218
17279.
SIR,
20
No. 23.
ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received October 1, 1894.)
Admiralty, October 1, 1894. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a telegram dated 29th September, No. 33, from the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific.
A similar letter has been sent to the Foreign Office.
I am, &c.
EVAN MACGREGOR.
21
In reply, I have to acquaint you, for the information of your Government, that some time before the receipt of your message the Dominion Government had, with the concurrence and co-operation of Her Majesty's Government, arranged that Mr. Sandford Fleming should proceed to Hawaii to discuss with the Government there the question of a landing place for a cable.
I am pleased to find that, in thus acting, Her Majesty's Government have anticipated the wishes of your Ministers.
18063.
I have, &c.
RIPON.
No. 27.
SIB H. W. NORMAN (New GUINEA) to the MARQUESS OF RIPON. (Received October 15, 1894.)
[Answered by No. 31.]
Enclosure in No. 23.
Telegram No. 33.-From Commander-in-Chief, Pacific. Despatched Victoria, B.C., 29th September. Received Admiralty, 29th September.
"With reference to your telegram, No. 15, full survey and report Necker Island, with specimens, goes boine next mail."—ADMIRAL
17373.
SIR,
No. 24.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received October 3, 1894.)
Foreign Office, October 2, 1894. In reply to your letter of the 27th ultimo," I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to inform you that his Lordship sees no objection to the confidential communication to the Governor-General of Canada of his Despatch to Consul-General Hawes of the 31st of August on the subject of the projected Pacific Cable.
(New Guinea, No. 37.)
Government House, Brisbane, Queensland, September 4, 1894.
MY LORD MARQUESS,
I HAVE the honour to forward, for the information of your Lordship, copy of a letter, dated the 25th August, from the Administrator of British New Guinea, No. 57, in which he urges that, before other routes for a cable between Australia and Canada are encouraged, consideration should be given to the route from Thursday Island, or Cooktown, by way of British New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Gilbert Islands. 2. I have referred Sir William MacGregor's letter for the opinion of my Government, and I have also sent a copy for the information of his Excellency the Naval Commander- in-Chief, and I will address your Lordship again when I hear from the Chief Secretary.
3. Meanwhile, it seems desirable that your Lordship should see Sir William MacGregor's letter, as other routes may come before you for consideration.
I have, &c.
Enclosure in No. 27.
I am, &c.
H. PERCY ANDERSON.
(British New Guinea No. 57.)
SIB,
H. W. NORMAN.
17373.
No. 25.
The MARQUESS OF RIPON to the EARL OF ABERDEEN.
(Dated October 4, 1894.)
(Confidential.)
[Transmits copy of Foreign Office Despatch, to Consul-General Hawes, dated August 31, 1894, enclosed in Foreign Office letter of September 15, 1894.†]
16101.
No. 26.
The MARQUESS OF RIPON to the EARL OF GLASGOW (New Zealand).
(Confidential.)
MY LORD,
Downing Street, October 5, 1894.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 11th of September, urging, by the advice of your Ministers, that Her Majesty's Government should negotiate with the Government of Hawaii for arranging the transfer of Neckar Island to Great Britain for the purposes of a Pacific Cable.
• No. 22.
↑ No. 19.
‡ No. 13.
Brisbane, August 25, 1894. THE presence of H.M.S. "Penguin " here, while engaged in making deep sea soundings for the probable future laying of a submarine cable that would connect Australasia and Canada, has prompted me to call your attention to the desirability of having a route examined from Cooktown, or Thursday Island, by way of British New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Gilbert Islands.
The political connexion now existing between Australia-nore particularly Queensland— and British New Guinea I hope to see made closer before very long; and I trust also to see the Solomon Islands included in any future political arrangement affecting British New Guinea.
These territories have great future possibilities surely beyond all comparison of greater value and importance than all the other islands of the Pacific put together. The advantages of this route would therefore be :—
(1.) The cable would touch important British territory for a large part of its course. (2.) It would be shorter than if started from a point further south.
(3.) A large portion of it would be in shallow water and easily accessible.
I would earnestly ask that your Government should, before encouraging any other route,
give this one careful consideration.
It might also be considered for any steam subsidised service that is not making New Zealand a port of call in crossing the Pacific, though it does not offer perhaps the same advantages for a steam service that it does for a cable.
His Excellency
Sir Henry W. Norman, G.C.B., G.C.M.G.,
&c.
&c.
&c.
C 3
I have, &c.
WM. MACGRegor.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TOPage 211
219
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON!
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
18381.
22
No. 28.
THE EASTERN EXTENSION AUSTRALASIA AND CHINA TELEGRAPH COMPANY, LIMITED, to COLONIAL OFFICE.
MY LORD,
(Received October 20, 1894.)
Winchester House, 50, Old Broad Street, London, E.C., October 19, 1894.
I HAVE the honour to enclose herewith, for your Lordship's information, & copy of a letter that I have addressed to the Canadian Minister for Trade and Commerce, in reference to his public invitation for tenders for a Pacific cable.
