The Pacific Cable Conference.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7533, 20 January 1896, Page 3

The Pacific Cable Conference.

Sydney, Jan. 19. The Pacific Cable Conference has conclnded its deliberations. It adopted recommendations in favor of the construction of a cable touching only in territory owned by the British Empire, the cost to be borne in equal thirds by Great Britain, Canada, and the Australian colonies, the route to be via Fanning Island, Fiji, and Norfolk Island, thence bifurcating to New Zealand and Moreton Bay. The Agents-General of New South Wales arid Victoria were selected as the Australian delegates to the Imperial Colonial Conference to be held in London to discuss the question. The position of South Australia in regard to the new line was discussed at great leDgth, the conference recommending her to join in. Finally it was resolved that Mr Cockbnrn should make a proposition embodying the terms on which his colony was prepared to come in. It is understood that the proposal is that the other colonies should meet South Australia by pooling the cost of the Port Darwin line on a basis of the business done over it during the last five years. Jan. 20. — At the cable conference it was decided that the cost of the cable should be .defrayed in equal portions and not on a population basis. To this tho New Zealand and South Australian delegates demuired, It waa pointed out that in the case of New Zealand that colony would derive advantage over Newfiouth Walesand Victoria, inasmuch as that the cable touched there first. The proposal to pool the cost of the Port Darwin line -was confirmed. Two delegates wero appointed to represent Australasia at the iLandon conference, and they are to consult <bhe Agents-General of the various colonies ■on alt important subjects.