3

F.—4

I.—Sir J. Cnrmichael and Mr F. Gisborne.

I.—COEEESPONDENCE WITH SIE JAMES CAEMICHAEL AND ME. F. GISBOENE. No. 1. Mr. Gisbobne to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sib— 7, Bruton Street, W., 11th February, 1875. I have the honor to enclose for your information copy of a letter dated the 2nd instant, received by myself from Lord Salisbury, in answer to an application for a guarantee of interest on the cost of a cable to be laid from Calcutta to Singapore, via the Andaman Islands, as part of the proposed submarine line from Singapore to Queensland and New Zealand. I have, &c, The Hon. J. Vogel, C.M.G., Colonial Treasurer. F. Gisbobne.

Enclosure in No. 1. Sib,— India Office, 2nd February, 1875. I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 30th December last, proposing to connect the Andaman Islands with Calcutta on the one side and Singapore on the other, and likewise with Eangoon or Moulmein, and applying for a guarantee of interest at 5 per cent, for thirty-five years on the outlay required for the purpose, and estimated at £720,000. In reply, I am to state that the object contemplated will not, in the Secretary of State's opinion, justify him in sanctioning the proposed guarantee. I am, &c, F. Gisborne, Esq. Louis Mallet.

No. 2. Mr. E. Fox to Mr. Gisbobne. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Sib,— 12th February, 1875. I have been directed by Mr. Vogel to acknowledge his receipt of your letter of February 11th, enclosing copy of one from the India Office, dated February 2nd ; and to thank you for the same. I have, &c., F. Gisborne, Esq. E. Fox.

No. 3. Sir J. Caemichael and Mr. Gisboene to the Hon. J. Vogel. Sib, — 58, Threadneedle Street, London, E.C., 27th February, 1875. We beg to undertake to raise the required capital, and to lay and work a telegraph cable between Cape Farewell (New Zealand) and Sydney, on the basis laid down in the 9th section of " The Telegraph Cables Subsidy Agreement Ratification Act, 1873:" the cable to be laid within eighteen months of the agreement to that effect being entered into. The form of cable now generally used, and which has been estimated for by our engineers, will require a capital of £400,000, including the cost of a repairing steamship, and the other items entering into a company's capital: the stations, however, at Cape Farewell and Sydney, to be provided by the two interested Governments. Should you be advised to adopt a cheaper form of cable, as can be recommended by some of the highest scientific authorities, the capital and the charges upon the revenues of New Zealand will be correspondingly reduced. The Company will practically possess the power of determining the route to be followed by its messages between Sydney and India; and this power we are willing that the New Zealand Government shall exercise. We have, &c, J. Carmichael. The Hon. J. Vogel, C.M.G., Colonial Treasurer. F. Gisboene.

No. 4. The Hon. J. Yogel to Sir J. Cabmichael and Mr. Gisbobne. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., Gentlemen, —■ Ist March, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th February, in which you state that you are prepared to " undertake to raise the required capital, and to lay and work a