The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1873.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3740, 16 January 1873, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1873.

The arrival of a steamer from Australia at the Bluff, Hokitika, or Auckland —is now looked for with considerable interest, more especially by merchants, and all directly engaged in business. Latest hews from all parts of the world, When that hews happens to be of sufficient interest to warrant the expense of transmission by telegraph is brought by these steamers, and above all the price of wool, flax, grain, and other produce in London and elsewhere, only a week or thereby, is conveyed to those who are more particularly interested in the fluctuations of the market. Late as the intelligence how is, compared with the monthly budget of days not long gone by, it is not yet late enough to satisfy the requirements of the public. They ask, with some impatience, what the General Government has done, or is about to do, in the matter of a submarine cable between Hew Zealand and Australia, and the remark is universal that the former is placed at a great disadvantage commercially by the non-comple-tion of the electric chain. A cable between New Zealand and Australia is admitted to be an absolute necessity, no matter what it may cost. The only question is, by whom is the cable to be laid P Is this colony to bear the whole of the expense, or should the Australian colonies contribute in proportion to the advantages they are likely to derive? And, seeing that Great Britain is largely interested in the completion of the chain of communication, can a contribution from the Imperial Government be reasonably expected ? These questions will no doubt be discussed at the Inter-colonial Conference, and it is to

be hoped that « definite arrangement will be made. The represent tatirea of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, ®nd; Australian colonies, may possibly object to any proposal which involves a pifoportionate eqbi4dy frdta,tN p respective Governments. They, may say that they are quite satisfied with ex* istiug arrangements, and that the extension of telegraphic communication to New Zealand is a matter which concerns that colony only.' If they should adopt this narrow view—and judging from experience there is reason to believe that they will —New Zealand must of course incur the whole of the .cost and trust, to the liberality of the Imperial authorities for such subsidy as they thinfe fit- to give. ■! A Queensland contemporary, in commenting upon the subjects which it is proposed the, Intercolonial Conference should deal with, alludes to the question of cable communication with New Zealand,; and; suggests that the delegates should agree on a plan which they will subsequently submit for the approval of their respective Legislatures. The cable, it. goes on to say, should be laid, maintained, and worked chiefly at the cost of New Zealand, “but aided ,by the contributions of the other colonies, the ob“jeet of their co-operation being to “ ensure that their interests shall be, “ duly, considered in the' working “of the line.” If the Queenslander may be taken as the exponent 1 of opinion in the colony where it is published, there is some ground for believing that assistance . will be received from that quarter. So far as trade and interchange are concerned, Queensland has little or no immediate interest in the establishment of telegraphic communication with this colony, intimately, however, when her resources are fully developed, When her sugar trade has . assumed vfche proportions its promoters anticipate, direct and rapid communicatioii with New Zealand may be of some consequence to her producers; Tasmania, South Australia* and Western Austra-j lia are in much the same relative posi-j tion with ' regard to this colony ad Queensland. We have very little trade or interchange with either, but a time may come when a closer Commercial intercourse will be established. Victoria and New South Wales, on the other hand, have already large business connections'in' the colony, and the probability is that these will be greatly extended as time passes. It follows, then, that even now they are directly interested in the question of cable communication with New Zealand, and that the Colonial Government have substantial reasons for claiming their co-operation and assistance. ■ ' ■