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undoubtedly be liable to perpetual interruption. Moreover, that such a line would replace the safest jiortion of the sea line, Gulf Carpentaria being one vast bed of mud about thirty fathoms in depth, and with no currents; that it is well known that for through communication between distant points a sea line laid in a moderate depth offers far greater advantages than the most secure land line. The absence of intermediate stations with local business, and the more constant and uniform action of a cable, which is not influenced by changes of temperature and weather, and is not liable to the numberless small accidents to which a land line is exposed, are among the principal causes. I have, &c, F. Gisborne. Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

Enclosure to No. 8. THE EIGHT HON. F. PKEL TO 8IH CHABLES NICHOLSON, BAET. Treasury Chambers, 19th March, 1863. Sir,— I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, with reference to the proposed Anglo-Australian and China Telegraph, and I am to state that my Lords will lose no time in dealing with the subject so soon as they have received another communication on the same subject, the immediate or very early arrival of which they are given to understand may be expected. I have, <fec, F. Peel. Sir Charles Nicholson, Bart.

No 9. MESSRS. FOEDE AND FLEEMISG JENKIN TO GOVEENOE 8IE GEOBGE GKEY, K.C.B. 6, Duke Street, Adelphi, London, W.C., 27th July, 1863. Sir,— In the absence of Mr. F. Gisborne in Iceland, we think we ought not, as the Engineers who have advised him throughout, to leave you uninformed of a very important accession of strength to the pi-omoters of the India, Australia, and China Telegraph, represented by Mr. Gisbome. The eminent engineers, Sir C. Bright and Mr. Latimer Clark lately formed a powerful party in the object of carrying out the above undertaking by a separate company. This opposition threw needless difficulties in the way of the undertaking, and as there was little or no difference between the Engineers in the proposed method of executing the work, Messrs. Bright and Clark offered to combine their efforts with those of Mr. Gisborne's party, and their proposal has been accepted. The combination thus formed of capitalists and scientific men will greatly advance the undertaking, especially as it has taken place without any modification of the proposals contained in Mr. Gisborne's late letters ; it need, therefore, cause no delay in any action to be taken in Australia in those proposals. We are, <fec, FORDE AND FLEEMING JENKIN. Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B.

No. 10. ME. EOBEKT MACINTTEE, DUNEDIN, TO THE HONOEABLE THE COLONIAL SECEETAEY. Dunedin, 20th June, 1863. Sir,— My Correspondents Sir Charles Bright and Latimer Clark, Electricians, (Engineers of the Atlantic, Indian, and other great Telegraph undertakings), desire me to call your attention to the subject of Telegraphic communication for this Colony.

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