43
200
or 155 miles nearer than Necker Island, whilst it is 2,350 miles from Cape Beale, as against 2,425 for Necker, an advantage of 75 miles.
If, therefore, one of the rocks to the westward of the Hawaiian group be selected for the cable, Bird Island appears to me to be the most suitable place; but a thorough examination of the contours of the bank is, of course, necessary, and this, owing to its extent, would take a considerable time.
21208.
No. 49.
I have, &c.
H. J. MAY,
Captain.
SIB,
COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY. [Answered by No. 50.]
Downing Street, December 12, 1894.
WITH reference to previous correspondence respecting the route to be followed by the proposed Pacific cable, I am directed by the Marquess of Ripon to transmit to you, for communication to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter* from the Foreign Office, with its enclosures, on the subject of the suitability of Bird Island as a landing place in the Hawaiian archipelago.
I am to request to be informed whether their Lordships are in possession of any further information respecting this island, and I am to observe that it would be desirable to make a similar survey of Bird Island as has been made recently of Necker Island as soon as it shall have been settled that the necessary rights over the island might be acquired.
EDWARD FAIRFIELD.
I
am,
&c.
22345.
No. 50.
PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
1C.O. 885
SIR,
ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received December 27, 1894.)
Admiralty, December 24, 1894.
In reply to your letter of the 12th instant,t forwarding a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, with its enclosures, on the subject of the suitability of Bird Island as a landing place for the proposed Pacific cable, and asking to be informed whether the Admiralty possesses any further information respecting the Island, I am com- manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the information in their Lordship's possession merely confirms that now communicated through the Foreign Office.
I am to enclose two sketchest of the island, which may be of interest to the Secretary of State, and at the same time to return the tracing which formed a sub-enclosure to your letter.
EVAN MACGREGOR.
I am, &c.
• No. 48.
† No. 49.
‡ Not printed.
6
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE LONDON.