F.—B
I will ask the General Manager if he thinks it would be advisable to arrange for free services to be exchanged in event of troubles. For instance, it would be a great advantage to our system if Doubtless Bay could communicate with New Zealand via Extension when we are cut off from Auckland; and a similar advantage would accrue to Southport and Sydney if they could get a service through when that section is in trouble. The principal information would be a reply to such a service as "What prospect of restoration? Shall we divert?" or "Prospects of restoration poor; please divert." The Extension to have the same privilege when desiring to communicate with Sydney or Wakapuaka via Pacific. I have, Ac, C. L. Hertslet, Superintendent. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [E.E. Misc. 08/44.]
No. 56. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Melbourne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 20th March, 1908. I have the honour to refer to your letter of the 20th ultimo and previous correspondence, concerning your suggestion that whenever an interruption occurred to either the Pacific or the Eastern route the telegrams should be diverted to the other route at once. As promised, the matter was brought under the notice of the Superintendent, Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay, who notifies that, as the interruption to the cable on the 16th January last took place between Southport and Sydney, the diversion of the traffic on that day was arranged by his Board's superintendent at Southport. Mr. Hertslet expresses the opinion that, in the case of any interruption to the cable under his control, there will be no delay in future in diverting the traffic. I have, Ac, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Melbourne. [E.E. Misc. 08/46.]
LISBON INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE. No. 57. The Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne, Sir,— ' 12th January, 1907. During the course of the last sitting of the London Conference [1903] the Administrations belonging to the Telegraph Union decided to hold their next Conference at Lisbon during the course of the year 1908. In order to admit of the preparation of the business to be laid before this Conference in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 11 of Article LXXXIV of the London Regulations, I have the honour, together with the Administration of Portugal, to ask you to forward me the text of any additions or alterations wdiich your Administration might wish to make in the regulations or in the tariff. I should be obliged if you would forward these proposals before the Ist September, so that I may be in a position to submit the proposals in their entirety to the different offices in ample time to allow each of them an opportunity of examining and studying them before the Conference meets. I have, Ac, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. E. Frey. Director. [Tel. 07/300.]
No. 58. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 28th May, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 12th January last, asking whether this Administration bad any suggestions to offer for the agenda paper of the Lisbon Telegraph Conference of 1908, and, in reply, to inform you that at present this Administration has no proposal of business to make except to suggest that a terminal office should have the same powers as to diversion of traffic, when telegraphic communication is interrupted on any international line, as offices en route at present have. I have, Ac, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Director, International Bureau of Telegraphic Administrations, Berne.
[Tel. 07/300 ] 4—F. 8.
25