ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 162, 10 May 1859, Page 3

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Recently the subject of telegraphic communU . cation with Europe was before the Legislative Council of New South Wales, aud as the latest ; intelligence we place it before our readers. In, August last the Executive agreed to the following minute :—" The Council, cannot fail to perceive the great advantages which would accrue to this ami the other Australian colonies generally, from the establishment of such a communication as that proposed by Mr. Gisborne, but until more fully informed as to the details of his scheme, the success of which appears to be dependent on a good many contingencies, they are not in a position to express any opinion as to its feasibility, nor are they prepared to pledge this colony to co-operate with him in the undertaking; if, however, it be again submitted to them in a more matured state, it shall have their most careful, consideration." On this occasion the Attorney-General read a portion of a letter received from a mercantile . gentleman, which we subjoin :-r— While on the subject of rapid communication, I may mention that a project is afloat for connecting Sydney with London by telegraphic wires. -3 A company is being formed, and negotiations are now going on with the various governments on ■ this side. Amongst the "promoters here are Mr. Mangles, M.P., Mr. Gladstone, Robert Campbell Tertius, and Mr. Chapman, the chairman of the ; Union Bank of London. The line will be conir ■ pleted to Alexandria. Mr. Newall has taken tho contract for the Bed Sea, the Indian Government have consented to continue it to Ceylon and Singapore, the Dutch Government has consented^ to carry it on to Melville Island, and all that the' company now require is. for the Australian Governments to grant a subsidy; which will enable them to carry it on from Melville Island to Moreton Bay and Sydney, and thus connect it with tho telegraph to Victoria and Adelaide, Mr. Camp-* : bell has seen me several times on the subject, and it is at his instance that I now address you. The notion is- that New South Wales should give - £10,000; Victoria, £15,000; South Australia, ' ,£7000; Tasmania, £5000; and New Zealand, . ,£3000; making a total of £40,000 per annum; for which the company will undertake to bring' you within two days' communication with Lon-r ■ don. They will probably send out an agent to negotiate before long. Mr. Campbell thinks there r will be no difficulty in getting the thing com,' pleted within eighteen months, . The Attorney-General added that this plan was ; very different from that proposed by Mr. Gis.borne, and the subsidy much .larger. Years may elapse before the work is completed; but it cannot be that Australia will long remain unconnected by wire wilh England when messages are flashed to Calcutta. . The line between ■ Melbourne and Sydney has only been worked * a few months, and so important has it become -^ to maintain certain communication between.the two places, that the laying down of a second > wire is strongly recommended. The accident to; the Omeo, .aud the consequent delay, will post-:; pone the submerging of the submarine telegraph: manufactured for Bass's Sfcraits. But as a .general rule though the days are somewhat " shorter, the weather is not more boisterous in " the Straits in winter than in summer, and if the attempt wore made about the time of full moon, we presume no practical difficulty would be experienced. We fear, however, that the ' work will not be perfect by ; the Ist of May as originally contemplated.— Launceston Examiner, Thistles.—-It is very easy to joke about t!ii3t!es—the national emblem of Scotland, and . to be funny respecting the weed which has;for , its motto Nemo me impime\ lacessit: No .man shall provoke me with impunity. But it has become a curse in this country, and throughout Australia. It is all very well to say that we should import donkeys to browse oil the plant, - or set those already in the colony to crop its herbage. We can appreciate the poetry of the thing, and when alluding to the prowess of the three nations; now-tpnej admire the lines— The English Rose-looked ne'er sored, ■.•■■ The Shamrock waved where glory led ; And the Scottish Thistle raised its. head, An' smiled upon Vittoria. The cultivators of the soil feel that an effort must be made to rid themselves of the nuisance unless they are to be ruined, and that legist tiye enactment is imperatively demanded. All the proprietors of cultivated land, or of soil that has never been under the plough, should- be compelled to keep their holdings free of thistles by cutting them down in a green state. The road trustees should be especially amenable, and that private landholders should, under a severe, penalty, be forced to keep clear a chain at least on side lines where the thistle luxuriates. We _ have repeatedly been appealed to by agriculturists to interpose, and we now do so in the hope that the Government will introduce a bill which will bring, this "nuisance to a close. We scarcely thiffk it necessary to say more. Root out the the Scotch thistles that have spread with such rapidity, and shew them no favor, or they will supplant cereals necessary for the sustenance of man/wherever thistles are tolerated.— Launces* ton Examiner. Among the marriages in Cincinnati lately was a Mr.-Moon to Miss Shine. In this case, no ona , will deny that marriage is moonshine;