TELEGRAPH EROM THE IMPERIAL AUTHORITIES.

E.—No. 7.

9

Tour letter under acknowledgment has also been referred to the same gentleman, and he has replied promising to forward to this office the returns applied for, so far as they are completed, in a few days. I annex a copy of the reply referred to, for the information of the Government. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. F. Whitaker.

Enclosure in No. 13. Copy of a Minute attached to G. A. 67-176. The returns referred to (which are very voluminous) were put in hand immediately after the receipt of the previous instructions. They have occupied the whole of the time of the clerical staff of the office that could be spared, without interfering with the daily business of the office, and could not be prepared sooner without additional clerical assistance. So far as they have been completed the returns shall bo forwarded in a few days. 7th March, 1867. W. W.

No. 14. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Whitakee to the Hon. E. W. Staffoed. Office of the Agent for the General Government, Sib— Auckland, 22nd March, 1807. Referring to my letter of the number and date quoted in the margin, I have now the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth of December last, giving cover to the copy of a Memorandum by the Hon. tho Postmaster-General, with reference to the Electric Telegraph in this Province, aud requesting to be furnished with returns of the business transacted and the revenue derived at each station during the last six months that the telegraph was under military control. In compliance with your request, I now beg leave to enclose herewith a Return of the " Messages forwarded " during the six months referred to, namely, from Ist of April to 30th September, 1866, inclusive, showing the number of messages forwarded by the Military Authorities, the General and Provincial Governments, and the public, together with the amount received from the latter, the only messages from which a revenue is received. The remainder of the returns called for shall be transmitted as soon as possible after they are received at this office. , I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Feed. Whitakee.

No. 816, March 11,1867.

No. 15. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Gisborne to Mr. J. Williamson. (No. 156.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Sir,— - Wellington, 20th May, ISO7. As the Government wishes to make more definite arrangements for the management of the telegraph in the Province of Auckland, it proposes, with your Honor's concurrence, that Mr. Weaver, the Provincial Engineer, should remain in charge as at present, but under the title of " District Manager " of the Telegraph Lines in the Northern District, which, for the present, will comprise that portion of the line northward of Opotiki. He would in this capacity be an officer of the General Government, and correspond direct with, and receive instructions from, the Commissioner of Electric Telegraphs, referring in cases of emergency to the Government Agent at Auckland, and supplying him with any information said Agent may desire, and receiving salary at the rate of £150 per annum—the whole arrangements, however, to be provisional, and to be revised when the progress of the lino from Wellington to Auckland may render such a step nceessary. If your Honor concurs in this arrangement, I shall be obliged if you could cause the enclosed letter, noted in the margin, to be delivered to Mr. Weaver. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, W. Gisboene, Auckland. Under Secretary. Enclosure in No. 15. Copy of a Letter from the Hon. J. Hall to Mr. Weavee. General Post Office, Sib,— Wellington, 18th May, 1867. The question of the management of the General Government Electric Telegraph in the Northern part of the Island having been under the consideration of the Government, it is found desirable that the officer by whom this department is administered should be in more immediate communication with the Electric Telegraph Commissioner than has hitherto been the case. The Government entirely appreciates the services which you have up to the present time gratuitously rendered to it in the management of the line, and will be glad if you should find a continuance of these services to bo compatible with your other duties as au officer of the Provincial Government. I have accordingly, with tho concurrence of His Honor the Superintendent of Auckland, to request that you will continue to administer the department referred to as " District Manager " of Electric Telegraphs for the " Northern District," which will comprise that portion of the Island which 3

W. Weaver, Enti. Manager, Auck--"""J , )j. c P „ jg e^ rap '