F. —Ba.

Sub-enclosure 2 in Enclosure 1 in No. 53. The Officer Administering the Government of New South Wales to Mr. Chamberlain. (Telegram.) Sydney, 17th January, 1901. Referring to your telegram of Bth January, my Ministers advise that Pacific Cable Board has no power to deal with any matter affecting Post Office except Pacific cable. Our Post Office will probably pass to Federal Government at the end of next month, when cable rates would necessarily be uniform. At present this State pays 4s. lid. per word, while the adjoining State pays 3s. 6d. Paving the way for uniformity in the Federal service, my Government has entered into agreement with Eastern Extension Company for uniformity of rate from Ist February.

Enclosure 2 in No. 53. The Secretary to the Agent-General to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., 25th January, 1901. I am directed by the Agent-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, inclosing copy of a telegram which had been received from the Officer Administering the Government of New South Wales, on the subject of the agreement entered into by the Government of that State with the Eastern Telegraph Company, and, in reference thereto, to express his regret at the action taken by the New South Wales Government. I am to add that the Agent General would be glad to co-operate in any steps which might possibly be taken with a view to the reconsideration of the question at issue. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Walter Kennaway.

Enclosure 3 in No'. 53. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Agent-General. Sir, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, S.W., 26th January, 1901. With reference to your letter of the 25th instant, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, for your information, copy of a correspondence with the Agent-General for Victoria with reference to the proposals made to his Government by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for the conclusion of an agreement similar to that recently entered into by the Government of New South Wales. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Bertram Cox.

Sub-enclosure 1 in Enclosure 3 in No. 53. The Agent-General for Victoria to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir, — Victoria Office, 15, Victoria Street, S.W., 22nd January, 1901. I have the honour to inform you that I have received the following telegram from my Government. [Text as in No. 47.] I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Andrew Clarke.

Sub-enclosure 2 in Enclosure 3 in No. 53. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Agent-General for Victoria. Sir, — Downing Street, 26th January, 1901. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, communicating the text of a telegram which you have received from the Government of Victoria with reference to the proposals made to them by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company for the conclusion of an agreement similar to that recently entered into by the Government of New South Wales. Mr. Chamberlain is endeavouring to arrange for the immediate assembly of the Pacific Cable Board in order that His Majesty's Government may have the benefit of the advice of that body, as representing all the partners in the Pacific cable, before expressing a definite opinion on the subject. A letter from the Agent-General for New Zealand respecting the action of the Government of New South Wales is enclosed. Copies of this correspondence have been communicated to the High Commissioner for Canada and the Agents-General for New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand. I am, &c, The Agent-General for Victoria. H. Bertram Cox.

[For Enclosure 4 in No. 53, see No. 52.]

Enclosure 5 in No. 53. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Agent-General. Sir, — Colonial Office, Downing Street, S.W., 29th January, 1901. With reference to the letter from this Department of the 26th instant, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, for your information, copy of a letter from the High Commissioner for Canada respecting the agreement recently concluded by the Government of New South Wales with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. I am, Ac., The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Bertram Cox.

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