3?.— A.

8

No. 25. Agent-General, London, to the Premier, New Zealand. 27th January, 1880. Eastern Telegraph says you must intimate through Government New South Wales your joining in subsidy ; otherwise not entitled to new tariff.—Vogel.

No. 26. The Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Postmaster-General, Sydney. 28th January, 1880. We are informed from London that this Government must intimate through you our joining in subsidy for duplicate cable ; otherwise not entitled to reduced tariff. Telegram to you from PostmasterGeneral Fisher, 31st May, 1879, stated New Zealand joins subject to consent of Parliament. Question not yet brought before New Zealand Parliament owing to pressure of other business. Without prejudice to our position as above stated, willing to pay subsidy until Parliament decides. Eeduced tariff very little value to New Zealand. —John Hall, Postmaster-General.

No. 27. The Postmaster-General, Sydney, to the Postmaster-General, Wellington. 3rd February, 1880. Beferring to your telegram 28th January, Colonial Secretary has been requested to instruct our Agent-General to inform Cable Company that your Government agrees to pay share cable subsidy until your Parliament considers and decides matter.—Saul Samuel.

No. 28. The Agent-General, London, to the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Sir,— 26th January, 1880. Beferring to your letter No. 84, of the 3rd June last, desiring me to inform the Board of Directors of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company that New Zealand had signified its intention of joining in the scheme for duplication of the cable, I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a telegram with which Colonel Glover, the Chairman of the Company, has furnished me, aud respecting which I was unable to give him any information, as I had received no further communication from the colony since I informed, in accordance with instructions, the Eastern Extension Company of the intention of New Zealand to join in the scheme. Colonel Glover added that it was a matter of no great importance to his Company, inasmuch as the subsidy was guaranteed by the Victorian and New South Wales Governments, but that it affected New* Zealand inasmuch that, if the New Zealand Government desired to take advantage of the reduced rates provided for in the contract, their joining in the scheme must be advised to the Company through the New South Wales Government. I have, &c, Julius Vogel.

(Enclosure.) Taylor, Sydney, to Gloyee, London. 20th January, 1880. Zealand Government replies cable ship may go so far wo are concerned; but it is to be understood such consent in no way commits the Government to the duplication subsidj', consent of Parliament not having been obtained. I can't get reply from Sydney. They trying arrange that all colonies share in duplicate subsidy. —Taylor.

No. 29. The Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Agent-General for New Zealand, London, Wellington, 28th February, 1880. Sir, —On the 2nd January I addressed to you a letter explaining that I had ascertained that many telegrams to and from England strictly on Government business were being charged for at full rates, notwithstanding the liability of this colony to contribute largely towards a subsidy payable to the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company, one of the objects of which was to secure a reduction of charge on Government messages, and I made suggestions as to a remedy for this state of things, which had arisen out of the limited meaning which, in the agreement with the company, had been put upon the term " Government message." I supposed that messages between the Agent-General and the Premier, as being clearly within the arrangement, were being transmitted at the reduced rates ; but the voucher sent by you for payments to the Company during November last shows that the full charge of 10s. Bd. per word was made for messages from yourself to the Premier, as well as for those from the Loan Agent to the Premier. I cannot now ascertain whether you were officially advised of the making of the agreement with the Company, or whether a copy of that document was sent to you. If not, I beg to refer you to the Appendix to the Journals of the House of Bepresentatives, Session 1., 1879. You will see that New Zealand's adherence to the agreement is subject to the approval of Parliament, which has not yet been obtained ; but the question will be raised as soon as conveniently it can be after the House meets in May next. The rate per word payable to the Company under the agreement (exclusive of the Australian cable charge) is 7s. lOd. This is what is paid to the Company here upon messages from the Premier to yourself, and more should not have been collected in London upon messages from yourself to the Premier. lam advised that the Company will, upon application, refund the excess of payment made. I am of opinion that telegrams such as pass between the Crown Agents for the Colonies or the Loan Agents for New Zealand and the Premier are in the strictest sense " Government messages," and that to require that they should be paid for at full rates is entirely opposed to the spirit of the agreement, whatever may be supposed to be implied by the letter of it.