THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 158, 21 November 1912, Page 5

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

A NOTABLE GATHERING. By Cable—Pr»ss Association—Copyright. Received 20, 10.40 p.m. Sydney, November 20. The Pacific Cable Board was entertained by leading business and professional men at luncheon to-day in the Town Hall, to commemorate the laying of the cable from Sydney to Auckland. Mr. Milward, the Board's manager in the Pacific, presided. The attendance included Lord Chelmsford, the Lord Mayor the Federal Postmaster-General, and Messrs. Trefle and Hall. Lord Chelmsford was presented with two specimens of the .cable, mounted in silver, set in an oak case. He said that the event was of considerable Imperial importance and another step in the direction of that Imperial co-operation which all held so close to their hearts. Mr. Fraser. Post-master-General, read cables of congratulation from Mr. Heaton Rhodes and the chairman of the Board in London. Mr. Fraser stated that in 1904 the words transmitted from Australia numbered 922.766, while in 1911 they totalled 2,131,261, an increase of 150 per cent. The Government did not intend to let this be the limit in the direction of connecting the scattered portions of the Empire, but their determination was to have a direct lin;, State-owned.