3 (Sfcomtg SATURDAY, NOVEBIBEE 6, 1886. THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 148, 6 November 1886, Page 2

3 (Sfcomtg SATURDAY, NOVEBIBEE 6, 1886. THE PACIFIC CABLE.

A Southern contemporary has recently published some vory interesting particulars compiled from official documonts issued by the Canadian Government, as to proposed Pacific Cable, to construct which we havo already learned a company has been formed in London. The cable is to be in six sections between Australia and Canada. The first will bo from Brisbane, or some part of New South Wales, to the North Capo of Now Zealand, a distance of 1300 knots ; the second from the North Cape to Fiji, 1240 knots ; tho third to Fanning Island, 2270 knots; the fonrth to one of tho Sandwich Islands, 1260 knots ; tho fifth to Vancouvor's Island, 2730 knots; and the sixth across th« Island and tho Straits of Georgia to Vancouver city, on the Pacific Coast, the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway, 100 miles. Tho total length of oablo will thus bo some 8900 miles, and tho Canadian Pacific Railway Company and the Canadian Government offer the use of their lines for a further distance of 3450 miles at little moro than a nominal charge, while the MackayBennett cable proprietors offer to transmit messages across the Atlantic at 4d per word. The total charge from Vancouver City to London would not exceed Is 2d per word. The cost of the Pacific cable is estimated at .£2,000,000, and tho company ask an annual subsidy of .£IOO,OOO. It is believed that the Imperial Government will be willing to find half this amount, and tho colonies are asked to furnish tho other half, in consideration of an undertaking to transmit pross messages between England and Australia at a maximum charge of 23 per word and ordinary messages 4s per word, during a period of 25 years. The contributions required from the various colonies aro roughly estimated as follows : — Canada, Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales, .£IO,OOO a year each ; New Zealand. Tasmania, and Western Australia, £10,000 between them. South Australia is not oxpectod to contribute, as the lino would be in opposition to its Trans-Continental lino. In return for the subsidies it is proposed that each colonial Government should be allowed tho free use of the oablo for its messagos to an amount equal to the snbsidy contributed. Tho advantages of such a cable to this colony would be enormous, as we should be the nearest Australasian station to Europe, and be on the direct line instead of boing a kind of out station beyond the real terminus as at present. The advantages of telegraphic communication with Fiji and Honolulu and direot with Amorica would also be very great. It would well repay New Zealand to give tho full quota of .£IO,OOO a-year towards the establishment of /inch a line, and with such a Bcheme looming in the immediate future it is easy to understand both the eagerness of the Eastern Extension Company to bind the colony to it for five years and the unwillingness of the Government to enter into any arrangement whioh might interfere with its ability to assist the Pacific cable scheme.