THE OVERLAND TELEGRAMS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 5

THE OVERLAND TELEGRAMS.

The Arr/iisof thc3rdinst. speaks in thefollowing terms of the receipt of the first direct telegraphic message from England : — The great - went so long_and anxiously expected, and so much delayed, occurred yesterday morning, when the first direct telegraphic message from England, transmitted by submarine cable land line, and estafette, was receive, i in Melbourne. The message was received about ten o'clock, and by eleven a second edition of the Argus was published, and eagerly bought up by curious inquirers after English news. . The excitement was very considerable, but it must be confessed -that it received a somewhat severe damper .when the singularly commonplace and uneventful character of the intelligence transmitted became fully known. The fact is, however, that the telegram published yesterday morning was not Baron Reuter's telegram at all. To enable the reader to understand this, we must explain that the arrangement made with Renter is for the supply of a daily telegram of general European news for the use of the Australian Associated Press. The telegram will be in the main the same as that forwarded by Reuter to the Indian press, and it is the business of .Router's Indian agents to Bend it on to Australia. The proprietors of the Argus, however, have an agent in London, who is instructed to send a special message supplemental to Reuter's whenever he may think it necessary. It was this special message that arrived yesterday, the message from Reuter not having come to hand. It will be seen, however, that the absence of Reuter's general news message was to some extent compensated for by the arrival, later in the day, of an AdeVde telegram founded on a message of English news transmitted by Mr Todd from Daly Waters. The materials for this message are gathered from the Java newspapers, and though some of the items contained in it nave more the air of the sensational than the credible, it is undoubtedly interesting. The statement that the London and Australian Steam Navigation Company, which it will be remembered was promoted by Sir Spencer Robinson and Mr Reed, C.8., and from which bo much was expected, has not been floated, is confirmed by information received from another source, and i» authentic. The news from Mr Todd's "message would have come down to a later date had it not been for an. untoward accident to the cable, . which, however, it is hoped will soon -be repaired and communication promptly resumed.

With reference to the announcement in the latest telegrams from London, that a cable was about to be laid from Port Darwin to Normantown, the Argus says : From our telegraphic intelligence it will be seen that some difficulty has arisen between the South Australian Government and the Anglo-Australian Cable Company. The company would appear to have repudiated the penalty paid by the sister colony for the non-performance of her portion of the contract within the specified time, and have come to terms with the Queensland Government for laying another cable between Port Darwin and Normantown. The South Australian Government, however, rely upon the fact that they have actually paid the penalty. _ The establishment of through communication will, however, probably remove the difficulty.

It appeara from our Australian files, that the first through message was the following, dated London, June 22, and received by Messrs M'Arthur, Sherard, and Copeland of Melbourne and Sydney, from their London partners :— " We congratulate you and shake hands with our partners in Sydney and Melboom,"