F.—B

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Zealand to join Australian Colonies basis guarantee four-ninths total cost of construction and annual deficiency; New Zealand proportion guarantee not exceed one-eighth whole cost. Governments to own cable. Canada to control, but colonies to be represented and vote on all matters. Eates—3s. per word, ordinary messages ; 25., Government; Press, Is. per word, and 6s. per hundred words. Eeport will be considered by House this week.

No. 18. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Mr. J. C. Lockley, the British Empire Telegraph Cable Corporation, Nhill, Victoria. Sir, — ' General Post Office, Wellington, 16th September, 1898. I have the honour, by direction of the Postmaster-General, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist instant [not printed], forwarding certain proposals of the British Empire Telegraph Cable Corporation to submerge and maintain on a co-operative basis with the interested Governments the projected Pacific cable. The proposals will receive consideration. I have, &c, J. C. Lockley, Esq., W. Gray, Secretary. The British Empire Telegraph Cable Corporation, Nhill, Victoria.

No. 19. The Agent-Genebal to the Hon. the Peemiee. (Telegram.) London, 17th September, 1898. Pacific cable : Colonial Office asks whether Government determined guarantee one-ninth cost cable. Am anxious to know as soon as possible.

No. 20. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-Genebal. (Telegram.) Wellington, 19th September, 1898. Public Accounts Committee reported favour New Zealand being responsible proportion guarantee Pacific cable not exceeding one-eighth whole cost. Eeport be considered by House this, week, Inform Imperial authorities colony almost sure find one-ninth.

No. 21. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in Austealasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. Sib,— General Post Office, Wellington, 24th September, 1898. In reference to my letter of the 18th ultimo and to your telegram and my reply of yesterday [not printed], I have now the honour to return the half-yearly balance-sheets of your company for the past eight years, with the thanks of the Hon. the Postmaster-General and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee for the opportunity of perusing them. The balance-sheets will be reproduced in the parliamentary papers reporting the proceedings of the Public Accounts Committee, of which 1 shall have the pleasure of sending you a copy. [See 1.-7, 1898.] I have, &c, W. Geay, Secretary. W. Warren, Esq., Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Melbourne.

No. 22. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to Sir Sandford Fleming, Ottawa. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 28th September, 1898. 7 lam directed by the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd June last [not printed; but see No. 3, F.-Ba, 1898], and to thank you for the printed documents on the subject of the proposed Pacific cable, which you were so good as to enclose. [See Nos. 14 and 15, F.-Ba, 1898.] I am to forward copy of the report of the parliamentary Committee of the New Zealand Parliament which dealt with the Pacific-cable question, and to say that Mr. Seddon has further referred to the position in a private letter to you. • I have, &c, .... ~• . .... - . W. Gray, Secretary. Sir Sandford Fleming, K.C.M.G., Winterholme, Ottawa, Canada.