F.—B

12

INTERRUPTION OF PACIFIC CABLE.-DIVERSION OF TRAFFIC VIA EASTERN. » No. 12. Communication between Suva and Fanning Island and Fanning Island and Bamfield was interrupted by the destruction of the Fanning Island station by the German warship " Nurnberg " on the Bth September, 1914. Communication between Fanning Island and Suva was restored on the 23rd September, 1914, and between Fanning Island and Bamfield on the 6th Novembar, 1914. [P. &T. 1.1/34.]

No. 13. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable Board, Auckland, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, 11th September, 1914. Manager wires: "Please ask New Zealand Government for present to only circulate by Auckland and Sydney, for Eastern Company's forward treatment, cablegrams having a tariff from New Zealand 4d. additional to rate of tolls charged from Australia by that Administration." [P. &T. 11/117.]

No. 14. The Bight Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Commonwealth of Australia, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th September, 1914. Reported here that you intend to charge land rate of 4d. per word on cable messages from New Zealand sent over Pacific cable to Sydney. This will mean that public has to pay 3s. 4d. per word for a message to England sent over Pacific cable, against 3s. for use of Eastern Extension cable to same point. Can hardly believe this. If any negotiations in progress for regulation of traffic glad to he'ar what they are.

No. 15. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable Board, Auckland, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, 12th September, 19.14. As your Department is circulating international traffic via Pacific and Eastern, I presume 4d. per word additional to Eastern rate is being collected—namely, 3s. 4d. to United Kingdom, 4s. 4d. to New York. Rate to Cape Colony and other places where New Zealand rate is already 4d. in excess of Australian tariff remains unaltered.

No. 16. The Superintendent, Pacific Cable Board, Auckland, to the Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Auckland, I.4th September, 1914. Please continue to treat agreeably scheduled Eastern rates from New Zealand to international places concerned. Immediately Eastern reply to my query will communicate their decision. New Zealand Government evidently view Pacific Cable Board transit may be deducted for carrying from Auckland to Sydney- -for instance, where like tariffs obtain from New Zealand and Australia.

No. 17. The Acting-Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Pacific Cable Board, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, J 4th September, 1914. On what ground is the 4d. being raised against Pacific in Australia ? I have given no instructions yet to charge any higher than the usual rate. Prime Minister has communicated with the Commonwealth Prime Minister, but so far as I know has had no reply. Glad of your early advice.