ELECTRIC CABLE COMMITTEE.

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the operation, knowing the fate of the first consignment. Therefore, he can do a much larger and safer business with less funds. So that a manufacturer in England could order his cotton or silk from India or China, and could be advised of the purchase and shipment, and have the satisfaction of knowing he had been drawn upon for the amount, all within a few days. The banking business between India and Europe is now very largely conducted by telegraph. Advices are received of remittances and drafts to be provided for very often several weeks in advance of the arrival of the mails. I could multiply examples of the uses of the telegraph ad infinitum, but think it would scarcely come within the province of this paper, so I will now conclude with a short description of the kind of cable I would recommend for the Australian section. I have here a very good sample as to general manufacture and strength, but would prefer that the copper conductor should be not less than 250 lbs. to the nautical mile; the gutta-percha and Chatterton's compound for the insulation, 300 lbs. to the mile; the outer coating-wires could be increased or diminished in thickness, according to the depth of water, which in some places varies considerably. (Vide soundings taken by H.M.S. " Salamander.") The outside covering consists of two layers of a bituminous compound, composed of mineral pitch, silica, and Stockholm tar, with two servings of hemp or jute, the whole passed under heavy rollers when in a plastic state.

No. 12 Sic,— H.M.S. " Serpent," Point de Galle, Ceylon, 9th March, 1869. I have the honor to forward herewith, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the results of my investigations on the sea-bed between Java and Timor, obtained under the following circumstances : — 2. I was ordered, in May, 1868, by Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir H. Keppel, X.C.8., Commander-in-Chief of the China station, to proceed from Japan, via Hong Kong, to tho Eastern Archipelago, for the purpose of taking deep-sea soundings eastward of Java, as a preliminary to the extension of the electric telegraph by a submarine cable, if practicable, to Australia. At the same time I received instructions for my guidance from the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, by command of their Lordships, together with charts on which were denoted the routes which were deemed most desirable to be examined. 3. I left Hong Kong accordingly on the 27th June, and, arriving on the ground about the time the S.E. monsoon had abated, found no difficulty in performing successfully the service required, which was completed in November last. 4. I have now the honor to transmit a report thereon, with plans and sections, exhibiting the depths, nature, and gradients of the sea-bed between Java and Timor (by the South), as follows : — Plan 1. Chart showing depths and section. Plan 2. Chart of Baly Strait, Java. Plan 3. Plans of Pampang Bay, Baly Strait. 5. I have also made.a collection of specimens of the bottom from all depths, which I have retained on board until my arrival in England. 6. In conclusion, I am desirous of recording my high appreciation of the assistance rendered mo by Senior Lieutenant Charles Vernon Anson and Navigating Lieutenant Edward Scobell Clapp. The proximity of the land necessitated our taking soundings at average intervals of twenty miles. This entailed considerable labour, both by night and day; but the spirit with which those officers entered on their task, their untiring energy, and intelligent zeal, command my thanks and approbation. I have, &c., Tho Secretary of the Admiralty. Chas. Bullock, Commander.

Eepoet on the Extension of the Telegraph by a Submarine Cable from Java towards Australia. I. Introductory. 1. The growing national importance, both politically and commercially, of connecting Australia with Great Britain by means of the electric telegraph, having been recognized, and the time arrived for taking the first steps towards that end, Her Majesty's ship " Serpent," under my command, was ordered by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to be detached from the China squadron for the purpose of taking deep-sea soundings eastward of Java, as a measure preliminary to the laying of a submarine cable, if practicable, between that island and Australia. Routes proposed. 2. For this purpose their Lordships' Hydrographer furnished me with instructions concerning the routes proposed to be examined, which included (1) a line direct from the S.E. point of Java to Eotti Island, off Timor; and (2) an alternative line from Java to Celebes, and thence to the N.E. point of Timor, which latter was only to be examined in the event of the depths over the direct line being found so great as to be unsuitable for laying a cable, or of circumstances occurring to prevent their being satisfactorily obtained. Route adopted. 3. The result of the examination of the direct line was unexpectedly favourable. The depths were found moderate, instead of being, as was apprehended, excessive. In consequence, any consideration of the alternative routes was rendered unnecessary. Report and Plans. 4. This report, therefore, refers exclusively to the direct line through the Indian Ocean from Java to Timor, and is illustrated by the accompanying plans: — Plan 1. Chart of the route, showing the deep-sea soundings, with sections. 6