THE TELEGRAPH CABLE.

Southland Times, Issue 1719, 25 March 1873, Page 3

THE TELEGRAPH CABLE.

» TO THB EDITOB OF THE TIMES. Sra, — I notice from tbe Otago Witness that our übiquitous " first fiddler," Mr Vo*el, has again " been and gone and done it" with reference to the connecHng of New Zealand by wire with Europe and the Indo-British and Austral- Anglian colonies, and it is time the public were made acquainted with the price of this new arrangement of Mr V.'s, and whether or no the best and cheapest route hae been agreed for. Surely it is time also that the power of the head of the Executive were clearly and distinctly defined. At present it ; would seem that the New Zealand Executive, pro tern., might with impunity agree to subsidise a balloon line to the moon, and bind the people to paying for the same. When will the taxpayers of this country ask for the production of the details of their "Little Bills" before tbey are committed to the payment of them ? As far as I can see, tbe mucfc-bepraised San Francisco line has (to use an Americanism) bursted up, aad it behoves the public to keep a very sharp look out before they again commit themselves to any new line by that via, wbich will not absolutely insure (so far as anything human can be insured) certainty, punctuality, and celerity of postal communication. We have had surely enough of temporary sham services, which in the main have done more harm than good, not to mention the cost thereof. — Yours, 4c, OCEAK POSTMAIT. Invercargill, 24th March, 1873.