THE PROPOSED TELEGRAPH CABLE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 261, 30 January 1873, Page 5

THE PROPOSED TELEGRAPH CABLE.

Amongst the Parliamentary papers to hand by the last mail from the North is a report by the Submarine Electric Telegraph Committee last session, and a copy of th eevidence laid before them. Although tbecoßoluaiottarrivedat wadyersetoenter-

ing into arrangements for connecting New Zealand with the Victorian line at present, such a junction is only a question of time. The Committee do not enter largely into their reasons for arriviug at that decision, but refer mainly for justification to the evidence placed before them. In anticipation of the possibility of laying down a cable, an Act was passed in 187Q, prescribing the conditions under which submarine cables might be laid down, and offers were made by Captain Audley Coote and Messrs Siemen Bhothebs, to the Postmaster-General. Mr Coote, on behalf of the Submarine Telegraph Cable Company (Limited), asked a guarantee for fifty years, at the rate of 5^ per cent., on £450.000, afterwards amended in an offer to Mr Lemon to £350,000; on which conditions he proposed to ley dqwn and maintain a cable. Messrs. Siemen Brothers asked a net interest of 6 per cent, on £330,000, which they estimated to be the probable cost of a cable capable of transmitting messages at the rate of sixteen words per minute: the tariff to commence with one shilling per word. These large amounts have a frightful appearance on paper ; but they are not so terrible when looked fairly in the face. The question to be considered is what the real cost would be to the Colony assuming it to he necessary to guarantee interest on so large a sum. The debit side shows a guarantee of £19,000 annually for interest of money ; the contra account is altogether a matter of uncertainty. "When Mr Lemon was examined by the Committee and asked to give his opinion on the subject, he could but refer to the increase that followed through communication within the Colony, and inEer that similar results would follow complete telegraphic oonneotion With Great Britain. He stated that from the 13th March, 1872, to April 12th of that year, when there was a break in the line of communication with Auckland that had to be bridged over by horse express, the number of telegrams to and from Auckland was 961, costing £90 8s 6d ; but when the connexion was established by wire, the number rose to 2,561, and the revenue to £226 18s GJ for a. month,, Assuming lil?e results from through oomtnunioation, the statistics stand thus: the number of telegrams posted for Australia in a month is 214 ; and assuming as many are received from Australia to be telegraphed on arrival in New Zealand, the total is 428. At the same ratio of increase on through communication being established, the number transmitted would be 1140*5 telegrams monthly, or 36*7 messages daily iqr a month of 31 days. Mr Lemon gives no estimate of the probable cost of the messages, "V^hen tljey are charged one shilling per w-orq\ people are very careful nqt to. say more than is absolutely necessary; and the probability is that they would not average more than thirty words each. Taking them at that, the difference between the guaranteed interest and the probable revenue vould be something like £2,000 against the Colony; q.' mere bagatelle, when the advantages to commerce and the convenience of rapid communication ape considered. But there are other obstacles that stand in the way ; there are no data on which to decide the best points of oan» nection between New Zealand and Australia. Mr Lemon says that the late Mr Baifottb and himself conourred, that Cape Farewell, the north-westerly ex* tremity of the Middle Island, would best " suit the requirements of the Colony / The distance thence to Sydney is about 1,160 or 1,170 nautioal miles, or 1,34.3 to 1,353 statute miles. The distance to Hobart Town would be less, but the objections are twofold : First, in case of accident to the Tasmanian cable, communication would be interrupted : and, secondly, there would be the extra cost of the cable tariff between Melbourne and Vau Diemen's L,and. The best route has, however, yet to be determined, and this cannot be done without taking soundings. In a letter written by the late Mr Balfotjr, to the manager of the New Zealand Telegraph Department, in 1869, he remarks : "It is impossible to estimate the amount of slack which would be required, or even to compare the several routes in a satisfactory manner, in the absence of soundings. The Admiralty Chart shows absolutely no soundings on any of the routes outside of the usual coastal soundings." One of the witnesses, Mr W. H. Floyd, the Government electrician, says "that soundings shown on the charts are not to be relied on for depths exceeding si? or seyeq fathoms, stq blan>e. afc taches to any one for this, as detailed and exact information respecting the bottom of the sea was not thought to be of great importance until sub-marine telegraph cable laying commenced. Amongst other instances, I may mention that Mr Vahley and Captain Kelk. when engaged trying to lift the cable of 1858, found it was laid upon a reef of rocks in Trinity Bay, fifteen fathoms below the surface, and where the chart indicated a depth of fifty fathoms.'! The evidence of alj. scie itific men is similar : first ascertain $ie best route, and 'then you $nay colis^def about laying a cable. Mr Lemon suggests that the risk should be borne by the two Governments of the Colonies oonneoted : we should think it should be divided amongst all in proportion to the messages between each and New Zealand.