The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 829, 19 February 1877, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1877.

The report of the Cable Conference at Sydney has been published, and the conclusions arrived at may be summarised in a few words. After affirming the desirableness of better means of telegraphic communication with Europe, and of the fairness of making the cost of connecting the cables with the main lines of telegraph throughout the colonies a general charge upon the entire group, it was resolved to request the G-overnments of "Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia to negociate for the construction of cables to connect themselves with Ceylon and Singapore. New Zealand was also requested to open up communication with the United States with the object of securing the aid of that country in the laying of a cable from the Pacific slope to our shores. Another resolution requested the president of the conference to communicate with the Colonial Secretary, with the view of urging on the Dutch Government the necessity of employing English operators on the Java lines; and it was also agreed to recommend to their respective Governments the propriety of paying a joint subsidy of £20,000 per annum in order to reduce the charge on messages to 6a per word. But when the question of constructing a duplicate line from Singapore to Banjoewangi was considered, a decided difference of opinion arose, and the project was negatived by the votes of the delegates from New Zealand, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Queensland. The representatives of the other colonies felt annoyed at the decision. Being the largest contributors to the proposed subsidy, their representatives felt indignant that the smaller colonies should negative the proposal. An extra conference was accordingly held at which the representatives of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, only were present. They resolved to recommend to their respective Governments to arrange with the Eastern Extension Company to lay another line from Port Darwin to Singapore, and it is understood that there is every probability of the plan being carried out. It will thus be seen that the negotiations regarding the laying of a cable from America to these colonies is to be entrusted to New Zealand ; but as there is no immediate prospect whatever of such a work being undertaken for Borne time to come, the labors of our representatives are not likely to be productive of any result. The Hon G. McLean and Dr. Lemon have had an enjoyable trip to Sydney at the expense of the colony, and that is all. New Zealand cannot afiord to undertake fresh responsibilities at present. She has done her share for a time, in putting a girdle round the earth, and she must wait before any fresh attempt on her part is made to complete the circuit.