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He read Sir G. H. Murray's memorandum* on the Trans-Atlantic and the Trans-American telegraph lines.

It was resolved that the Committee adopt the view put forward in the memorandum as to the interpretation of the third clause of the reference to the Committee in the instrument of appointment.

It was further resolved that, judging from the information at present before the Committee, the cables of the Commercial Cable Company do not appear to be “cables owned and worked by British Companies," as required by the terms of the reference, and that as a corollary to the exclusion of the Commercial Cable Company as not being a British Company, although its cables are landed at both ends on British territory, any foreign company working land lines, although the lines which it would use are on British territory, should be similarly excluded.

Iwas agreed that letters should be written to the Anglo-American and the Direct United States Cable Companies, and to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company to ascertain definitely whether they would enter into the arrangement indicated in the memorandum; and that the Commercial Cable Company should be asked whether, and if so in what sense they consider they are a British Company, as required by the reference.

It was resolved, on Lord Strathcona's motion, that, subject to the proposals for the acquisition of Necker Island, it appears from the additional information received that Fanning Island is preferable to Palmyra Island.

Lord Selborne suggested another alternative plan for obtaining Necker Island, viz. : an undertaking to lay a branch line from Fiji to Samoa, where (in Tutuila) the United States of America possess a harbour, (Pango-Pango).

It was agreed that the particulars of the new French Trans-Atlantic Cable should be obtained.

It was agreed that the Committee should consult Lord Kelvin and two other experts as to whether a cable, of the kind (core of 552 lbs. copper and 368 lbs. gutta-percha) specified in par. 38 of the Report of 1897, would give the results there anticipated ( 40 paying letters a' minute) and would meet the requirements with regard to laying and lifting the line. Sir G, H. Murray undertook to ascertain who should be consulted as leading authorities on the subject, and it was considered that fees should be offered for professional opinions. The names were mentioned of Mr. Oliver Lodge and Professor Kennedy.

Date of next meeting to be settled when the above enquiries admitted.

W. H. MERCER,

Secretary.

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February 12, 1900.

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.

Mr. H. Taylor (of Messrs., Clark, Forde, & Taylor) attended and male statements as to the constitution and cost of the cable. He stated that his estimate would, he believed, be within 5 per cent. of the Contractors' prices; that south of Fiji further surveys would be necessary; that such surveys and the selection of land- ing places could be undertaken by the Contractors, with some supervision by the Adiniralty; that a schedule of soundings could be put into the contract; that the theoretical speed was 80 words by automatic process, of which he thought 20 per cent, would be non-paying words; that duplex apparatus should be provided because it made it possible to ask for the repetition of telegrams without delay; that the cable could be ready for working within 20 months from the date of the contract, subject to this not being before Fuly. He suggested that different draft contracts and specifications should be prepared for the three sections, Vancouver-Fanning, Fanning— Fiji, Fiji—Australia.

It was decided to request Mr. Taylor to draw up draft contracts and specifications on the basis of his proposals, and to refer him to the High Commissioner for Canada as to the landing station at Vancouver, to the Admiralty as to Fanning, Fiji, and Norfolk Islands, and to the Agents-General for New Zealand and Queensland as to those colonies.

W. H. MERCER.

Secretary,

}

February 6, 1900.

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.

Sir G. H. MURRAY stated that he had ascertained that there was no electrical expert who need be consulted in addition to those examined by the previous Committee; but that he was taking steps to have ascertained at certain stations the real speed of messages, having regard to their legibility by the operators.

Resolved: (1) that the Committee stand possessed of the best evidence obtainable:

(2) that no further opinion is required as to the composition of the cables.

The Chairman read a letter from Lord Pauncefote stating that he had mentioned the question of Necker Island to Mr. Hay, but that it could not be pressed at present.

An account was given of the correspondence between the Secretary and the trans-Atlantic Companies.

The letter from the Commercial Cable Company was read, and the Dominion statute (cited as their charter) was referred to. The question was discussed whether the Company is a British Company within the terms of the reference to the Committee, and it was arranged finally that the facts of the case should be stated in the report.

A telegram of 3 February from the Governor of Queensland to the Secretary of State, respecting the collection of telegrams in Australia by the Eastern Companies, was read.

W. H. MERCER,

•

See No. 1 in Appendix.

Secretary.

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February 23, 1900. PRESENT:

Sir F. MowaTT.

Sir G. H. MURRAY,

LORD STRATHCONA,

Sir A, CLARKE.

Sir J. SALOMONS, Mr. W. P. REEVES.

It was resolved nem. con. :—

"That this Committee would urge that no concession should be made by any of the Australian Governments to the Eastern Telegraph Company as a condition of laying a Cable between Africa and Australia until this Committee has had an opportunity of considering and reporting on the effect of such concessions upon the financial prospects of the Pacific Cable Scheme."

It was arranged that a Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Sir G. H. Murray and Sir A. Clarke, should place themselves in communication with Messrs. Clark, Forde and Taylor with regard to the appointment of consulting engineers and the preparation of a specification for the cable.

W. H. MERCER,

March 19, 1900.

PRESENT:

Sir F. MowATT.

The EARL OF SELBORNE.

Sir G. H. MURRAY.

The EARL OF ABERDEEN,

LORD STRATHICONA.

Sir A. CLARKE.

Sir J. SALOMONS.

Secretary.

The Committee considered a letter from the Colonial Office of the 16th of March,

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