TELEGRAPH EROM THE IMPERIAL AUTHORITIES.

5

E.—No. 7.

No. 378, Oct. 5, 1866, 978 E.

Enclosure in No. 6. Memorandum of Conditions of Transfer of the Military Electric Telegraph, Auckland Province, from the Imperial to the Colonial Government. 1. The sum of £2,276 Os. 9d., as sot forth in the annexed statement, to be paid from the Sub-Treasury in Auckland to the Deputy Commissary-General on the completion of the transfer. 2. The Auckland terminus to be removed from the present hut in Albert Barracks immediately to a place outside the Barracks. 8. As each station is given over, the office and material transferred to be placed in charge of a servant of the Colonial Government, or the office to be closed, as the Colonial Government may prefer. In the latter case, the present employes to join the detachment of troops at tho station. If it be desired to keep the office open, and to retain the staff until a future day (not extending bevond the date of the transfer of the last station transferred), the stores and material will be on charge of the Colonial Government; but the receipts for private messages will be credited to tho Imperial Government, in order that the receipts of the whole line may be closed the same day. 4. Any stores or implements, camp equipage or tools, not included in the sums shown in the annexed statement, and which may be at the Telegraph Office and required to be kept by the Colonial Government, to be transferred on payment. 5. All the books, &c, at present in use will be closed to the day of final transfer, and with all the records of the telegraph retained by the Quartermaster-General's Department. 6. After the transfer, the Colonial Government will allow all Military Service Messages to be sent free of expense in the same manner as has been hitherto allowed in the case of Service Messages of tho Colonial and Auckland Provincial Governments. The existing Rules as to Military Service Messages, therefore, to continue in force. The services of Corporals Hrodie and Butcher, .Royal Engineers, to be retained by the Colonial Government as long as the Secretary of State for War may sanction it, the Colonial Government, meanwhile, paying all expense under the head of Imperial Pay and Allowances (in addition to Telegraph pay), to which these non-commissioned officers are entitled. I have, &c, Predk. Whitaker, D. J. Gamble, Colonel, Wellington, 14th August, 186G. Deputy Quartermaster-General. Cost of Construction of Military Electric Telegraph, as reported to Secretary of State £ s. d. for War ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,599 2 1 Deduct cost of Labour, including Onehunga Office ... ... ... 548 8 9 2,050 13 4 Add value of Stores received in first instance from England ... ... 510 17 11 2,561 11 3 Deduct one-third for depreciation ... ... ... ... ... 853 17 1 1,707 14 2 Add estimated present value of Onehunga Office (original estimate for construction, £91 13s. Od.) ... ... " ... ... ... ... 70 0 0 Add Stores received from Sydney, deducting say £19 13s. 6d. for trifling part used ... 330 0 0 Add Stores received from England per ship " Aliquis," on hand ... ... 168 6 7 2,276 0 9 Fredk. Whitaker, Wellington, llth August, 18GG. D. J. Gamble, Colonel, Deputy Quartermaster-General.

No. 7. Copy of a Letter from Dr. Pollen to the Hon. E. W. Stafford. (No. 554.) Office of the Agent for the General Government, Sir,— Auckland, llth October, 186G. I have the honor to enclose herewith the copy of a letter of the number and date quoted in the margin and its enclosure, also marginally noted, received by me from the Deputy-Commissary-General E. Strickland, with reference to tho payment by the Colonial Government of the sum of £2,276 Os. 9d, to the Imperial Military Chest, on account of the transfer of the Military Electric Telegraph to the Colonial Government. I have now the honor to report that the transfer of the Electric Telegraph has been finally completed, and I beg leave to request that the Sub-Treasurer, at Auckland, may be authorized to pay this amount into the Military Chest. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Daniel Pollen, Wellington. for the Agent for the General Government. 2