CO129-307 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [10-12] — Page 232

C. O.

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COPY.

From Hon. Acting Colonial Treasurer to Colonial Secretary.

From the annexed papers, I have found

(a) that the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company undertakes to work the Peak telephone line in connection with the signalling service from 9th August to December, 1895, at £25 per annum and (b) that since the 1st January, 1898, the same Company undertakes to work 8 lines (4 telephone and 4 telegraph lines) for £200 a year.

The following payments are recorded:-

In December, 1895, $93 paid for 1895.

In January, 1897, $1,938.52 paid for 1893.

In May, 1899, $2,078.55 paid for 1897.

In November, 1899, $1,972.21 paid for 1898.

In January, 1900, $1,796.88 paid for 1899.

In February, 1901, $1,973.80 paid for 1900.

From 1898 the Telegraph Company undertakes to deliver messages to shipping firms at 10 cents for each message and to collect such fees, paying coolie wages of $72 p.a. out of the fees and deducting to Government the balance, if any, which is deducted from the amount of $200 claimed from the Government.

From 1899 the fee charged for each message has been increased to 20 cents on account of a special telephone line having been connected at an extra expenditure of $90.

Summing up the history of the case, it is clear therefore that, though the amount paid by the Government has been varied each year on account of the balance of fees on credit of the actual subsidy the Government having been more or less each year, the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company receives £200 p.a. since 1898.

Fed. C.MD. Tossell,

Acting for Treasurer.

17.10.07.