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No. 22. The Hon. J. H. Gobdon, Adelaide, to the Hon. J. G. Waed, Wellington. Telegram). Adelaide, 18th August, 1892. Accept thanks for your courteous telegram of yesterday.

No. 23. The Manages in Australasia for the Easteen Extension Telegeaph Company to the Seoeetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 19th August, 1892. Chaieman cannot entertain Mr. Ward's request for company to take larger proportion risk, and instructs me say company have not sought proposed increase international tariff but the colonies ; and it by no means follows that loss will be reduced as expected by Mr. Kidd, as tendency any increase being to retard the development of traffic.

No. 24. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Geneeal, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 19th August, 1892. Hope Cable Company will agree to increased foreign rates. Have written to Queensland urging that colony to join in guarantee.

... No. 25. The Deputy Postmastee-Geneeal, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Genekal, Wellington. Sic,— General Post Office, Melbourne, 16th August, 1892. In confirmation of my telegram of yesterday, I have the honour, by direction, to inform you that a Conference consisting of the Postmasters-General of New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria, and the permanent heads of the Post Office and Telegraph Departments of the colonies named, met at this office on the 13th and 15th instant to discuss, inter alia, the proposals of your Government as set forth in your telegrams of the 28th and 29th ultimo. The following resolutions were passed by the Conference : — 1. That in view of the heavy loss sustained by the principal colonies in connection with the cable guarantee dated 31st March, 1891, it be a recommendation to the respective Governments concerned that the following alteration in the tariff be adopted, with the concurrence of the Eastern Extension Company, and brought into operation on the Ist October next—viz. : Ordinary messages to be increased from 4s. to 4s. 9d. per word. 2. That the extra cost of 9d. per word be apportioned as follows—viz. : To cable companies, 7d.; to South Australia, 2d. 3. That the proposal by the Government of New Zealand to join the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania in the present guarantees to the Eastern Extension Cable Company and the Government of South Australia be accepted by the colonies mentioned. 4. That the Honourable the President of the Conference be authorised to communicate with the Eastern Extension Cable Company and the Governments of the other agreeing colonies (other than New South Wales and South Australia) conveying the result of this Conference, and to have charge of all correspondence relating thereto, and of the arrangements necessary to bring the resolutions of the Conference into effect upon their being confirmed by the various Governments. The third resolution is founded on the terms set forth in your telegrams referred to above. I am communicating with the Eastern Extension Cable Company on the subject of the increased rates, and informing them that it is the desire of the colonies to bring such increased rates into force by the Ist October, if the company can possibly make the necessary arrangements by that date. I may add that telegrams were received by the Conference from Tasmania and Western Australia, intimating that these.colonies agreed to your proposals. A full report of the proceedings of the Conference will be forwarded to you at an early date. I shall be glad to learn from what date you propose that the rates on the New Zealand cable be reduced. I have, &c, James Smibeet, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. Deputy Postmaster-General.

No. 26. The Hon. the Postmasteb-Genebal, Wellington, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, sth September, 1892. Shall be glad of reply to my cable of 17th ultimo, re reduction land rates, intercolonial messages.