations to the Home Government. Probably, however, as the Colonies of Victoria and New South Wales use the telegraph most largely, the representations might best be made by them jointly; besides that they could more conveniently seek the views of the neighbouring colonies, and make arrangements which would, in the future, result in common action by all these colonies on telegraph questions. Julius Vogel. "Wellington, 4th April, 1876. [Approved of in Cabinet; and copies forwarded to the Government of each of the Australian colonies.]

By Authority: Geobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. Price 6d.]