ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 287, 27 March 1862, Page 4

ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPH.

We find, from recent papers, that great hopes are entertained that Mr. Stuart’s successful explorations will lead to the telegraphic? connection of Australia with India, and, through.lndia, with England. The difficulties which have been experienced with the Bed Sea telegraph have retarded the progress of one part "of the Anglo Indian line, but those difficulties are in the way of being overcome. For a long time the greatest trouble was experienced with the submarine telegraph T>n the Mediterranean, side of the Isthmus of Suez ; but our last files of English papers inform us that an excellent line is now in operation between Malta and Alexandria, and the successful extension of this to Aden is only a' work of time. Meanwhile, we find; lines are being carried, with more or less sttcCCso, through -India in the -dLrection of the Australian continent 1 ; and thus' the way is being prepared for the great' extension which must some day bring the wires from the Straits Settlements to these-colonies. The Singapore Free Press, after congratulating its readers on the great achievement by which Mr. Stuart had brought Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney so much nearer to India, says “ The substitution of a line across Australia would leave only a very small extent of sea to be crossed before it would reach the Netherlands India possessions. -From Melville Island on the coast of Australia to the Island of Timor is not much more than two. hundred miles, and from Timor the line can be carried to. Java almost -entirely by land, the only interruption Being the five or six narrow straits separating the chain of islands w T hich lie between' the two points.” Between - Java and Singapore we learn-the first attempt" to lay a submarine cable has proved a failure owing to the rocky and coraline nature of the ocean bed which it had to cross. But the attempt is about to be renewed, and the line it is thought, will, now be made a less submarine work than before by being carried along the shores of Sumatra! This will leave us the only submarine cable of any length on this side of Bom-bay—-the line which is to connect Rangoon with Singapore—and that, it is said, might just, as easily have been carried all the way by land. 1 The journal we have quoted from says It is a pity that, with the means of carrying the line from Rangoon to Singapore by land, the Governor did not pause before Incurring the expence of a costly submarine cable, which all the experience hitherto gained regarding such cables, shows will most 1 likely turn out to be very defective and productive of frequent and most annoying interruptions. These interruptions, indeed, will probably be found so intolerable when we are connected with Australia, that at no distant period it will be absolutely necessary to; establish the land line, and the expence incurred for the submarine cable will then be so much money thrown away.” In reference to these remarks it should be borne in mind that when the Rangoon line was commenced much of Oiuc experience as to the troublesome nature of submarine eabl.es bad not been obtained, as! most of the failures of this kind of telegraph 13,tips have taken place since: Supposing the Re'd 1 Sea line'to r be effectually laid down and connected-w ; th the Indian lines extending: so’- far towards this continent as the island of Java, the question of an overland Australian line will of necessity' force itself upon the attention of the colonial goverhmehts. One of 1 the. reasons, we believe, why Mr. Gisborne’s scheme for taking a cable round; the continent has been allowed to fall; through, so quietly is that Mr* StimrtV explorations have shown, an- overland route to be practicable. This too, probably, influenced the Home Government in fits view of Mr. Gisborne’s scheme when' communicated with on the subject by the government of New South Wales. The answer of the Duke of Newcastle, as published in the Sydney papers; was as follows ~ “ reference to: previous correspondence, 6rf! j;he : subject -; of--establishment, of telegraphic cqinpxumcation between Europe and Australia, and more especially-with regard to Mr. F.. Gisborne’s recent mission to Australia as agent for the promoters of a scheme via Java and Moreton Bay,' I have the honour ,to inform you -that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have intimated to, me their inability to co-operate with che governments of Australia to establish the - proposed communication. Their Lordships further stated that, as the chance of such an undertaking being successfully carried out was at present so uncertain, they. should not feel themselves justified in applying to Parliament to 1 add to : the: varions-liabijities which her Majesty’s government ;iiaye already, incurred of lines of telegraph which, it was supposed, could easily be. established, tbut .which hayq tas .yet. re? suited only in failures, owing to the unforeseen 'difficulties, /which attend the maintenance and laying of submarine cables. :',

“ I-Lave, &c, r : “ Ke.wcastle..” h Ihe question of an Anglo-Australian line;.would here appear to be postponed; indefinitely;,. on account ,of the lUnfpreseen. .difficulties, .which . had been-found; toatteAd ...the ‘‘ma ; intepance:; , and>laying i . ; ,o^' i sttbrnarme. r .cables’ f ydiieh-

tii©hqm© would ;be more, than • ever;fejt £nan. attempt to carry out the. scheme of , Mr. Gisborne!. But the. interior, of. Australia has been, crossed since, that scheme was started, and the - prospects T of telegraphic communication with, India, are thus altogether changed. Much* however, - has yet to be done before there is atf unbroken line between . Java and Alexandria j and the colonies, need not yet anticipate the cost and labour which wifi attend the forming of- a line frUm: the one side of . the Australian continent to the other. Still the undertaking is one which will have to be accomplished before many years are past, and which, when in successful operation, will no doubt, be as advantageous both to India <fc Australia as our Singapore contemporary anticipai es. —South A ustralian .. Register, Feb. 3L