SIR,
Enclosure in No. 28.
I have, &c.
JOHN PENDER,
Chairman.
THE EASTERN EXTENSION AUSTRALASIA AND CHINA TELEGRAPH COMPANY, LIMITED. Winchester House, 50, Old Broad Street, London, E.C., October 19, 1894. REFERRING to your advertisement inviting tenders for a Pacific cable between Canada and the Australasian Colonies, I have the bonour to state that, although, in my opinion, & Pacific cable is not at present needed on commercial grounds-the existing Australasian service being more than equal to all requirements—yet, if the Governments interested consider such a line a necessity in the interests of the Empire, and are prepared to make a substantial contribution towards the cost of it, the cable companies over which I preside will be found quite ready to co-operate in the matter and, with their large experience and many facilities, will be able to undertake the work on better terms than Moreover, & Pacific could be offered by any other company not so favourably situated. cable in combination with the existing service would form a triplicate line, whereas, if laid in opposition to the present system, it could not be considered an efficient service unless laid in duplicate.
It is easy enough to lay a cable in almost any ocean depth, but it is quite a different matter to efficiently maintain it, and before any contractor can form a reliable opinion on this point, it is absolutely necessary that full information should be available as to the Exact depths and nature of the sea bed along the proposed route.
This was the view adopted by the Colonial Conference in 1887, and endorsed by the recent Ottawa Conference when it passed the second of the five resolutions annexed to the General Conditions.
I am, of course, aware that many valuable soundings have been taken in various portions of the Pacific Ocean since 1887, and that important technical improvements have been effected in cable laying, but, nevertheless, it would be running no slight risk to lay a Pacific cable without further knowledge than we at present possess, and any guarantee of maintenance that might be given would necessarily have to include a large sum for contingencies.
It should also, I think, be clearly understood by the Governments concerned that a cable with a calculated speed of 12 words per minute, as required by the General Conditions, would in practice give an actual working speed of little more than four words per minute, which for ordinary purposes would be quite useless. The cables most recently laid give a working speed of 25 to 30 words per minute.
Having already stated my views in regard to the financial prospects of a Pacific cable, and shown that, under the most favourable conditions, it would be a financial failure unless largely subsidised, it is unnecessary for me to dwell upon that phase of the question now, beyond calling attention to the fallacy underlying Mr. Siemens' estimate of revenue, viz., that the greater the length of a cable the larger would be its receipts. This is so obviously inaccurate that it does not need any comment.
Nor is the estimate given in the letter which Mr. Sandford Fleming addressed to you on the 20th July last, inuch more reliable, as he bases his figures on an average normal increase of traffic of 15 per cent. per annum, whereas the Australasian traffic for the shows a decrease in the number of words transmitted at the rate current financial year
of nearly 12 per cent. compared with the last financial year, and an estimated loss of nearly 30,0001,
23
A falling off is also noticeable in the New Zealand inter-colonial traffic, although the tariff between Australia and New Zealand was reduced on the 1st January 1893 from 88. 6d, to 28. per 10 words. The revenue also shows a decrease at the rate of 59 per cent. for the current financial year as compared with the receipts before the reduction of tariff.
Consequently, with these disappointing results before us, and having, at the express request of the Australasian Governments themselves, raised the Australasian tariff from 4s. to 48. 9d. per word, I venture to submit that a further reduction to 38. per word, as required by the General Conditions, is not only unreasonable but would be most injurious to the existing system, which would thereby risk a further loss of 90,0001. a year, in addition to the beavy losses from which it is now suffering in consequence of the last reduction of tariff.
In conclusion, I wish it to be distinctly understood that it is not my desire to oppose the laying of submarine cables, but rather to facilitate their extension wherever needed, and as soon as the Governments concerned have decided upon the laying of a Pacific cable, and the requisite data is forthcoming to admit of the work being successfully accomplished, I shall be most happy to enter into negotiations for carrying out their wishes in the inatter.
To the Hon. Mackenzie Bowell,
18503.
Minister for Trade and Commerce,
Ottawa.
Mr LORD,
No. 29.
I have, &c.
JOHN PENDER,
Chairman.
AUDLEY COOTE, Esq., to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received October 22, 1894.)
[Answered by No. 34.]
Hobart, Tasmania, September 16, 1894.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have made arrangements for the continuation of the Australian Pacific Cable via New Caledonia to "Walace Island," but I am desirous and willing to take it to Fiji, if the British Government will consent to landing at that place, and give a guarantee conjointly with other guarantors. The cable will be laid and worked by an English Company and operators.
I shall be glad if your Lordship will favour me with an early reply, and if possible by
"cable.
18063.
SIR,
No. 30.
I have, &c.
AUDLEY COUTE.
COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY.
Downing Street, October 25, 1894.
I AM directed by the Marquess of Ripon to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a Despatch* from the Governor of Queensland, 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 the Gilbert Islands to Cooktown, or Thursday Island. I am to state, for their Lordship's information, 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, which is some distance south of Cooktown, on
• No. 27. C 4
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