THE AUSTRALIAN OVERLAND TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2650, 15 August 1871, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN OVERLAND TELEGRAPH.

The Hon. John Hart, the Treasurer of South Australia, says the Argus of a recent date, who ha* beet: in Melbourne for the last few days making arrangements for the chartering of vessel? apd t'hp shipment of stock and stores to the Northern Territory, to em able the coustr' o io.i of the overland tele, graph lino to be completed wuhin the ori. ginal contract time, returned to Adelaide yesterday by the Aldingx. It maybe remembered that Mr M'Mimi, vrh; was in charge

of the Northern telegraph- works, recently declared the contract with Messrs Darwent and Dalwood, the conractors for the construction of the overland telegraph from Port Darwin, void, and in consequence the works were much retarded, if not suspended altogether. The Government of South Australia at once took energetic steps to meet the difficulty. and in order that no time might be lost in forwarding all the plant, material, and stock necessary to push on the works, the Hon, J, Hart came to Melbourne to personally superintend the arrangements It is satisfactory to state that he believes he has succeeded in making arrangements which will secure the attainment of the end desired. He has chartered from Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co, the Omeo, s.s., 660 tons, to proceed immediately on her arrival from New Zealand to Port Darwin, Mr R. C. Patterson, who has been entrusted with the control of the telegraphic works, and a number of experienced men se'ected by himself, wid return in the Aldinga, and proceed from here to Port Darwin in the Omeo. The ship Antipodes has also been chartered to leave Newcastle about the 25th instant, with bullocks and horses which are required to cart the wire, insulators, and provisions along the proposed line of telegraph. It is supposed that th's vessel will take about 120 head of cattle altogether. Another ship will be dispatched from Brisbane, Queensland, with 100 head of cattle, and a third vessel has been chartered to leave Sydney at an early date, with another 120 head, and all the appliances requisite to utilise the stock on their arrival. The Bengal will also be dispatched from Adelaide with supplies and material; so that it is contemplated that the work will be resumed with vigor at a very early date. The Ponth Australian Government have expressed their determination to spare no expense to secure the completion of the telegraph lines by the end of the year; and they seem to be taking the right steps to attain their end.