3

P.—G

'• 4. The guarantee to be paid only whilst the lines are in working order: Provided that four weeks in each year will be allowed for repairs. If the New Zealand line only be in order, one-third of the guarantee* to be paid; if the Singapore line only be in order, two-thirds of the guarantee to be paid. If the lines are not kept in order with due diligence, or if communication should permanently fail, the guarantee to cease. " 5. The two lines to be commenced and constructed simultaneously. " 6. The cost per message of twenty words from New Zealand to New South Wales not to exceed fifteen shillings ; the charge for each word above twenty being ninepence. And the cost for twenty words from Normantown to Singapore not to exceed forty shillings for the first two years, and thirtyfive shillings afterwards; the,charge for each word above twenty being two shillings. " 7. Queensland to undertake to keep the land line to Normantown open for the use of the other contributing colonies, at rates not to exceed at any time seven shillings for twenty words. " 8. The three Governments to act in unison, and to jointly arrange the details. " 9. This agreement, after being approved of by the respective Governments, to be subject to ratification by the respective Parliaments; and the details to be arranged in London by representatives appointed by the three colonies. " 10. The Governments will require to be satisfied that the contractors have made proper provision for the use of a through line of communication between Singapore and London. " Henet Pabkes. "Saul Samuel. "Julius VoaEi. "William H. Eeynolds. "A. H. Palmee. " Sydney, 14th February, 1873." "J. Malbon Thompson. (2.) That this Resolution be transmitted to the Legislative Council for its concurrence. Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair; and the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again this day. The Order of the Day having been read, —Mr. Parkes moved, That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair, and the House resolve itself into a Committee of the whole for the further consideration of the Eesolutions respecting Telegraphic Cable Communication; and that the Message of His Excellency the Governor, No. 44, in reference thereto, be referred to the Committee. Question put and passed. Whereupon Mr. Speaker left the Chair, and the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole accordingly. Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair; and the Chairman reported that the Committee had come to certain Eesolutions. Ordered, on motion of the Chairman (with the concurrence of the House), that the said Eesolutions be now received. The Chairman then reported the Eesolutions (as recorded in entry 22 above), which were read a first time. Mr. Parkes then moved, That the Eesolutions be now read a second time. Question put. The House divided. Ates, 25. —Mr. Parkes, Mr. G. A. Lloyd, Mr. Farnell, Mr. Allen, Mr. Lackey, Mr. Hill, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Neale, Mr. Baker, Mr. Thomas Eobertson, Mr. Scholey, Mr. Piddington, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Watson, Mr. Booth, Mr. O'Connor, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Cunneen, Mr. Hurley (Narellan), Mr. Cooper, Mr. Driver, Mr. Tunks, Mr. Hurley (Central Cumberland). Tellers—Mr. Burns, Mr. Macintosh. Noes, 3. —Mr. Forster. Tellers—Mr. Stewart, Mr. Lucas. And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Eesolutions read a second time, and on motion of Mr. Parkes, agreed to. Ordered, That the following Message be carried to the Legislative Council: — Mr. President, —• The Legislative Assembly having this day agreed to the following Eesolutions, viz. :— '• (1.) That this House approves of the following Conditions of Agreement for the construction of a telegraph cable between New Zealand and New South Wales, and one between Normantown, in Queensland, and Singapore, as agreed upon by the representatives of the Colonies of New Zealand, Queensland, and New South Wales, in Sydney, on the 14th February, 1873; and empowers the Government to enter into a contract, in conjunction with the other Governments named, upon the terms therein stated, for the purpose of carrying out this undertaking : — Agreement. " The following Conditions for the construction of a Telegraph Cable between New Zealand and New South Wales, and one between Normantown, in Queensland, and Singapore, are those which the Eepresentatives of New South Wales, New Zealand, and Queensland agree to recommend their Governments to submit for the approval of their respective Parliaments:— " 1. The three colonies shall jointly enter into an arrangement for the construction of an electric cable to be laid between some point in New Zealand and some point in New South Wales, and also a cable to be laid from Normautown, in Queensland, to Singapore, the latter to be a through cable touching only at such points as may be agreed on, and to be entirely distinct the whole distance from the line between Port Darwin and Singapore. " 2. The arrangement to be for a guarantee of five per cent, for a term not exceeding thirty-five years, upon a sum not exceeding one million pounds for the cost of the two lines.