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The Agent, Sydney, to the Eastern Extension Company, London. 20th September, 1885. Zealand Parliament negatived ten years' proposal, but passed five years' at £5,000 annually as Zealand proportion. Will company accept this ?
The Eastern Extension Company, London, to the Agent, Sydney. 30th September, 1885. Company only agreed to concession applied for by Sydney Postmaster-General—namely, one shilling reduction for ordinary telegrams, and threepence per word for Press, under guarantee, on condition subsidy renewed for another term ten years. If colonies unwilling renew for more than five years, company must maintain present rates and accept shorter term, leaving whole question to be reconsidered at end five years.
The Eastern Extension Company, London, to the Agent, Sydney. 22nd December, 1885. As subsidy expires early February, and some little preparation necessary if company compelled put up rate, Chairman wishes you ascertain what arrangements colonies propose.
The Agent, Sydney, to the Eastern Extension Company, London. Bth January, 1886. Interview with new Postmaster-General, who agrees, and is pressing Zealand for ten years' subsidy, sixpence word rate without ten word minimum, threepence word rate for Press without guarantee. I advise company accept this.
The Agent, Sydney, to the Eastern Extension Company, London. 21st January, 1886. Eobertson, Premier, now in communication with Vogel; says ten years agreed by his Cabinet.
The Agent, Sydney, to the Eastern Extension Company, London. 26th January, 1886. No reason to expect Zealand alter decision already telegraphed you, but Sydney Government request company wait till reply received to following telegram : " Bobertson, Premier, Sydney, to Vogel: Our Cabinet agreed with Extension Company in reference cable charges on terms submitted to you with ten years' currency, subject to ratification of Parliament by this Government. So far as it is concerned the matter now remains with you either to approve or decline."
The Agent, Sydney, to the Eastern Extension Company, London. 31st January, 1886. Following is Vogel's reply to Premier, Sydney : " Our House limited for subsidy to five years, and that on condition of sixpence per word for ordinary messages, threepence Press without minimum, and we cannot exceed authority. I explained this to your Postmaster-General."
The Hon. the Commissioner of Telegraphs, New Zealand, to the Chairman, Eastern Extension Company, London. Bth February, 1886. Your various messages will be considered by a Cabinet in course of a few weeks.
The Agent, Sydney, to the Eastern Extension Company, London. 22nd February, 1886. Sydney Postmaster sent Vogel copy Samuel's message, and said : " Company having conceded all required regarding Zealand cable hopeful Vogel's Government would join them in Darwin subsidy, so that reduced rate over Darwin and Zealand cables may come into operation without delay."
The Chairman, Eastern Extension Company, to the Agent-General. Sir,— Winchester House, 50, Old Broad Street, 9th June, 1886. Referring to my interview with you on Monday last, when I submitted to you the telegram I had received from the Postmaster-General of New Zealand relative to the negotiations for renewal of the New Zealand cable subsidy, I now have the honour to send you, as arranged, a copy of the telegram forwarded in reply. Should you wish to telegraph to your Government on the subject, I shall be happy to frank the telegram if you will send it to this office. I have, &c, John Pender, Sir E. Dillon 8011, K.C.M.G., &c, Agent-General for New Zealand. Chairman.
The Secretary, Eastern Extension Company, to the Agent-General, New South Wales. Sir,— Winchester House, CO, Old Broad Street, 10th June, 1886. I am directed by the Chairman to transmit to you a copy of a telegram received from the New Zealand Government relative to the negotiations for the renewal of the New Zealand cable subsidy, together with a copy of the company's telegram forwarded in reply. You will observe that, with a view to an amicable settlement of the question, the company have offered to apply the same principle to the New Zealand tariff as that embodied in the letter