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2. The Board feel that, when the staff is once appointed, each member must be available for employment at any of the stations belonging to the Board at which his services may be required. It would not be practicable to insure that the Canadian member of the staff should always be stationed in Canada, or the Australasian member in Australasia. 3. Even in the interest of the staff such an arrangement is necessary. In the case of promotion or advancement, it will probably be found usually impracticable to leave the officer promoted or advanced in the station in which he has previously been employed. 4. It will probably be found impracticable and undesirable to have officers for long consecutive periods in isolated stations like Fanning Island, and it will possibly prove necessary that all the Board's operators shall take their turn in serving in the remoter stations. While, therefore, the Board is anxious to give the fullest possible weight to the claims for employment of British subjects connected with the various colonies interested, it regrets that it would be impossible for it to give any undertaking that it would uniformly act on the lines of the recommendation which you have made to Lord Strathcona. I am, &c, The Hon. W. Mulock, Ottawa, Canada. S. Walpole, Chairman.

No. 35. The Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington, to the Inspector of Telegraphs, Auckland. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth October, 1901. Special wire to be erected from Auckland to Doubtless Bay to meet Pacific cable. Put work in hand.

No. 36. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 21st October, 1901. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd ultimo [not printed], confirming the cablegram advising that the plans for the buildings at Doubtless Bay had been considered and approved by the Pacific Cable Board. In reply, I have to inform you that the work of erecting the buildings-is now in hand. A monthly progress report will be furnished. I have, &c, J. K. Logan, for the Postmaster-General. The Secretary, Pacific Cable Board, 24, Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W.

No. 37. The Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington, to Mr. B, E. Peake, London. General Post Office, Wellington, 30th October, 1901. Sir, — Pacific Cable Station, Doubtless Bay. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a memorandum [not printed] from the District Engineer, Auckland, and to inform you that the Public Works Department has been requested to specify the 31st January as the latest time by which the cable-hut should be completed. I have also asked that the officers' quarters and office be ready by the 31st March, and the two residences not later than the end of April. I have requested the Public Works Department to send me a special recommendation in connection with the water-supply, which will be submitted to the Minister, and, if approved, forwarded for the further approval of the Board. I shall be glad to hear from you as early as possible whether you have any special wishes in regard to the fittings or furniture. It will be more convenient, I think, to make the greater part of these in the colony. I have, &c, J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines. B. E. Peake, Esq., care of Messrs. Clark, Forde, and Taylor, 4, Great Winchester Street, London, E.C.

No. 38. The Agent-General to the Hon. the Premier. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sir,— 28th November, 1901. I beg to transmit herewith copy of a letter which I have received from the Pacific Cable Board, asking me to procure a price or prices from firms in New Zealand for supplying and erecting station buildings at Fanning Island. I also enclose the specifications [not printed], and I am sending the plans referred to in a separate enclosure. The position of Fanning Island, and the absence of water thereon, make it essential that the buildings be fireproof, as in case they were destroyed it would, I understand, close the working of the telegraph-line for nearly a year. It will be observed, therefore, that the buildings are to be constructed of special material.