F.—3a.

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

TELEGRAPH CABLES (FURTHER PAPERS RESPECTING NEGOTIATIONS FOR).

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

No. 1. The Seceetaey of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — ' downing Street, 25th June, 1877. I have received your Despatch, No. 20, of the 10th April, enclosing a memorandum from your Ministers, requesting the aid of Her Majesty's Government in bringing under the consideration of the Government of the United States the resolution passed at the recent Intercolonial Conference at Sydney, authorizing your Government to ascertain whether the Government of the United States would be prepared to aid in the laying of a telegraph cable between the United States and New Zealand, and to contribute liberally towards the cost. In compliance with the request of your Ministers, I will forward copies of all the papers in the case to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and will request his Lordship to transmit them to the British Minister at Washington, with instructions to bring the wishes of your Government uuder the consideration of the Government of the United States. I have, &c, Governor the Most Honorable • Caenaevon. The Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G., &c.

No. 2. The Seceetaey of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Downing Street, 23rd August, 1877. With reference to your Despatch, No. 20, of the 10th of April, and to my reply of the 25th of June, No. 27, relating to the wish of your Government to ascertain whether the Government of the United States would be prepared to aid in the laying of a telegraphic cable between tho United States and New Zealand, I have the honor to inform you that, in consequence of instructions from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Washington duly brought this matter to the notice of tho United States Government. Prom a Despatch recently received from Mr. Plunkett, it appears tlrat Mr. Seward, the Acting Secretary of State, informed him that the question would receive consideration ; but that, as the matter was one which would require the action of Congress,-tlre Secretary of State would wish to confer with him further in regard to it, at some time before the assembling of Congress in October. Mr. Plunkett subsequently took an opportunity to inquire of Mr. Seward whether there was really any prospect of the United States Government contributing materially to the carrying out of the scheme, or whether they only proposed to give it moral support. Mr. Seward said that that would depend entirely on the cost, and on the manner in which the scheme was to be carried out; but he understood Mr. Seward to be of opinion that, great as would be tho benefit of such a cable to general commerce, there could not be much hope that Congress would vote any considerable sum of money towards the completion of such an undertaking. * I have, &c, Governor the Most Honorable Caenaevon. The Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G., <fee.

By Authority : Geoboe Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington. —1877. Price 3d.]