AUSTRALIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1022, 11 December 1883, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

[REUTER’S TELEGRAMS —COPYRIGHT.] ShippingMelbourne, Yesterday. Arrived, yesterday morning—Steamship Rotomahana, from the Bluff. Aquatic. ■yDNBV, Yesterday. A sculling match took place on Saturday between Beach and Trickett, when the former was victorious. The time was very fast. Lord Rosebery’s Visit. Lord Rosebery was entertained at a banquet on Saturda)’. Replying to the toast of his health, he expressed admiration of the Australian colonies and their prospects. Direct Cable Communication with America. The following is the substance of the scheme which has been proposed by the Postmaster-General for laying a submarine telegraph cable between Australia and America. Alternative routes have been suggested, and according to the first ot these the line would be laid via New Caledonia, Fiji, and Honolulu, with a total length of 6,858 knots. The estimated cost for the line by this route is Laoo.ooo. If the alternative route be followed the cable will be taken from Auckland, the length being thus reduced to 6,500 knots, and the estimated cost to Li 95,000. In this case, however, the existing Eastern Extension Company’s cable from Nelson to Botany Bay must be added to the estimate. The cost is to be defrayed by the colonies jointly upon the basis of population. The share of New Zealand would thus be 1.26,600. A communication with reference to the scheme will be addressed to the New Zealand Government.