§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the cost per word for British Government telegrams from England to Australia; what amount was paid during each of the past two financial years for Government telegrams to Australia; and whether the expenses incurred in telegraphing to Australia, in reference to the appointment of the Governor of Queensland, vice Sir Anthony Musgrave, was taken out of last year's Financial Vote or the Vote in a previous year?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSTo South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia, 7s. 1d. per word; to New South Wales, 7s. 3d.; to Queensland, 9s. 9d.; to Tasmania, 9s. 11d.; to New Zealand, 10s. 6d. The second question could not be precisely answered without long examination. It is roughly estimated that the cost of the telegrams sent from the Colonial Office to Australasia during the past two years has averaged £700 a year. As regards the third question, many, but it cannot certainly be said all, the telegrams sent from hence on that subject were paid for out of the Vote for 1888–9.