D.—No. 3.

LENGTH OF CABLE KEQUIBED. Cape Sedans (East Java) to'Coepang (Timor) 590 knots Coepang to Port Essington . . . . . . . . 525 „ Port Essington to Cape York ........ 635 „ Cape York to Cape Cleveland . . . . . . . . 619 „ Cape Cleveland to Moreton Bay 655 ., Total direct distance ....... 3,024 knots 5 per cent, slack probably used . . . . . . . 151 „ 3,175 knots 10 per cent spare Cable for subsequent repairs ..... 317 „ Total Cable required 3,492 knots Of which, Main Cable 2,970 knots Shore ends 522 „ 3,492 knots ESTIMATED COST OF LINE, TO BE CAKBIKD OUT IN TWO YEARS FEOM THE SIGNING OF THE CONTBACTS. 2,970 knots of Main Cable at £151 per knot . . . .£448,470 522 knots Shore ends at .£244 127,368 Insurance 5 per cent, on £575,838 28,792 Total cost of Cable free on board in England . £604,630 13,000 tons of Cable conveyed to Melbourne in sailing vessels specially chartered and fitted with a wrought-iron water-tight cable, tanks, pumps, ifec 98,450 * Two steamers for laying the Cable, each 1,800 tons gross register, fitted with large water-tight cable tanks, with picking up and paying out machinery . . . 70,000 Coals for the two ships during the outward voyage and laving the Cable —in all 600 days at 25 tons per day, 15,000 tons at an average of 50s. ...... 37,500 Wages, stores, provisions, insurance, special stores, and contingencies 59,920 Total first cost and working expenses of steamers . 167,420 Six stations, with furniture, instruments, land line, and salaries of clerks during construction of line .... 43,780 Engineering and Electrical Staff employed to superintend the manufacture in England, and to lay the Cable in Australia 39,866 Expenses of management in England ..... 13,750 Total—stations, salaries, and management . . 97,396 Interest during construction . . . 62,500 Reserve Fund . . ... 100,000 Total cost of line .£1,130,396 Credit by part of first cost of steamers charged to other sections, or by sale of steamers 30,396 Total capital required £1,100,000 MAINTENANCE, PEB ANNUM. Six stations, including general superintendence £18,000 Annual cost of steamer and stores ........ 15,000 Direction and Home expense with Engineer 5,500 Renewal Fund ........... 12,000 Total £50,500 * Th»se ste»m»ra will tak» out 2,030 tons Cabla.

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TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION