F.—Ba.

No. 23. The President of the Hobart Conference to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. (Telegram.) Hobart, sth April, 1898. Conference closed. In absence satisfactory proposal Eastern Extension alternative cable vid Africa unable to make fresh arrangements with company. Conference opinion Pacific-cable project should be consummated soon as possible. Governments of colonies requested represent to Imperial and Dominion Governments this opinion, with proposal Premiers' Conference Britain and Canada one-third each, colonies other third.

No. 24. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, to the Hon. the Premier, Adelaide. (Telegram.) Wellington, 7th April, 1898. Pacific cable : I much regret Imperial authorities have decided not to render financial assistance to Pacific cable. This Government does not intend taking any action re Cape project.

No. 27. The Hon. the Premier to the Agent-General. Sir,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 11th May, 1898. I have the honour to forward you a copy of the resolutions adopted at the recent Hobart Postal and Telegraph Conference in reference to the Pacific-cable question and the alternative proposals of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for laying a cable between the Cape of Good Hope and Western Australia [see F.-3, 1898, p. 7], and to request you to be so good as to bring the resolutions under the notice of the Colonial Office, with a strong expression of opinion from the Government of its earnest desire to see the Pacific-cable project adopted jointly by Great Britain, Canada, and the Australian Colonies on the basis indicated in the second resolution. Although the Imperial Government appears to have announced recently that it is not now disposed to support the Pacific-cable scheme, as for strategic reasons it favours the later proposals for a Cape of Good Hope-Western Australian cable, I am yet hopeful that the resolutions of the Hobart Conference may have such weight with the Imperial authorities as will induce them to reconsider the whole question and to assist the colonies in establishing cable-communication between Great Britain and Australasia by way of the Pacific and Canada in the general interests of commerce. • You have already been advised that the counter-proposals of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company are not favoured by this Government. I have written in similar terms to the Premier of Canada. The Hon. W. P. Beeves, I have, &c, Agent-General for New Zealand, London. S. J. Seddon.

No. 30. The Hon. the Premier and Colonial Treasurer, Sydney, to the Hon. the Premier, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 19th November, 1897. Committee on proposals re additional telegraphic communication between Great Britain and Australia suggests that Secretary of State for the Colonies be asked to sanction representation of Australia by two gentlemen instead of one, as interests of eastern and western portions of Australia are not in all respects identical; also, that Mr. Playfair and Sir Daniel Cooper be appointed Australian representatives, with instructions that they shall in no way bind colonies to any proposal that may be submitted. Do you concur ? Am telegraphing, also, to Premiers of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

No. 31. The Hon. the Premier, Wellington, to the Hon. the Premier, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 20th November, 1897. After careful consideration Government have decided to take no action direction suggested by Committee on proposals re additional telegraphic communication between Great Britain and Australia. Look upon scheme as being counter to Pacific-cable movement. Prefer to await Canada's decision re Pacific cable.

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