3

A.—2

3. I am to inquire with reference to the letter from this Department of the 4th and the Board's reply of the 6th August, whether the rates for the transmission of Government telegrams between Queensland, Norfolk Island, and Fiji have yet been reduced to half the ordinary rates. Mr. Chamberlain will also be glad to learn what will be the rates for telegrams via Vancouver to Fiji and New Zealand. I am, &c, The Chairman, Pacific Cable Board. H. Bektram Cox. Sib,— 24, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W., 27th October, 1902. 1 have laid before the Pacific Cable Board your letter of the 10th instant, respecting the rates for Government telegrams for Australasia. In reply, 1 have the honour to state that upon representations made by this Board the Atlantic telegraph companies have agreed to reduce the through rates on Government messages from Vancouver from Bd. to 6d. per word, and that in consequence the Board will be in a position to quote the same rates for these messages to Australasia as will be conceded by the Eastern and Eastern Extension Companies on such telegrams forwarded via the Cape of Good Hope. I am further to state that the Board's rate for the cable for Government telegrams between Queensland or New Zealand to Norfolk Island has been fixed ever since the opening of the cable at Id. or one-half the rate for ordinary messages. The rates between Australia or New Zealand to Fiji are, so far as the cable is concerned, 7d. for ordinary and sd. for Government messages. It is proposed to reduce the latter to 3Jd., or onehalf the rate on ordinary messages, so soon as the new tariff-rates via Vancouver are announced. 1 need hardly add that it rests with the Government of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand, and not with the Board, to make the corresponding reductions in the terminal rates charged by them on Government messages. In conclusion, I beg to add that the Board proposes that the rates for ordinary telegrams from this country to Fanning Island shall be 2s. 6d., and to New Zealand 3s. per word. I am, &c, The Secretary of State, Colonial Office. S. Walpole. The Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W., Sir,— 4th November, 1902. With reference to my letter of the 27th ultimo, in which I intimated to you, on behalf of the Pacific Cable Board, that the Board was prepared to reduce its rates on Government messages to Australasia to Is. 7£d. per word, so soon as the Eastern Telegraph Company reduce their rate on Government messages to the same, 1 have the honour to inform you that, in order to make this concession, I have succeeded in inducing the Atlantic cable companies and the Canadian Pacific Railway to carry these messages at half the ordinary rate. It seems, however, manifestly unfair that while these companies and the Board have made this great reduction the Government of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand have not made a corresponding redtiction. On behalf of the Pacific Cable Board, therefore, I desire to urge the Secretary of State to move the Governments of the Commonwealth and of New Zealand to reduce the terminal rate on Government, messages to one-half the rate on ordinary messages. I am, Sec., S. Walpole. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, Downing Street, S.W.

No. 3. (No. 22.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st March, 1903. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Minis- a.-i, 1903, ters, that I duly laid before His Majesty the King your despatch (No. 11), of the No - 36 - -6 th February, reporting the offer to His Majesty of the Island of Takutea by Ngamaru, the Chief Ariki of Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro. 2. I am commanded by His Majesty in reply to desire you to convey an expression of his thanks to Ngamaru for his gift, and to say that the King trusts that his Ministers in New Zealand will secure that the island is used for the general benefit of the people of the Cook Islands, as desired by the donor I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 4. (Circular.) Sir, Downing Street, 9th April, 1903. With reference to my circular despatch of the 23rd July, 1901, relating a.-i, 1902. to magnetic and meteorological observations desired in connection with the No - 59 - -exploration of the Antarctic regions, I have the honour to inform you that, as