PACIFIC CABLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 187, 15 August 1901, Page 3

PACIFIC CABLE.

THE BILL HEAD A THIRD TIME.

By Tolograph. Press Association. Copyright London, -Vug. 14.

Mr O'Mara's amcmliuont to tho Pacific Cable Bill, limiting tho Motherland’s borrowing to five - eighteenths, was negatived, as was also an attempt to give the Government control on the Board, including the living of future rates. The Nationalists urged that tho scheme benefited the colonies alone, and that a cable constructed by British and Irish capital ought not to bo subject to colonial control. Moreover tho rates were likely to bo cut regardless of commercial consideration. ■Mr Austen Chamberlain's proposals showed tho truo proportions of responsibility. The Bill passed without amendment, and read a tim'd time.

The cable is to be 59841 miles in length —tho longest ever constructed —and will be transported and laid by one ship, which is now being built for that purpose. A surveying party has located tho landing site of tho Canadian end of the cable at a point on Kelp Bay, near Banficld Creek. It is about seven miles to the entranco to Barclay Sound, and something over a 100 miles from I ictoria. The location is described as being most admirably adapted for the purpose. The cable will run from Vancouver Island to Fanning Island, which lies south of Hawaii—a distance of 3337 miles—before a landing is effected. Tlioro it is laid to the Fiji's, to Norfolk Island, and thence to Queensland. Work on the cable proper already has been commenced in .England, and'the first inatalmeut, which wilf be the cable for the route from Fanning Island on to Australia* is expected to leave England in January, 1902. By the terms of the contract the whole cable is to be laid and in working order bv January 1, 1903. It will cost .£2, Quo,':-:. ~