The Rival Cables.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 112, 23 February 1901, Page 1

The Rival Cables.

Brisbane, F -bruary 80., The Premier has received a letter front a well-known financial agent in Frankfort, Germany, stating that in order to make Germany, in time of peace or wa-, independent of any British lines, the German Government has decided to lay ft purely German cable to Eastern Asia, reaching in China as far north as Kioutochau.in Japan as far as Nagasaki The German and Dutch Governments have signed an agreement whereby the Dutch Government un ie’rtakes to lay, in conjunction with the German-East Asia cable, a branch cable connecting the Dutch East Indies with the German cable.. The latter will run to German New Guinea, tha Caroline Islands, and other German possessions. The writer adds that the laying of the cable will be undertaken forthwith, and the material has already been ordered in Germany. The writer suggests that an arrangement for a connection of the GermanDu :ch cable with Australia would give you a new string to your bow, a now link with Europe. The Premier states, regarding the Melbourne cable re the pooling proposal, that Queensland will agree to nothing of the kind. Nothing will be done without the sanction of the Pacific Cable Board, otherwise it would be distinctly nnfair to Canada.

Sydney, February 20. The Sydney Morning Herald, comment* ing on the proposed German cable, says , that there shoa’d be little difficulty in 1 arranging a connection between the Commonwealth and, say, German New Guinea, and that we neednnt trouble ourselves about nationality owners. The more cables that are between Europe and Australia the better, whether German, British or. French, and the good that they will dc in b inging the continents nearer overshadows the purely national objections. Meijboobne, February 2 1 , The Agent-General cab.es that the Pacific cable Board mejt on the 25th, when they wijl/consider . whether Victor a is justified in signing the Eastern . Extension agreement. The Premier has informed the Agent* General that ihe Victorian Government desires nothing amounting to a breach bt faith, but he would be glad to have earn a advantages of reduced rates on Eastern Extension lines as are secured by oihit Australian States, if the Pacific Board oWft approve. f f i:'-