The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 25. 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3100, 25 January 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 25. 1873.

Amongst the Parliamentary papers to hand by the last mail from the North is a report by the Submarine Electric Telegraph Committee last session, and a copy of m eovidence laid before them. Although the conclusion arrived, at is adverse to entering into arrangements for connecting Now Zealand with the Victorian line at present, such a junction is only a question of time. The Corhmittco do not enter largely into their reasons for arriving at that decision, but refer mainly for justification to the evidence placed before them. In anticipation of the possibility of laying down a cable, an Act was passed in 1870, prescribing the conditions under which submarine cables might be laid down, and offers were made by Captain Audley Cooth and Messrs Siemen Brothers, to the Postmaster-General. Mr Coote, on behalf of the Submarine Telegraph Cable Company (Limited), asked a guarantee for fifty years, at the rate of 6? per cent., on £150,000, afterwards amended in an often to Mr Lemon to £350,000, on which conditions he proposed to lay down and maintain a cable, Messrs. Siemen Brothers asked a net interest of 6 per cent, on £330,000, which they estimated to be the probable cost of a cable capable of transmitting messages at the rate of sixteen words per minute: the tariff to commence with one shilling per word. These large amounts have a frightful appearance on paper; but they arc not so temblc when looked fairly in the face. The question to be considered is what the real cost would be to the Colony assuming it to be necessary to guarantee interest on so largo a sum. The debit side shows a guarantee of £19,000 annually for interest of money ; the contra account is altogether a matter of uncertainty. When Mr Lemon was examined by the Committee and asked to piye hip opinion on the ffobject, he c'oulcl

but refer to the incrc&so that follow ed through communication within the Colony, and infer that similar results would follow complete telegraphic connection with Great Britain. He stated that from the 13th March, 1872, to April 12th of that year, when there was a break in the lino of communication with Auck- , land that had to be bridged over by horse i express, the number of telegrams to and : from Auckland was 961, costing £9O 8s 6d ; j but when the connexion was established | by wire, the number rose to 2,561, and the | revenue to £226 18s 6d for a month. Assuming-like results from through communication, the statistics stand thus: the number of telegrams posted for Australia in a month is 214; and assuming as many are received from Australia to be telegraphed on arrival in New Zealand, the total is 428. At the same ratio of increase on through communication being established, the number transmitted would be 1140" 5 telegrams monthly, or 36'7 messages daily for a month of 31 days. Mr Lemon gives no estimate of the probable cost of the messages. Wben they are charged one shilling per word, people are very careful not to say more than is absolutely necessary; and the probability is that they would not aierago more than thirty words each. Taking them at that, the difference between the guaranteed interest and the probable revenue would be something like £2,000 against the Colony; a mere bagatelle, when the advantages to commerce and the convenience of rapid communication are considered. But there are other obstacles that stand in the way; there are no data on which to decide the best points of connection between New Zealand and Australia. Mr Lemon says that the late Mr Balfour and himself concurred, that Capo Farewell, the north-westerly extremity of the Middle Island, would best “ suit the requirements of the Colony. The distance thence to Sydney is about 1,160 or 1,170 nautical miles, or 1,343 to 1,353 statute miles. The distance to Hobart Town would be less, but the objections are twofold : First, in case of accident to the Tasmanian cable, communication would be interrupted: and, secondly, there would bo tbe extra cost of the cable tariff between Melbourne and Van Diemen’s Land. The best route has, however, yet to be determined, and this cannot bo done without taking soundings. In a letter written by the late Mr Balfour, to the manager of the IScw Zealand Telegraph Department, in 1869, he remarks: “It is impossible to estimate the amount of slack which would bo required, or even to compare the several routes in a satisfactory manner, in the absence of soundings. The Admiralty Chart shows absolutely no soundings on any of the routes outside of the usual coastal soundings.” One of the witnesses, Mr W. H. Floyd, the Government electrician, says “ that soundings shown on the charts arc not to bo relied on for depths exceeding six or seven fathoms. No blame attaches to any one for this, as detailed exact information respecting the bottom' of the sea was not thought to be of great importance until sub-marine telegraph cable laying commenced. Amongst other instances, I may mention that Mr Vakley and Captain Kelk. when engaged trying to lift the cable of 1858, found it was laid upon a reef of rocks in Trinity Bay, fifteen fathoms below the surface, and where the chart indicated a depth of fifty fathoms.” The evidence of all scientific men is similar: first ascertain the host route, and then you may consider about laying a cable. Mr Le>/ON suggests that the risk should bo borne by the two Governments of the Colonies connected: we should think it should be divided amongst all in proportion to the messages between each and Now Zealand.