&'—'Ho. 4.

10

REEORT OE THE SUBMARINE

I trust that the importance of the subject, and my necessarily short stay in Europe, not to exceed two months, may be accepted as my apology for pressing this matter on your immediate attention, particularly as, within the time specified, it will also be necessary for me to make arrangements wi'.hthe Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company of London for the manufacture of the cable, and with them and others for the formation of a Company to raise the capital for carrying out the proposed enterprise. My address while in Europe is No. 17, Mincing Lane, London ; but if equally convenient to you, the Honorable Alexander Campbell, M.L.C., of Sydney, will receive and forward any communication which you may bo pleased to address for me to his care. In conclusion, I beg to state that by the present mail I also address letters of similar import to tho Colonial Governments of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. I have, &c, The Colonial Secretary, Queensland. Alex. Feasee.

Enclosure No. 1. Exteact from tho Eegister of Eesolutions of the Governor-General of Netherlands-India. Buitenzorg, Bth July, 1869. 1. The petition of A. Eraser, dated Batavia, sth April, 1869, for the purpose of obtaining a concession for effecting telegraphic connection by means of submarine cables, so as to join the Netherlands-India Telegraph with Australia and British India, under receipt of a subsidy from the Netherlands-Indian Government of 200,000f. per annum, or of a guarantee of interest of 7 per cent, per annum on the estimated cost of the work to tho amount of 7,000,000f, this last to be borne equally between the Governments of Netherlands-India and the Australian Colonies, one or other during a period of thirty years. 2. &c, &c. Heard the Council of Netherlands-India. Is pleased to resolve — First.—To acquaint the Petitioner that, on the subject of his petition, which has been received by the Government with the greatest interest, negotiations have been entered into with the Imperial Government in Holland. Secondly, &c, &c. —Extract of this resolution shall be issued to the Petitioner for his information. Agrees with above-named register. 11. T. 8001, Secretary to the Government, The above is a true translation from the Dutch original. —G. G. Batten, Sworn Translator. Batavia, 20 July, 1809.

Enclosure No. 2. The Petition of Alexandee Feasee, landed proprietor, residing at Batavia, — Humbly Sheweth, — That recent improvements in telegraphic science render the practicability of establishing the means of instantaneous communication between places and countries situated geographically at the greatest distance from each other, no longer a matter of doubt or difficulty. That the object of your Petitioner is to bring the possessions of Netherlands-India into direct telegraphic communication with Europe on the one hand and Australia on the other, and to make Java, in that connection, the great Asiatic centre of telegraphic communication. That preliminary measures have already been adopted to insure, within a short space of time, the extension of the European system of telegraphs through British India, Burmah, and the Malay Peninsula, to Malacca and Singapore. That tho telegraphic system of land lines in Netherlands-India will also shortly be completed by extensions at present under construction through Sumatra to Siak. That the telegraphic system of land lines throughout the Australian Colonies, if not already extended to Burke Town, at the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria, will very soon reach that point. That recent marine surveys have established the fact that, in the seas lying between the East of Java and the North coast of Australia, the safest and most suitable soundings exist for the submersion of electric telegraph cables. That, on the extensions before referred to being completed, there remain two links to bo constructed of submarine cable which, when contiected, will complete the chain of uninterrupted communication between Europe, Java, and Australia; the one link being between Malacca and Siak (about 100 English miles long), and the other between Pampang Bay (Banjoewangie) and Burke Town via Poeloe Semaauw (Timor Koopang), a distance of about 2,000 English miles. That the object of this petition is to obtain from your Excellency the permission necessary for laying, within the possessions of Netherlands-India, submarine electric telegraph cables for completing the connection, above indicated, and also a provisional concession, on such terms of subsidy or guaranteed interest of capital for thirty years, as, with a concession on similar terms from the Australian Colonial Governments, will enable him to obtain at once the capital required to accomplish the proposed undertaking. That for this purpose he respectfully refers to accompanying enclosures in English, with translations annexed, and marked Nos. 1 and 2, the former of these documents containing, in fourteen articles, the conditions on which he proposes that the Government of N. I. should grant to him a provisional concession, subject to confirmation by tho Legislative power in Holland, and tho latter, a memorandum explanatory of these conditions and of the motives which have induced him to apply for the concession in question. And your Petitioner, &c, Batavia, sth April, 1869. Alex. Feasee.