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ending the 31st March last has now been audited. A copy of the audoitr's report is enclosed herewith, from which it will be seen that the deficit on the working of the cable for the period in question amounts to £90,518 4s. 4d., and the sums therefore recoverable from the Colonial Governments are as follows: — £ s. d. Australia, six-eighteenths ... ... ... ... 30,172 14 9 Canada, five-eighteenths ... ... ... ... 25,143 19 0 New Zealand, two-eighteenths ... ... ... ... 10,057 11 7 65,374 5 4 I am accordingly to request that you will move the Secretary of State to communicate with the colonial Governments concerned in order that these amounts may be paid as soon as practicable to the credit of the account of the vote for Telegraph Subsidies and Pacific Cable. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Robebt Chalmers.

Sir, — Treasury Chambers, 12th August, 1903. I have the honour to report that I have audited the accounts of the Pacific Cable Board for the year ended the 31st March, 1903, in accordance with the instructions conveyed in their Lordships' minute of the 17th April, 1902 (3998/02), and have found them correct. The annual expenses of the cable, as described in section 2 of " The Pacific Cable Act, 1901," so far as they were not met out of the receipts arising in connection with the cable, amounted in the period to the 31st March, 1903, to £90,518 4s. 4d., and a sum of £65,374 ss. 4d. representing thirteen-eighteenths of the net expenditure, is therefore recoverable from the colonial Governments, viz., — £ s. d. Australia, six-eighteenths ... ... ... ... 30,172 14 9 Canada, five-eighteenths .. ... ... ... 25,143 19 0 New Zealand, two-eighteenths ... ... ... ... 10,057 11 7 65,374 5 4 I beg to submit that the account forwarded with the Pacific Cable Board's letter of the 10th instant (13938/03) be presented to Parliament in compliance with section 7 of " The Pacific Cable Act, 1901." I have, &c, The Secretary to the Treasury. G. H. Hunt.

No. 15. (No. 65.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th September, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 69), of the 20th July, reporting that £10,000 was voted in last year's estimates in respect of New Zealand's share of the loss in the working of the Pacific cable for the two years ended the 31st March, 1903. 2. From my despatch (No. 61), of the 22nd August, your Ministers will have learnt that the total amount recoverable from New Zealand is slightly more than £10,000, and I shall be glad if they will make the necessary arrangements for the payment of the balance of £57 lls. 7d. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 16. (No. 66.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 10th September, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 71), of the 21st July last, forwarding copies of the Speech delivered by you at the opening of the Parliament of New Zealand on the 30th June last, and also copies of the Addresses presented to you in reply. I have, &c, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., &c.

No. 17. (Miscellaneous.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 14th September, 1903. a.—i, 1902. With reference to your Lordship's despatch (No. 9), of the 17th No. 76. February, 1902, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a new seal, pre-