SINGAPORE.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 226, 20 December 1859, Page 3

SINGAPORE.

Via Melbourne, we have intelligence from this dependency tQ the Bth October. The following, relative to the Australian telegraph appears in the Singapore Free Press of 15th September:— The concession, formerly granted by the Dutch Government to Mr. Gisborne, to carry a telegraphic line from Australia to India, through the Dutch possessions in the Indian, Archipelago, has been cancelled by mutual concent. The Dutch Government has undertaken to lay an electric cable between Batavia and Singapore, and has given permission to Mr. Gisborne to erect and conduct a telegraph station a Koepang, on the island of Timor, for the Australian line, and' Xojoin this lineAvith the Dutch one at Banyuwangie on Java, lhe English Government have consented to the erection of a Dutch telegraph station at Singapore, and entered into an arrasement with the Dutch Government to the following effect :— "!. The Dutch Government shall not sanction any monopoly by which, at any time, the laying 6fnew telegraphic lines between the NetherlandsIndia possesssions and Australia on.the one side, and Singapore on the other, would be hindred. The Dutch Government will,"duiing a reasonable terniof preparation* afford protection fo'the-pW sons engaged in laying; an Australian line. The- •! • Dutch Government, however, is not bound to per-' mit the compefitjon of another line with its telegraphic communication .between.Batavia and Singapore, except in the event specified in MX in article 5 hereunder written. '~ ' ■■ *«2. The line^bet\veen-Batavia and Singapore shall at alMimes be available for the Government and the public of preabJßrifairi. " .' "3- As faivas" regards, the priority of sending messages it lie 'British' Government shall enjoy the same advantages as the Netherlands. ' ;. "4. The messages of the British Government may beWjnj^ier,. ajidsJia.il not be previously .exannned.....,,.,.. .:.... ■ ;& " -' '&iMW-aa the line -between Batavia and ■Singapdre'shaU be found insufficient for the reduuemenfsofthe'publici the Dutch Government («) shall either la^one or more additional cables («), or give permission for the laying of one' or : more cables, whether by the British Government; or by a > private Company; The Dutch Government shall always, provide the requisite number! of wires overland between Batavia and the point where the Australian lines are tp join. -', ; "6. Thei employ;ment.of British agents shall-bs allowed at the stations where the junction, of .the submarine cables with the land line takes place on the direct route between the British possessions and Australia.

'lire tariff for through messages shall be settled in conjunction with the British Government, and shall not be abolished or altered without its sanction: -• • ■'

The British Government recognises the principle of reciprocity in the application of these conditions to that part of the telegraphic communication with1 the British possessions which is to be ' undertaken by it, or under its control. The cable for the communication between Bata- ' via and Singapore has been manufactured by Messrs. R. S. Newall and Co., of Birkenhead, and is now probably on its way to Batavia.. It is precisely similar to that which has been laid between Suez and Aden. The cost of the cable, laying it, &c, has been estimated at about .£125,000. There will be a station between Batavia and Singapore, either on Banka on Billiton, the choice being dependent of the result of the soundings now being made.