F.—l.

CABLE BUSINESS. The number and value of cable messages forwarded from New Zealand during 19C8 are shown in the following statement: — Via Pacific.

The Dominion's outward international and Australian cable busings, not including Press, for the years 1908 and 1907 was as follows : — International. Number of Value. Messages. £ s. d. 1908.. ... ... 32,649 46,350 10 8 1907... ... ... 31,456 45,389 8 7 Increase 1,193 = 379 per cent. £961 2 1 - 212 per cent. Australia. Number of Value. Messages. £ s. d. 1908... ... ... 87,948 17,171 13 0. 1907... ... ... 84,644 16,510 16 8 Increase 3,304 = 3-9 per cent. £660 16 4i = 4 per cent. There was a total increase of 4,497 messages, and an increase of £1,021 18s. s>Sd. in value. The number of cable messages received in New Zealand during 1908, exclusive of Press, was as follows :— Pacific. International. Australia. 1908 ... ... ... 17,888 51,071 1907 ... ... ... ... ... 17,134 52,696 Increase ... ... . . ... 754 Decrease 1,625 Extension. International. Australia. 1908 ... ... ... ... ... 11,518 27,400 1907 ... ... ... ... ... 11,020 2a, 273 Increase ... ... ... .. 498 Increase 4,127

XXIII

Ordinary. Press. Destination. Number of Messages. Value. Number of Messages. Value. International Australia... 27,399 74,325 £ s. d. 39,838 11 7 14,463 19 0\ 286 856 £ s. d. 1,163 14 9 511 5 8£ Total for 1908 101,724 54,302 10 7. 1,142 1,675 0 5. Total for 1907 102,490 54,511 19 (i 515 179 13 5 Via Exte SION. Destination. Number of Messages. irdinary. !■ Value. Number of Messages. 'ress. Value. International Australia ... 5,250 13,623 j. s. d. 6,511 19 1 2,707 14 0 94 1,168 £ 358 610 s. d. 2 0 3 7 Total for 1908 18,873 9,219 13 1 1,262 968 5 7 Total for 1907 13,610 7,388 5 ! 9 1,359 823 12 0