TO THE GOVERNOR OE NEW ZEALAND.

33

A.—No. la,

Enclosure 1 in No. 53. Viscount Monck to Earl Geantille. British Australian Telegraph Company, Limited, 100, Palmerston Buildings, Broad Street, London, E.C., My Loed, — 26th January, 1870. I have the honor to lay before your Lordship the prospectus of the British Australian Telegraph Company. The Company has been formed for the purpose of connecting Singapore, Java, and Australia with the line of telegraphic communication between England and Singapore, to be provided by the Ealmouth, Gibraltar, and Malta, the Malta and Alexandria, the British Indian, and British Indian Extension Cables. For the project which has been undertaken by the Company, the whole of the capital has been subscribed, and a contract concluded with the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company for cables to connect Singapore and Java, and Java with Port Darwin in A.ustralia, and for land lines thence to Burketown. The order for the cables has been given, and the first instalment of sixty thousand pounds has been paid. I cannot doubt that the project now submitted will receive the same countenance and support that your Lordship has already afforded to the associated undertakings for connecting Ceylon with Singapore and China. I venture, therefore, on behalf of the Company, to ask the permission of Her Majesty's Government to land the cables, and. to acquire suitable accommodation at Singapore and .Port Darwin, with permission to erect land lines between Port Darwin and Burketown, and furthermore that every possible facility may be afforded to the Company in conducting its operations. The Company will be prepared to make due provisions for the punctual transmission of messages on Her Majesty's Service, and to observe the conditions usually imposed, as far as they are compatible with the obligations rendered necessary by our international position in connecting British with Dutch Possessions. I have, &c., Monck, The Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. Chairman of tho Board of Directors.

Enclosure 2 in No. 53. Mr. Heebeet to Viscount Monck. My Loed, — Downing Street, 16th March, 1870. I am directed by Earl Granville to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th January, enclosing a prospectus of the British Australian Telegraph Company, and requesting on behalf of that Company the permission of Her Majesty's Government to land their cables and acquire suitable accommodation at Singapore and Port Darwin, with permission to erect land lines between Port Darwin and Burketown, and furthermore asking that every possible facility may be afforded to the Company in conducting their operations. In reply, I am to inform your Lordship that so far as Singapore is concerned, Lord Granville is prepared to accede to the application of the Company on the following conditions: — 1. That the Company undertake to lay their cables before the close of the year 1871. 2. That priority be given to all Government messages. 3. That Her Majesty's Government have the power of taking possession of the cable in the event of emergency arising, subject however to the Company being entitled to reasonable compensation. 4. That the Company engage not to dispose of their undertaking to any Eoreign Government, or to any other Company without the assent of Her Majesty's Government. On your signifying the assent of the Company to these conditions, the Secretary of State will forward copies of the correspondence to the Governor of the Straits Settlements for his guidance, and will instruct him to afford every assistance in his power to the Company : but he reserves to himself full power to afford similar facilities to any other Company or Companies if at any time he may think it expedient to do so. With regard to the request of the Company to be allowed to land their cable at Port Darwin, and to erect land lines between that port and Burketown, I am to state that it is not in Lord Granville's power to grant such permission. The control of such matters rests entirely with the Local Governments, but his Lordship will forward to the Governors of South Australia and Queensland, a copy of your Lordship's letter and the prospectus of the Company, and will put them, as well as the Governors of the other Australian Colonies, in possession of the views of Her Majesty's Government as to the conditions on which it is desirable that facilities for telegraphic communication should be granted. I have, &c, Viscount Monck, Chairman of the British E. G. W. Heebeet. Australian Telegraph Company, Limited.

Enclosure 3 in No. 53. Lord Monck to Earl Geanville. 100, Palmerston Buildings, London, E.C., My Loed,— 31st March, 1870. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the 16th instant, 9