CABLE COMMUNICATION.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1061, 21 November 1877, Page 3

CABLE COMMUNICATION.

Nothing has yet been ascertained as to the precise locality of the fault in the Port Darwin and Banjoewangic cable, but it is believed to be from 250 to 280 miles from Port Darwin. It is expected that the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company’s repairing steamer .Agnes, now lying at Sydney, will, if the consent of the New South Wales and New Zealand Governments be obtained, immediately proceed to repair the cable. The interruption of the cable will probably bring into immediate operation the agreement concluded between the Australian Governments and the Netherlands India Steam Navigation Company, by which the latter undertook, in the event of another break in this section of the cable, to run a fast steamer between Banjocwangie and Port; Darwin with the least possible delay, for the conveyance of despatches. The contract has not been formally signed, but the negotiations have advanced so far that Mr Todd, the Postmaster-General of South Australia, has slated that he is satisfied that, should a break occur, the company will send a steamer to Banjocwangie at once. The company, it will be remembered, undertook to have at Banjocwangie within eight days of the interruption, or as much sooner after the breakage is known as possible, a steamer to carry telegraphic messages to Port Darwin and back, and to keep the steamer running at a minimum speed of eight knots between the two ports until the cable be repaired, for the sum of £I2OO for each voyage from Banjocwangie to Port Darwin and back. At present we (“ Argus”) have no information as to the exact time that the break occurred, but as soon as the company heard of it they, no doubt, despatched a steamer from Banjoewangic at once if they had a vessel available there, or, if not, telegraphed for one to be sent with all speed to that port. The voyage from Banjoewangic to Port Darwin would probably occupy five days.