F.—s

8

No. 23

The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, Bth November, 1892. All contracting colonies have now agreed to enter into supplementary agreement with New Zealand to contribute towards cost of restoring cable in event of same being interrupted by reason of war. Kindly have matters pushed on so that new rates may come into force soon as possible.

No. 24. Mr. Warren to Mr. Gray. (Telegram.) Melbourne, Bth November, 1892. Following is amended agreement* which, if approved by Mr. Ward, will be telegraphed to your Agent-General with any instructions Mr. Ward may wish to give him.

No. 25. Mr. Gray to Mr. Warren. (Telegram.) Wellington, 10th November, 1892.' Hon. Mr. Ward approves of proposed amended agreement, as cabled by you on eighth, on understanding that other colonies sign subsidiary agreement sharing war-risk, and £8,773 of the £13,160 we have to make good to company. Agent-General will be instructed to sign agreement on behalf of New Zealand, if it be your company's wish that agreement be executed in London.

No. 26. Mr. Warren to Mr. Gray. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 10th November, 1892. Have shown Smibert your telegram. He will wire you re subsidiary agreement. Amended agreement has been wired to London for your Agent-General. Please instruct him re signing it; also to sign with other Agents-General the amended guarantee agreement—namely, for the increased tariff, four and ninepence per word. If you will send me your message for Agent-General it will be transmitted free of charge.

No. 27. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 10th November, 1892. Subsidiary agreement will be drawn up for signatures of the Governors of all contributing colonies, sharing war-risk, and arranging that each colony contribute share of thirteen thousand odd pounds on basis of population of each colony.

No. 28. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram, franked by Eastern Extension Company.) Wellington, 11th November, 1892. Please sign on behalf of colony amended cable agreement which has been cabled to London by Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. Also sign amended guarantee agreement for increased tariff four and ninepence per word. Subsidiary agreement will be executed by colonies sharing war risk, and contributing loss company intercolonial cable. Also co-operate Agents - General and company against India's claim for extra fifteen centimes.

No. 29. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, to the Secretary, General Post Office. The Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Sir,— Melbourne, 14th November, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, and the enclosed copies of service telegrams exchanged since the 10th of October. My service of 20th October, commencing " See Schedule Three " should read " Ordinary rate would then be five and two " instead of " five and three." I beg to enclose two copies of the agreement as amended. *

* Not printed: for form of agreement as finally made and signed see Enclosure 2in No. 35.