New Zealand and the Cable Rates.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1886, Page 2

New Zealand and the Cable Rates.

The important negotiations botween Sir Julius Vogel, on behalf of this colony, and Mr Pender, as representing tho Cablo Company, are still undecided, though it is becoming evident that our Treasurer has the whip hand, and ia sure to carry his point Reluctantly, and only undor throat of an opposition cablo being laid, tho Cable Company havo agreed to the rates suggested, on certain conditions. Ono of those conditions—that the subsidy of the contributing colonies bo oxtendod for six and a quarter years—it is impossible for Sir Julius V o gel to concede, being only empowored by Parliament to renew tho agreement for five years. From this and other considorationa, Sir Julius is quite justified in ndopting tho tone ho has done in his reply to tho overtures mado through tho Government of New South Wales. It ia now uncertain, ho Bays, whether tho Government of Now Zealand will renew tho subsidy, und looking to tho cost of laying clown a cnblo and tho revenue derivable from it afterwards, it would Beem folly for ua to go on paying oven tho modifiod rates ugreod to by MrPendor. A good de.l must.of cour_o, depend upon whet hor any of thoother colonies will co operate in tho matter ; but. if any reciprocal sign is givon, tho Now Zealand Legislature would vory willingly authoriee tbe laying of a Government cable between Australia and Now Zealand at an estimated cost of £170,000. Tho proposod cable TTOhl °"t> Franciscj*-.^tp Honolulu k [\ur no immediate' Bearing on tho quostion now under consideration, although in the future it will form an important link in the telegraphic chain which mu_ ultimately connoct theso colonies with tho American continent and tho Islands of tho South Pacific,