New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4142, 30 June 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1874.

The success of tho Challenger’s soundings between Sydney and Wellington removes the last element of uncertainty in the matter of submarine telegraph communication between Australia and New Zealand. Without a track across having been fathomed and marked out, the English company who have been in correspondence with the combined Australasian Governments on the subject were willing to undertake the task and the risk, not looking to the assistance from the Imperial Government which they have now obtained through the Challenger’s work, but their calculations can now be made with much more certainty than before. It was known that the depth of water increased rapidly as the Australian coast was loft behind, and that at a distance of two or three hundred miles from land there was a depth, of at least 2,500 fathoms ; but it was- appprehended that a much greater depth would be found, and it w'as not ascertained at what distance from the New Zealand coast the bottom began to rise. It is satisfactory, therefore, to find that the greatest depth plumbed by the Challenger was 2,600 fathoms. The soundings show that the depth increased gradually though greatly; that the extreme deepness does not vary much for some hundreds of miles in mid-ocean ; and that the water shallows gradually as the coast of New Zealand is approached. For the greater part of the distance across, the bottom is very favourable for the repose of a very light cable, being mud or ooze or sand. The depth is such even near the shore on the Australian side, that a cable may lie undisturbed for many years ; while the pressure of so great a body of water—so great that if Mount Cook were submerged at the deepest sounding its summit would be some three hundred feet beneath the surface —would considerably increase the electrical power of the wires. It is only when the shore of New Zealand is approached, that the bottom becomes of a somewhat doubtful character, speaking from the electrician’s point of view. Tested at 275 fathoms, within two hundred miles from the land, the bed of the sea was found to bo of a hard stony character. The scientific gentlemen on board the Challenger say “ probably rocks and as they add that the indications of what we may call a hard bottom increase .as the water shallows towards the shore, it would appear to be necessary that a stronger cable should be used for at least four hundred miles from this coast. The Challenger, however, has only sounded upon one line of bearings—that from Port : Jackson direct to Cook Strait. Captain Nares, no doubt, has done all that he has been required to do by his instructions ; and for the excellent manner in which, in spite of weather so severe, the soundings have been accomplished, the Colonies are greatly indebted to him. It is possible also, that his instructions may require him to hasten on the course which has been set out for the Challenger. This matter, however, is really one of so much interest to the Mother Country, as well as to this, one of her youngest but also one of her most thriving and vigorous Colonies, that possibly some slight alteration might be made in the plans of Captain Nares, if the importance with which the matter is regarded in the Colonies were represented to him. The Challenger is so specially fitted for the work of sounding, and the extent of seabottom to be examined is so clearly ascertained now, that if Captain Nares could be induced to make a short trip along the west coast of the North Island, not going beyond the moderate depth at which rooky bottom was first found on the line of soundings just made, it is possible that a more favorable parallel for approaching the coast might be discovered. It is of no real importance at which part of the coast the shore-end of the cable may bo laid. On the other shore, the soundings would show that the cable should start from Port Jackson, and whether it is laid down to Capo Farewell, or to Taranaki, or to a point further north, is of no significance, the quality of the electrical power setting aside all considerations of shore distance. If a soft bottom could bo found, and if tho Challenger were able to find it, the Colony would gain not a little, and tho laurels of tho officers of tho Challenger would be all the more deserved. Whether a strong cable must be used for three or four hundred miles from the coast of New Zealand, however, or whether a more favorable line of approach may be discovered, we can now congratulate tho public that the labors of tho Challenger will assist greatly to bring about tho completion of a project in which they cannot but ho interested. Wo are not on a par with our brethren in Australia in any of our relations, political, social, or commercial, so long as we are without tho instantaneous communication with Europe and America which thoy enjoy. Tho three Colonies interested in the construction of a second lino of cable and land telegraph are now in a position to complete their portion of tho arrangement entered into with Messrs. Siomeu Brothers; and the latter have now all tho information necessary to enable them to complete their arrangements, on tho worst view of tho case —that of having to lay a cablo of greater than tho strength of the ordinary doop-sea cables, for three or four hundred miles from the

shore o£ New Zealand. The public will bo glad to hear that the matter has become one of absolute contract, and that the submerging of the sea-wire is. likely soon to be commenced.