The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 158, 7 July 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1870.

Among the parliamentary papers is one containing the correspondence between the Commissioners and the Government relative to the proposed submarine electric cable between Australia and New Zealand of which we shall give a brief summary. The Commissioners forward a letter they had received from Mr. Henley of the Telegraph Construction Company, at the same lime stating that they were expecting a similar offer to be made by the French Transatlantic Company. Mr Henley writes as follows : — " I will undertake, if you can obtain me the exclusive concession for landing cables between New Zealand and Australia for the term of 21 years, to take such steps as will insure the lading of an efficient cable between the two colonies within two-and-a-half years of the receipt of such concession. Details as to tariff, &c, could be mutually arranged." Iv reply, the Colonial Secretary informs the Commissioners that before the fiual ratification of any agreement the matter must be brought before the Assembly, as possibly that body might prefer giving a guarantee, or money

payment to a 21 years' concession.; At the same time he encloses a memorandum from Mr. Yogel in which the following suggestions are. made : — The connection must be with New South. Wale or Victoria and, on the New Zealand', side, must be with a part of the country -where the telegraph is erected.- There must be a purchasing clause, as favorable as can be arranged. There must be a provision to meet the case of one cable being found insufficient for the work, the monopoly, in such an event, not to prevent the Government from constructing additional cables if the contractor declines to do so. Much importance is to be attached to the Government having the power of determining the tariff from time to time. There should be a definite agreement with respect to the class of cable, and the limit of time for laying it, on both which subjects the Commissioners are instructed to take the best available advice. Such are the terms and conditions offered by the Government and the proposed contractor, and from them it appears that we may reasonably expect that before long we shall be placed in telegraphic communication with Australia and through her with the whole civilised world, for by the time our cable is laid down, Australia will in all probability be connected with India, which is now in receipt of daily telegrams from London.