THE SUBMARINE CABLE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 451, 13 September 1866, Page 4

THE SUBMARINE CABLE.

The electric cable, which had not been successfully laid a month since, has been completed, and has been now for some time in working order. This cable, which connects the two islands of the Colony across Cook’s Straits, is a great work for so small a community, and its successful accomplishment forms an era in our history. Henceforth the need of the provincial system with its nine governments will be less and less necessary, as with the completion of the lines of telegraph throughout the Colony, promised within one year, will render the action of a General Government speedy, certain, and effective from end to end.

The cost of this great undertaking, together with the liabilities of the Colony, consequent on the rebellion of the natives, has told sadly upon the resources of the Colony and renders further taxation as we are told, absolutely necessary, in order to meet the necessary government expenditure. For this end, we are threatened with the introduction of a system of stamp duties, and some additional burthens on the people in the form of a raised postal tariff, and a tax upon the transmission of newspapers,—both ,of which must be considered as exceedingly ill-judged, and calculated to produce much discontent and inconvenience amongst the public; while it seems more than doubtful that it will add, in any appreciable degree, to the revenue derived from the postal service. We believe that true legislation lies in the other direction, and the success of the successive improvement, and facilites for postal accommadation at home should teach our legislators to develop and extend the system with us rather than clog and retard its operation.