A telegraphic money-order system, based on the plan suggested in my report of 22 October, 1858, came into force in NSW on the 2nd of July 1860. The orders are limited to 20/- in favour of the same payee: the premium being 6d. up to 10/-, and 1s. between 10/- and 20/- in addition to the minimum charge for transmission of advice message.
Money Order stations at present opened are — Sydney, Goulburn, Yass, Gundagai, Albury, Windsor, West Maitland, Newcastle, Bathurst and Kiandra. The number of money-order messages transmitted during the six months ending 31 December, 1860 was 394; and the amount taken was £2,940/ 19/ 2d. The system is said to work remarkably well and the co-operation of Victoria and South Australia has been invited with a view to the adoption of intercolonial telegraphic money orders. I should see no difficulty if Victoria concurred; or, if we had a direct line with New South Wales; and would therefore recommend it on the latter being completed.
Besides this recommended application of telegraph wires Mr. Todd is reported by the South Australian Register of 13 May 1861 as having suggested something more novel. He says: "It frequently occurs that persons are compelled to attend from a distance at the Supreme Court to give evidence which though, perhaps, very important, is not such as to require a very lengthened examination or severe cross-examination. I have thought that with the wires brought into the Supreme Court, the telegraph, under proper regulations, might be used in such cases, and so avoid the necessity of an expensive journey to and stay in Adelaide. The Special Magistrate for the district might attend with the witness at the nearest station, and the examination might be conducted with the same facility as with the personal attendance of the witness in the Court".