PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
APPENDIX C.
PROPOSED TARIFF of CHARGES for MESSAGES between the several Colonial termini and London (rid Routes Nos. 1 and 2), showing how many of such messages each Colony would have to contribute, exclusive of ordinary working expenses, to cover its annual liability in respect of borrowed money:
From Cape of Good Hope to Aden, per message of 20 words of
10 letters each, at 4s. per word
From Aden to London, 20 words at 3s. 94. per word, less 30 per
cent., 2s. 8d.
·
From Natal to Aden, 20 words at 33. 6d. per word of 10 letters -
Aden to London, as above
11
£ s. d. £ s. d.
4 0 0
-
2 13
4
6 13 4
3 10
2 13
0 4
6 34
From Mauritius to Aden, 20 words at 3s. per word of 10 letters
Aden to London, as above
3 0
0
2 13 4
5 13 4
About 11 messages each way per diem for 300 working days,
at 41. each, would cover the Cape liability of
2 ditto, ditto, ditto, Natal liability
8 ditto, ditto, ditto, Mauritius liability
Each
way
2142 single messages per diem
-
25,843
4,358
14,473
£44,674
It will probably take some years before 42 messages per diem of 20 words each will be transmitted through the cables. In the meantime the maximum liability of the several Governments, over and above ordinary working expenses, would be limited to whatever the actual receipts might fall short of the total sum which the above number of messages are calculated to yield.
There will, of course, be a certain number of Inter-Colonial messages, but they have been omitted from the above calculation, in the first place because of the impossibility of estimating them; and in the second, because the above tariff is only given with a view of conveying to the minds of those concerned an idea of the cost of European messages, and in a general way the extent to which the cables must be employed to become self- supporting.
NOTE.As the new word tariff will come into operation on the Eastern Telegraph Lines on the 1st January 1876, it appears advisable for uniformity sake to adopt a similar system on the proposed new lines.
Spring Gardens, 14th December 1875.
No. 2.
COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.
Downing Street, May 26, 1876.
SIR,
I AM directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to request that you will bring under the notice of the Lords of the Treasury the subject of telegraphic communication between this country and the Colonies of South Africa and Mauritius.
2. In a letter from their Lordships Department of the 5th of April 1873, it was stated that, although they would view with satisfaction the establishment of such communication, they would not feel themselves warranted in submitting to Parliament a proposal to render assistance to that undertaking, either by way of subsidy or guarantee.
Subsequent to that date contracts were entered into between "Hooper's Telegraph Works, Limited," and the Governments of the Cape, Natal, and Mauritius, for the establishment, before the 31st of December 1875, of a submarine line connecting those Colonies with Aden, the Colonial Governments agreeing to give the company an annual subsidy for a limited number of years.
In the course of last year Hooper's Company announced their inability to complete the contracts which had been entered into, and the scheme for the line then projected entirely failed.
9
3. A variety of communications have from time to time reached Lord Carnarvon representing the importance of the communication desired, and the inconveniences that have arisen from the delay in the settlement of the question.
4. Under these circumstances, Lord Carnarvon gave directions to the Crown Agents for the Colonies to report generally as to the most feasible mode of accomplishing the desired object, and I am now to transinit to you, to be laid before the Lords of the Treasury, a copy of a Report on the subject, which has been prepared by Sir P. Julyan.
5. I am at the same time to enclose copies of letters which have been addressed to his 30th Oct.1875.* Lordship by Mr. Donald Currie and by Hooper's Company.
6. Their Lordships will observe from these papers, that amidst some difference of opinion as to the exact route to be preferred, and other important points, there is a general unanimity of opinion in these communications as to the necessity for the con- struction and laying of the cable (whatever route is determined on) being undertaken direct by Government, without the intervention of any special company organised for the
purpose.
7. Looking to the state of the telegraph market, the failure of Messrs. Hooper to carry out their old contract attributed by them to their inability to raise the capital required, the absence of any offers on the part of other companies to undertake the project, the enormous additional expenses which appear to be attendant on the promotion and organi- sation of companies of this nature, the comparatively small return which in any case could be anticipated for some years on the outlay which would be absolutely requisite, and at the same time the comparatively low rate of interest at which the same money's might be raised on Government account by the issue of debentures, his Lordship has no doubt that this conclusion in favour of direct action on the part of the Government is a sound one, to which he can give his unhesitating concurrence.
?
8. His Lordship has, moreover, little doubt that the Governments of the Colonies interested will be ready to entertain any well-considered scheme which would secure them telegraphic communication with Europe at a moderate cost, but his Lordship, before bringing to their notice the scheme which has been prepared by the Crown Agents, would wish to be in a position to state that the Imperial Treasury would join in the undertaking.
9. In requesting their Lordships to give this subject their special consideration, Lord Carnarvon would observe that the Colonies of South Africa and Mauritius are now the only important portions of this Empire which are altogether isolated from telegraphic communication with Europe; they are Colonies between which and this country there exists a considerable and increasing trade; but apart from commercial considerations, they are military and naval stations of importance, which are garrisoned by a force of Her Majesty's troops at present of considerable numbers, and which it has recently been decided to increase.
10. His Lordship might fairly urge this subject on their Lordships notice in connexion with the political importance of South African affairs generally at the present time; but he prefers to make this claim on the Imperial Treasury simply as a question of communication.
11. In the time of war the advantages that would be attendant upon the existence of telegraphic communication between these Colonies and the rest of the Empire are suffi ciently obvious, but his Lordship thinks it well to record that at the
present time inconvenience is constantly felt by this and other Departments of Her Majesty's Government from the absence of such communication.
grave
12. It has long been the policy of this country to incur a considerable expenditure in ensuring the establishment of rapid and regular mail communication with its depen- dencies in all parts of the globe, and it is hardly necessary to observe that at the present day the telegraph is for all important purposes taking the place of mail communication. The purchase by Government of the telegraphs in this country has recognised the same principle, and on these grounds Lord Carnarvon considers that the proposal that the Imperial Government should incur a moderate outlay in securing telegraphic communication is entitled to favourable consideration.
13. The general principle on which the scheme projected by Sir P. Julyan is based, viz., that the necessary capital shall be borrowed by the combined Colonial Govern- ments interested in the undertaking, under a guarantee from the Imperial Government, and that one moiety of the liability attaching to the undertaking should be borne by the
• Not printed.
G 524.
11thJan.1876.*
5th Nov. 1876.
}