THE PACIFIC CABLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 36

THE PACIFIC CABLE.

Washington, January 10. The President has advised Congress to j consent to Hawaii leasing a cable station to, Great Britain, and declares that the laying of the cable to the Australian colonies via Hawaii would be of benefit to the United States. The French Commissioner has requested the Government to consider the possible extension of the New Caledonia cable before coming to a decision in terms of the President's Message. London, January 10. The Times and Daily News refer with gratification to the goodwill expressed towards Great Britain in President Cleveland's Message to Congress regarding the Pacific cable. Sydney, January 11. The Sydney Morning Herald affirms that the cable route from Canada to Sydney via Panning Island, though the more expensive, would best meet the requirements of the larger colonies in Australia. When the question of a Pacific cable was under consideration at the last Intercolonial Postal Conference tho Hon Mr Ward expressed the opinion that the cost of laying such a cable would not exceed two. millions sterling. This was regarded at the time as an excessively sanguine estimate, but the tender of the Indiarubber and Guttapercha Company (<£I,GOO,OOO via Panning Island to Sydney, and .£1,250,000, via Samoa and Fiji ending at New Zealand) shows that Mr Ward had a very correct notion of the probable expense. He considers tho tender to be very reasonable. The question whether or not the cable will be proceeded Avith depends very much, we understand, on the attitude of the Imperial Government. If they are prepared to give moderately fair assistance the construction of the cable is practically assured.