9

F.—s

The amended agreement with the contributing Governments for the 4s. 9d. per word international tariff having been agreed to, the several Agents-General have been instructed by wire by their respective Governments to sign it on their behalf. With regard to the difficulty with the Indian administration, joint action is being taken by the Agents-General and the company against India's claim for an additional 15 centimes per word, and the Secretary wired on Saturday that meetings with the Agents-General were held yesterday and to-day, and a joint letter of protest was sent to Lord Bipon on Friday afternoon, with a request for an interview on Monday (to-day) with the Secretary of State for India. I have, &c, Wh. Warren, W. Gray, Esq., Manager in Australasia. Secretary for Bost Office, Wellington.

No. 30. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 12th December, 1892. I agree to Sir John Pender's proposal re sharing extra rate should India decline reduce it.

No. 31. Mr. Warren to the Hon. the Postmaster-General. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 15th December, 1892. Notice has been given to Berne that new tariffs are to come into operation on Ist January next.

No. 32. Mr. Warren to the Hon. the Postmaster-General. (Telegram.) Melbourne, 20th December, 1892. Berne has formally notified all Administrations that new rates commence Ist January.

No. 33. The Secretary, General Bost Office, to the Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company. Bost Office and Telegraph Department, General Post Office, Wellington, Sir,— 16th December, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th ultimo, enclosing two copies of the form of amended cable agreement. You would learn from the cablegram which I asked you to transmit on the 11th ultimo that the Agent-General for New Zealand has been requested to sign, on behalf of this colony, the amended cable agreement and the guarantee agreement for the increased tariff of 4s. 9d. per word, and to co-operate with the Agents-General of the other colonies and your company in protesting against India's claim for an additional 15 centimes per word. I have, &c, W. Warren, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Melbourne.

No. 34. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 15th November, 1892. Sir, — Cable Rates. I have the honour to inform you that I attended with the other Agents-General (Queensland excepted) at the Colonial Office for the purpose of meeting Lord Bipon (Secretary of State for the Colonies) and Lord Kimberley (Secretary of State for India), respecting the demand made by the Indian Government for a share in the extra 9d., which the Australasian Colonies propose to charge for cablegrams to recoup portion of loss. Sir John Pender and Mr. Hesse, Chairman and Secretary of the Eastern Telegraph Company, were also present. After listening to arguments, most of which are contained in the joint letter (copy herewith) of the Agents-General to Lord Bipon, Lord Kimberley expressed himself as anxious to meet the wishes 2—F. 5.