Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
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Sir,
108
Inclosure 3 in No. 33.
Acting Colonial Secretary to Mr. Napier Broome.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Mauritius, December 8, 1879. I AM directed by his Excellency the Governor to inform you that, by this day's mail, his Excellency, on behalf of the Government and Legislature of Mauritius, has addressed the Secretary of State for the Colonies respecting the urgent importance, on Imperial even more than on colonial grounds, of the extension of the electric telegraph to this island.
2. You are aware that the Legislature of this Colony has pledged itself to give an annual subsidy of 100,000 rupees, for a term not exceeding twenty years, as its contribution to the cost of such
extension.
3. You are requested to place yourself forthwith in communication on this subject with the Colonial Office, and also, with the sanction of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with any firms in England likely to undertake this work, and to report the result of your inquiries and proceedings for the information of the Governor in Council.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. N. D. BEYTS.
Inclosure 4 in No. 33.
Sir G. Bowen to Sir M. Hicks Beach.
Sir,
Government House, Mauritius, October 31, 1879.
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a copy of a Memorial addressed to me by a considerable number of residents in this Colony in favour of the permanent establishment of the steam service between Mauritius and Natal which has been inaugurated by Messrs. Donald Currie and Co.
2. In my despatch of the 15th September ultimo, I reported the action already taken in this matter by the Government and Legislature of the Colony.
3. The general opinion of the best judges in this community seems to be that Mauritius cannot. afford to subsidize a second monthly mail service viâ the Cape in addition to that already established viâ Suez, and also to contribute to the extension hither of the electric telegraph, and that the telegraph, with the existing line viâ Suez, would be more advantageous for colonial interests than two monthly lines without the telegraph. Moreover, there appears to be no question among naval and military officers of the urgent importance, on Imperial grounds, of extending the telegraph to this island, the Malta of the Indian Ocean.
4. It will be remembered that the Legislature of this Colony has already expressed its willingness to vote an annual subsidy, for a term not exceeding twenty years, of 100,000 rupees as its contribution to the cost of the extension of the telegraph, and that, with my despatch of the 8th September ultimo, I transmitted a copy of the Report adopted on this subject, in which the Legislature “venture to express the hope that the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies will seize the earliest opportunity of reconsidering this matter, so that Mauritius may not remain relegated amongst the few British possessions which are now deprived of the benefits of direct telegraphic communication." 5. I shall return to this subject in another despatch by this mail concerning the general defence of Mauritius.
6. Hoping that you will instruct me as to your present views respecting the extension of the telegraph to this island, I have, &c.
G. F. BOWEN.
(Signed)
Inclosure 5 in No. 33.
Memorial.
To his Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., Governor of Mauritius and its Dependencies, &c. Sir,
WE, the Undersigned, have seen with great satisfaction the establishment of a line of steamers by Messrs. Donald Currie and Co., of London, between South Africa and Mauritius.
And, being satisfied of the great value of such a service, we beg leave to urge that steps may be taken by the Government of this Colony to secure, by means of this British line, viâ the Cape, a postal and commercial service between England, the Cape Colony, Natal, and Mauritius, to alternate with the steamers of the line viâ Aden and the Suez Canal.
Mauritius has at present only postal communication once every twenty-eight days, while telegraphic communication cannot be had under fifteen days, viâ Aden.
In the absence of a direct cable the community would secure the advantages of a telegraphic intercourse reduced to six or seven days with Europe, India, Australia, and as soon as the submarine cable is laid between Natal and Aden, if the South African route were adopted for an additional mail service.
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