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No. 13. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Colonial Tbeasuber, Wellington. Sir, —■ Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London, S.W., 16th August, 1905. Kef erring to my cablegram of the 14th instant [not printed], requesting that a bank order be transmitted by telegraph to enable me to make the payment of £8,427 15s. 4d., being the amount recoverable from New Zealand in respect to the expenses of the Pacific cable during the year ended the 31st Maroh, 1905, 1 beg to enclose copy of letter, dated the 12th August, from the Colonial Office, transmitting copy of letter, dated the 31st July, from His Majesty's Treasury, giving particulars relating to the claim. I have, &c, Walter Kennaway, The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington. For the High Commissioner. [P C. Fin. 05/35.]

Enclosure in No. 13. '"• The Assistant Undeb-Secbetary, Colonial Office, to the High Commissioner. Sir,— Downing Street, 12th August, 1905. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the Treasury [31st July, 1905], regarding the amounts recoverable from the colonial Governments in respect of the expenses of the Pacific cable during the year ended the 31st March, 1905, and to inquire whether you can arrange to pay over to the Imperial Treasury the sum of £8,427 15s. 4d., that being the amount recoverable from your Government. I am, ,&c, The High Commissioner for New Zealand. H. Bebteam Cox.

Sub-enclosure 1 to Enclosure in No. 13. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the Under-Seceetary of State, Colonial Office. Sir, — Treasury Chambers, 31st July, 1905. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Lyttelton, that the Pacific Cable Board's account of the expenses of the cable for the period ended 31st March last has now been audited. A copy of the auditor'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 £75,849 18s. 6d., and the sums, therefore, recoverable from the Colonial Governments are as follows: Australia (six-eighteenths), £25,283 Sβ. 2d. ; Canada (five-eighteenths), £21,069 Bs. 6d.; New Zealand (two-eighteenths), £8,427 15s. 4d: totals, £54,780 10s. 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. My Lords understand that on the last occasion the amount due from New Zealand in respect of the year 1903-4 was already in the hands of Mr. Keeves (then Agent-General, now High Commissioner), when the request for payment was sent from the Colonial Office to the Government of the colony, and that it might be convenient to him if he were communicated with in the first instance. A copy of the printed account as presented to Parliament is enclosed herewith. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. W. Hamilton.

Sub-enclosure 2 to Enclosure in No. 13. The Accountant to the Treasury to the Secretary to the Treasury, London. g IRj Treasury Chambers, 22nd June, 1905. I have the honour to report that I have audited the accounts of the Pacific Cable Board for the year ended the 31st March, 1905, in accordance with the instructions conveyed in their Lordships' minute of the 17th April, 1902, and have found them correct. The annual expenses of the cable, as described in section 3 (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 year ended the 31st March, 1905, to £75,849 18s. 6d., and a sum of £54,780 10s., representing thirteen-eighteenths of the net expenditure, is, therefore, recoverable from the Colonial Governments, viz.: Australia (six-eighteenths), £25,283 6s. 2d. ; Canada (five-eighteenths), £21,069 Bs. 6d. ; New Zealand (two eighteenths), £8,427 15s. 4d.; total, £54,780 10s. I beg to submit that the accompanying account, which has been duly certified, be presented to Parliament in compliance with section 7 of " The Pacific Cable Act, 1901." I have, (fee, The Secretary to the Treasury. G- H. Hunt.