THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 237, 4 October 1894, Page 9

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

ACTION OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT. v

THE INVITATION OF TENDERS. s!

The Canadian Minister for Trade and Com«; merce, Mr Mackenzie Bowell, has forwarded to the Postmaster-General of New Sontk Wales, a letter dated Ottawa, Augusb 6tli, in which tho action taken by bhe Canadian Government with respect to the Paciuts; cable ia explained. It is pointed out tbab tenders had been called by the Government in terms of a resolution passed by th» Colonial Conference hold at Ottawa. Tsa- i dera are invited in threo different forms :—1» The cable to be owned and controlled by bha Government, to be worked under the Government, and kepb in repair for three years. 2. The cable to be owned, maintained, ond worked by a subsidised com- • pany, the maximum rates to and from Great) Britain and the Australian colonies to be 3i per word for ordinary telegrams, 2s per word for Government telegrams; and Is 6d per word for press telegrams, the charges ou meaaages between Canada and the colonies being proportionate. 3; The cable to be . owned, maintained, and worked by a company under a Government guarantee, the maximum rates to be the same as in the second section. The speed of transmission is to be nob less than 12 words per minute, and the time of completion three years. Tenders are invited for the following eight routes :-^- . >■ •> r ;jj Route No. I—Vancouver Island to Fan- ■" nine Island, 3,232 knobs; Fanning Island bo Fiji, 1,715 knots ; Fiji to Norfolk Island, 1,022 knots; Norfolk Island to New Zealaud, 415 knots ; Norfolk Island toTweedv Moubh, near the boundary of New South, Wales and Qaeeneland, 761 knots. Total/ length, 7,145 knots. . :

Route No. 2. — Vancouver Island to !/ Necker Island, 2,431 knots ; Neckar Island • i to Fiji, 2,546 knots ; Fiji to Norfolk Island, / 1,022 knots; Norfolk Island to New Zea-/ land, 415 knots; Norfolk Island to Tweed mouth, 761 knots. Total' length, .7,1*5 knot?. ' ' ,;;

Route No. 3. — Vancouver island/ to ; Necker Island, 2,431 knots; Necker Island * to Onoatoa, in Gilbert Group, 1,917 kriots; Onoafcoa to Fiji, 980 knots; Viti Lrivu to ■• New Zealand. 1,004 knots ; Onoato t/o San Christoval (Solomon^ Group), 953 .knots ; San Christoval to BoWon, Queensland, 980 knots. Total length, 8,265 knota. Routo No. 4.— Vancouver Island to Apamana (Gilbert Group), 1,865 knots; Apamana to San Chriatova,l (Solomon Group), 970 knots; San Ohristoval to Bowen, Queenslalid, 900 kuote. Total length, 6,246 knots. ' '

Koute No. s,—Vancouver Island to Keeker Island, 2,431 knota; Necker Island ~ to Fiji, 2,546 knots ; Fiji to New Zealand, . 1,150 knots. ■ Total JotiKfch, 6,127 knots. Route No 6.— Vancouver Island to Honolulu, 2,280 knots; Honolulu to Fiji, 2,600 knots; Fiji to Norfolk island, L.022 knotß; Norfolk Island to New Zealand, .415 knots; Norfolk Island to Twocdmouth, 761 knots; total length, 7,078 knots. , (Between Honolulu and Fiji one of the Phoenix Islands may poeaibly ba found available for a midstation.) , t ' r ' R6ute No. 7. — Vancouver Island to Honolulu, 2,280 knots; Honolulu to Onoatoa, 2,080 knota ; Onoatoa to San Chris*toyal, 953 knots; San ChTfistoval bo Bo wen, 980 knots. Total length, 6,293 knots. ■ ; ,■.';■ ■. • ':'':' .',,. ■ ■■■■■:':_'■'' ' ...'." ;.

Route Na. 8. — Vancouver Island to Honolulu, 2,280 knots: Honolulu to Fiji, 2.U00 knote; Fiji to New Zealand, 1,150 knots. Total length, 6,020 knots.