330
24
the Queensland Coast. No decision can yet be come to in regard to this question, but Lord Ripon has informed the Governor of Queensland that this proposal will be considered with other schemes in connexion with the establishment of the proposed Pacific cable.
18003.
No. 31.
I am, &c.
JOHN BRAMSTON.
THE MARQUEss of ripon to SIR H. W. NORMAN (N®w. Guinea). (British New Guinea, No. 26.)
Downing Street, October 25, 1894. So,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch (New Guinea) No. 37, of the 4th of September last, enclosing copy of one from Sir William MacGregor (the Administrator of British New Guinea) advocating the desirability of having a route examined for a submarine cable to connect Canada and Australia by way of New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Gilbert Islands to Cooktown or Thursday Island.
I have to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that one of the alternative routes for a cable suggested at the Ottawa Conference contemplated the cable calling at the Gilbert and Solomon Islands, thence on to Bowen, some distance south of Cook- town, on the Queensland Coast. No decision can yet be come to in regard to this question, but the proposal which Sir William MacGregor has put forward will be con sidered with other schemes in connexion with the establishment of the proposed Pacific Cable.
I have, &c.
RIPON.
18503.
25
No. 34.
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to VISCOUNT GORMANSTON (Tasmania).
(No. 54.)
Downing Street, October 31, 1894.
MY LORD,
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter which has been addressed to this Department by Mr. Audley Coote stating that he has arranged to continue the cable already laid between Australia and New Caledonia from New Caledonia to Walace (?Wallis) Island, and asking for permission to land the cable at Fiji and for a guarantee.
I request that you will inform Mr. Audley Coote that I have received his letter, and that the whole subject of cable communication between Australia and North America is under consideration, but that it is not likely that such a scheme as Mr. Coote's appears to be would commend itself to Her Majesty's Government.
18743.
If
your
No. 35.
I have, &c.
RIPON.
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to the EARL OF ABERDEEN. (Sent November 1, 1894.)
TELEGRAPHIC.
Government, after seeing Fleming and Mercer, should wish latter to go on
their behalf to Washington to explain to Embassy state of affairs at Hawaii, he may continue at disposal for a further reasonable time.
18743.
No. 32.
W. H. MERCER, Esq. (at SAN FRANCISCO), to COLONIAL OFFICE,
(Received 8.45 a.m., October 27, 1894.)
TELEGRAPHIC.
Island Government cannot enter into arrangements involving lease to Foreign Government without previous consent of United States Government. See reciprocity treaty. But if consent obtained it will submit to Legislature terms of satisfactory character as proposed by me. Returning via Ottawa and perhaps Washington so as to give full explanation.
18503.
No. 33.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE and GENERAL POST OFFICE.
Downing Street, October 31, 1894.
SIR,
I AM directed by the Marquess of Ripon to transmit to you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley,
a copy of a letter from Mr. Audley Cootet stating that he had "Mr. Arnold Morley, arranged to continue the cable already laid between Australia and New Caledonia from New Caledonia to Walace Island (which it is presumed is the same as the Wallis Islands over which a French Protectorate was proclained in 1887) and asking for permission to land the cable at Fiji and for a guarantee.
A copy of the replyt returned through the Governor of Tasmania is also enclosed.
EDWARD WINGFIELD.
I am, &a.
• No. 27.
† No. 29.
‡ No. 84.
19381.
Sin,
No. 36.
ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received November 6, 1894).
Admiralty, November 1, 1894.
I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you, for the perusal of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to your letter of the 9th July last, the accompanying copies of reports on Necker Island, forwarded by the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, in his letter, No. 223 of 1894, in connexion with the question of utilising the island for the purposes of a cable station.
Similar letters have been addressed to the Forcigo Office and Post Office.
I am, &c.
(No. 29.)
SIR,
Enclosure in No. 36. LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS.
EVAN MACGREGOR.
H.M.S."Champion," at Esquimalt,
September 28, 1894.
1 HAVE the honour to report that I sailed from Honolulu on 25th August, and arrived off Necker Island on the morning of the 28th.
2. As landing was quite impracticable on account of a heavy northerly swell, 1 commenced the running soundings from the ship, anchoring each night on the bank.
3. On the 31st and following day, the surveying party landed under difficulties in East Cove, an officer and two men being twice washed off the ledge of rocks, the water in the immediate vicinity swarming with sharks.
4. After the northerly swell had abated, a few days later, we found a better landing place in West Cove.
O 83769.
• No. 29.
D
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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25
220
18503.
No. 34.
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to VISCOUNT GORMANSTON (Tasmania).
(No. 54.) MY LORD,
Downing Street, October 31, 1894.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter* which has been addressed to this Department by Mr. Audley Coote stating that he has arranged to continue the cable already laid between Australia and New Caledonia from New Caledonia to Walace (?Wallis) Island, and asking for permission to land the cable at Fiji and for a guarantee.
I request that you will inform Mr. Audley Coote that I have received his letter, and that the whole subject of cable communication between Australia and North America is under consideration, but that it is not likely that such a scheme as Mr. Coote's appears to be would commend itself to Her Majesty's Government.
I have, &c.
RIPON.
18743.
No. 35.
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON to the EARL OF ABERDEEN. (Sent November 1, 1894.)
TELEGRAPHIC.
If your Government, after seeing Fleming and Mercer, should wish latter to go on their behalf to Washington to explain to Embassy state of affairs at Hawaii, he may continue at disposal for a further reasonable time.
19381.