391
214
PACIFIC CABLE COMMITTEE:
from Great Britain and the Australasian Colonies shall be as follows:-Three shillings per word for ordinary telegrams; two shillings per word for Government telegrams; and one shilling and sixpence per word for press messages. Trans-Pacific messages to be charged at proportionate rates. The tariff of charges to be approved and not changed unless by governmental sanction.
ROUTE OF CABLE.
Offers will be received for laying the cable on each of the routes described as follows:-
Route No. 1.
Commencing at Vancouver Island the cable to extend to Fanning Island, thence to a suitable island in the Fiji Group. From Fiji to Norfolk Island, and at that point the route will bifurcate to the northern part of New Zealand, and to a convenient point near the boundary between New South Wales and Queensland.
Vancouver Island to Fanning Island
Fanning Island to Fiji
Fiji to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island to New Zealand
Norfolk Island to Tweed Mouth, near boundary New South Wales and
Queensland
Total
Koota.
3,232
1,715
1,022
415
761
7,145
PAPERS,
Route No. 5.
215
As in routes Nos. 2, 3, and 4, the cable to run from Vancouver Island to Necker Island; from Necker Island to Fiji, thence to Jarrey, thence direct to New Zealand.
Vancouver Island to Necker Island Necker Island to Fiji
Fiji to New Zealand
Total -
Route No. 6.
Knots.
2,431
2,546
1,150
6,127
From Vancouver Island the cable to extend to Honolulu; from Honolulu to Fiji, and from Fiji to follow route No. 1 to New Zealand and Australia. On the section between Honolulu and Fiji one of the Phoenix Islands may possibly be found available for a mid-station.
Vancouver Island to Honolulu
Honolulu to Fiji
Fiji to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island to New Zealand Norfolk Island to Tweed Mouth
Total -
Knots.
2,280
2,600
1,022
415
761
7,078
I
Route No. 2.
From Vancouver Island the cable to be laid to a small unoccupied island indicated on the charts as Necker Island, situated about 240 miles westward from the most western island of the Hawaiian Group and about 400 nautical miles from Honolulu. From Necker Island the cable to extend to Fiji, and thence, as in route No. 1, to New Zealand and Australia. On the section between Necker and Fiji possibly Howland Island or Baker Island may be available for a mid-station, but the exact position has not been ascertained.
Vancouver Island to Necker Island
Necker Island to Fiji
Fiji to Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island to New Zealand
Norfolk to Tweed Mouth
Total
Knots.
2,431
2,546
1,022
415
761
7,175
Route No. 7.
From Vancouver Island the cable to extend to Honolulu; from Honolulu to Onoatoa of the Gilbert Group; from Onoatoa to San Christoval of the Solomon Group; from San Christoval to Bowen.
Onoatoa to San Christoval
Vancouver Island to Honolulu Honolulu to Onostoa
-
San Christoval to Bowen
Total -
Route No. 8.
Knots.
2,280
2,080
953
980
6,293
Route No. 3.
As in route No. 2 the cable to extend from Vancouver Island to Necker Island, thence to Onostos or some one of the eastern islands of the Gilbert Group. From this station in the Gilbert Group two branches to extend, one to Queensland and the other to New Zealand. The Queensland branch to touch at San Christoval Island in the Solomon Group, and terminate at Bowen, connecting at that point with the land lines, easterly to Brisbane and Sydney, westerly to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Vancouver Island to Necker Island
Necker Island to Onostoa (in Gilbert Group)
Onoatos to Fiji
Viti Levu to New Zealand
Onoatoa to San Christoval (Solomon Group)
San Christoval to Bowen, Queensland
Total-
Knota.
2,431
1,917
980
1,004
953
980
8,265
From Vancouver Island the cable to extend to Honolulu; from Honolulu to Fiji, possibly with
a mid atation on this section if a suitable island be available. From Fiji the cable to run direct to New Zealand.
Vancouver Island to Honolulu Honolulu to Fiji
Fiji to New Zealand
Total -
·
Knots.
2,280
2,600
1,150
6,030
The cable will land at some
Route No. 4.
As in routes Nos. 2 and 3 the cable to be laid from the northern terminal point to Necker Island. From Necker Island to extend in a direct course to Bowen, touching at Apamana, a central island in the Gilbert Group, and at San Christoval, of the Solomon Group.
Vancouver Island to Necker Island
Necker Island to Apamana (Gilbert Group) Apamana to San Christoval (Solomon Group)
San Christoval to Bowen, Queensland
Total
-
Koots.
2,431
1,865
970
980
-
6,246
The northern terminus of each route is on Vancouver Island.
suitable point to be determined, probably at Port San Juan, near the entrance of the strait of San Juan, or at Barclay Sound.
The several routes above described are shown generally on the accompanying map of the world. The distances given in each case are believed to be approximately correct, but are not guaranteed. Parties offering to provide and lay the cable must make their own calculations of distances and satisfy themselves.
Character of Cables-Proposals will describe the type of cables intended to be used on each section, and state the weight of conductors and insulators per knot in each case.
Shore Ends. The best description of landing cables must be employed at terminal points and all mid-stations. The proposals will describe the character, weight, and length of shore-end cables to be used in each case.
Speeds. The calculated speeds for each section of the cable shall in no case be less than 12 words per minute.
Stations and Equipments. Each offer will describe the character and approximate cost of buildings, instrumente, &c., to be furnished for each terminal and mid-ocean station.
Repairs and Maintenance.-Proposals will state the provision intended to be made for repairs and maintenance, the number, tonnage, and value of repair steamers. In the case of offers made under Form A., the steamers and stores will be found by, and remain the property of the con- tractor, until the end of three years from the completion of the cable, to be then taken over at a valuation as may be stipulated and agreed.
E e 2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
9
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON