F.—7

1880. NEW ZEALAND. Is,

LEASE OF SPECIAL WIRE (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO).

Presented to loth Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. A. Q-. Hoeton to the Hon. the Commissioner of Telegbaphs. Sib,— United Press Association, Wellington, 27th February, 18S0. In reference to our conversation yesterday, I have now the honor to submit, on behalf of the directors of the United Press Association, the following memorandum respecting a fresh lease of a special wire between Auckland and the Bluff, with such changes and modifications as have, in the course of the past fourteen months, been found to be absolutely necessary to the successful working of the system for Press purposes. I also beg to ask for one or two other modifications on behalf of the Association in matters of detail, where the regulations are found to press unfairly or heavily upon the Press of the colony. Special Wire. The following is the basis upon which the Association will be prepared to lease : — 1. That a now lease be granted for a special wire between Auckland and the Bluff for a period of three years from the^st May next. 2. That the hours for the use of such special wire be from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays when Parliament is not in session, and from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on the same days when Parliament is in session. That on Saturdays, when Parliament is not in session, the hours be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ; and when Parliament is in session, from 7to 12 p.m. That on Sundays the hours be from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30, except when the San Francisco mail arrives after 10 p.m. on Saturday or on Sunday, when the wire shall be open to 10 p.m. on Sunday. 3. That all messages unfinished at closing time be finished to all papers requiring them either on time or at Press rates. 4. That the special wire be not taken under any circumstances for ordinary Press purposes. 5. That a substantial rebate be allowed when the special wire is interrupted. 6. All messages to be timed. 7. No charge to be made for extra copies. General. Messages for morning papers put in at 5 o'clock stations, between the hours of 4 and 5 p.m., to be transmitted that night at evening rates. The principal stations, formerly opened until 10 o'clock p.m., to be again opened to that hour for Press purposes. The head office of the Association in Wellington to be allowed to receive 2,000 words during the day at evening rates, the Wellington papers being reduced to 500 words each. I have, &c, The Hon. John Hall, Commissioner of Telegraphs. A. Gr. Hoetok.

No. 2. The Secbetaey for Telegbaphs to Mr. A. Gr. Hoeton. Sib, — New Zealand Telegraph Department, 16th March, 1880. I have the honor, by direction of the Commissioner of Telegraphs, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th February ultimo, embodying a proposal on behalf of the United Press Association for a fresh lease of a special wire between Auckland and the Bluff, with certain modifications of existing arrangements.