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F.—B

No. 23. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay, to the Accountant, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Doubtless Bay, 15th May, 1907. Following received from Mr. Milward: "Re diverted traffic: Secretary, Melbourne, writes Extension Company would not consent to a future apportionment on the basis indicated for the diverted traffic of December third last. They quote Berne's ruling contained in General Manager's letter [No. 2, F.-8, 1906], Am doubtful if such ruling applicable to such cases, and am submitting whole question to London for further reference to Berne if General Manager considers necessary. In any case pro rata settlement can only be affected in cases when messages diverted by Australia or New Zealand as original terminal Administrations. Pro rata settlement must hold when messages diverted at Norfolk Island for either Australia or New Zealand, as in such cases diversion is made whilst message in course transmission, and by an intermediate Administration. Feel confident Beard would rather lose Extension Company's proportion than that extra charges should be collected from sender on international messages. Mr. Scott's letter does not say what attitude his Department will take as regards their terminal rates in cases when messages diverted by New Zealand via Australia to Southport. Have asked for information on this point." [P.C. Diver. 07/54.]

No. 24. The Accountant, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Officer in Charge, Telegraph Office, Wakapuaka. (Memorandum.) General Post Office, Wellington, 21st May, 1907. Be good enough to inform the Superintendent, Extension Company, that the question of pro rata rates during interruption to New Zealand land-lines, causing diversion of cable messages, is under consideration, and that we are corresponding with Mr. Warren on the subject. This Department, however, claims the right to divert cable messages from New Zealand routed Pacific to via Extension and Southport, at pro rata rates, for the first twenty-four hours, under Convention Regulation LXXVI. W. R. Morris, Accountant. The Officer in Charge, Telegraph Office, Wakapuaka. [P.C. Diver. 07/54.]

No. 25. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd May, 1907. I have the honour to inform you that it has come under notice that the entry relating to this Administration on page 113 of the International Telegraph Convention and Service Regulations, London Revision, 1903, does not indicate the transit-rate levied by this Department on messages exchanged with the Australian Commonwealth and on all other messages. The transitrate in each case is the same as the terminal rate, and I shall be glad if you will so notify Telegraphic Administrations. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne. Tel. 07/300(1).]

No. 26. The Superintendent, Eastern Extension Company, Wakapuaka, to the Officer in Charge, Telegraph Office, Wakapuaka. The Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Sir, — Cable Bay, Wakapuaka, Nelson, New Zealand, 24th May, 1907. With regard to your memorandum of this day's date [not printed] in re diverted telegrams from New Zealand : I note that your Accountant is corresponding with the manager of this company in Melbourne on the subject. I beg to state, however, that in the meantime this company can only accept messages diverted by New Zealand owing to the interruption of New Zealand landlines at the full rate —namely, 3d. per word —under Regulation LXXVI, paragraph 7. I have, <fee, P. H. Selfe, Superintendent. The Officer in Charge, Telegraph Office, Wakapuaka. [P.CJDiver. 07/54.] rj