A NEW CABLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9103, 11 July 1888, Page 5

A NEW CABLE.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, June 1. The proposal of the enterprising Messrs. Millar Bros, to establish direct cable communication between Western Australia and India is understood to be engaging the attention of the Colonial Office in connection with a despatch from Sir Napier Broome on the subject. lb has also been discussed in unofficial circles, and the balance of opinion is apparently adverse on the ground that the idea is somewhat premature. Emphasis is laid on the fact that Western Australia is the most unsettled and the least populous of the colonies, and contributes only one per cent, of the existing cable business. Furthermore, it is asserted that this new route does not offer such predominant advantages as would induce the eastern colonies to largely avail themselves of its services. The principal plea advanced in its favourthat the cable will avoid shallow waters and troublesome coral formations—is met by a counter statement of the great difficulty of picking up and repairing a cable sunk many thousand fathoms deep. It is also pointed out that there is but one spot available for a station between Western Australia and Ceylon Keeling Island — which is about half way between the termini of the proposed route, a circumstance which, it is alleged, will add considerably to' the cost and trouble of effective maintenance. The critics estimate the total cost of construction at half a million, whilst working expenses and interest will annually absorb about £75,000. In the event of the Colonial Office authorising the Perth Government to accept the proposal of Messrs. Millar, it is stated on good authority that two conditions will bo appended, namely, that the acquired rights of Messrs. Millar over the cable should be restricted to a period of 21 years, and that the cable should be completed within a stipulated time under pain of forfeiting a substantial monetary penalty. Needless to say, the ruling powers of the Eastern Telegraph Company have not been wholly unconcerned spectators of this contemplated new departure; and whilst believing that Western Australia is not yet ripe for telegraphic experiments, it is understood that they are quite prepared to anticipate the development of that promising colony by laying a cable from Banjoewanjie to a point on the Western Australian coast near King George's Sound and connecting it with their land line across the Australian continent.