7

F.—4,

ment signed "Wellington, Bth July, 1878, by Eisher, Burns, and Glover. If so, reduced tariff might come into force. Reply, as two months' notice to be given National Office.—Taylor.

No. 18. The General Manager of Telegraphs, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Cable Company, Sydney. 23rd December, 1879. The Commissioner says cable ship may go, so far as the New Zealand Government is concerned; but it is to be understood such consent in no way commits the Government to the duplication subsidy, consent of Parliament not having yet been obtained.- —C. Lemon, General Manager.

No. 19. The Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Wellington, 2nd January, 1880. Sir, —You will be aware that, by an arrangement with the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited) for a duplicate cable, it was provided that the tariff for " Government messages "to and from the arranging colonies should be considerably reduced. But it has been brought to my notice that, owing to the limitation put upon the term " Government Messages " in the written agreement with the Company, a large proportion of the telegraphing connected with the public business of New Zealand has been paid for at full rates. The limitation referred to will be found in paragraph 10 of the agreement of 1878. That paragraph has been so far modified by the Company, at the request of this Government, that New Zealand " Government messages" are to be sent by and to the Premier instead of the Chief Secretary; but it remains that any message sent by the Premier to or received by him from the Loan Agents for the Colony, the Crown Agents for the Colonies, or any body or person except the Agent-General, is held to be not a " Government message," and is charged for at full rates. I am of opinion that such a limitation is unreasonable, and ought not to have been inserted in the agreement. To meet the difficulty, it is proposed that all telegrams upon public business from New Zealand shall be sent to the A gent-General, whose registered address for the time being shall be used; and that, when a message is not for the Agent-General, or not solely for him, the first word in its body shall be a code word, indicating the department, institution, person, or to whom the message is to be forwarded or its contents communicated. This will effect a considerable saving, and it cannot, I think, be open to objection on the score of inconvenience. I am forwarding to the Loan Agents and to the Crown Agents a copy of this letter, with a request that they will communicate with you, so that any objection to the proposal, or any suggested modification of it, may be promptly considered by the Government. If, after the receipt of this letter, you telegraph " Duplicated " as the first word of a message, I shall understand that my proposal has been considered as is now suggested, and that it is regarded as not open to objection.—l have, &c, John Hall.

No. 20. The Agent, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company, to Superintendent of Telegraphs, Wellington, 9th January, 1880. Glover telegraphs that, according to agreement, it is necessary for New South Wales to notify to us the Government's contribution to the duplicate cable subsidy, so as to admit to benefit of reduced rates. This has not yet been done for New Zealand. Please get it done at once, as, if Company do not act up to contract as legally drawn, we shall get into difficulties: hence my desire to get all formalities complied with. Please reply. —S. Kneyitt, Agent, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company, Adelaide.

No. 21. The Superintendent, Cable Company, Sydney, to the Superintendent of New Zealand Telegraphs. 22nd January, 1880. With reference your message 23rd December release " Agnes," our Board cannot understand your reservation, or the difficulty. When Colonel Glover in Wellington your Government agreed to contribute, and since then Vogel has formally notified to Company that his Government has joined.— Taylor, Superintendent Cable.

No. 22. The Superintendent, Cable Company, Sydney, to Superintendent of Telegraphs, Wellington. 22nd January, 1880. Beg also to point out that you have claimed benefits of a contributing colony in reduced rates for through Government messages, and have received them. Please explain.—Taylor.

No. 23. The Superintendent, Cable Company, Svdney, to Superintendent of Telegraphs, Wellington. 28th January, 1880. Please reply to my service of 22nd. Board want have some explanation your former message, therein referred to. —Taylor.

No. 24. Superintendent of Telegraphs, Wellington, to Superintendent, Cable Company, Sydney. 28th January, 1880. Be service of 22nd, please see Hon. Mr. Hall's telegram to Postmaster-General, Sydney, this day.— C. Lemon.