COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

9

H.—No, 5.

The Dielectric to consist of three coatings of gutta-percha and compound, weighing 132 lbs. per nautical mile. Total weight of Core 232 lbs. per nautical mile. The core in every case to be served with best jute yarn. Outer Coverings. Heavy Shore-end Cable (No. 4505) —10 nautical miles required. The sheathing to consist of 12 galvanized Best Best Iron wires, each 0365 of an inch diameter, laid on spirally, the whole then served with two layers of jute hemp and asphalte compound, laid on alternately. Total weight of cable when finished, about 13-| tons per nautical mile. Light Shore-end Cable (No. 4507)—10 nautical miles required. The sheathing to consist of 12 galvanized Best Best Iron wires, each 0236 of an inch diameter, laid on spirally, the whole then served with two layers of jute hemp and asphalte compound, laid on alternately. Total weight of cable when finished, about 6 tons per nautical mile. Intermediate Cable (No. 4509) —30 nautical miles required. The sheathing to consiat of 12 galvanized Best Best Iron wires, each 0160 of an inch diameter, laid on spirally, the whole then served with two layers of jute hemp, and asphalte compound laid on alternately. Total weight of cable when finished, about 3 tons per nautical mile. Main Cable (No. 4511)—1280 nautical miles required. The sheathing to consist of 9 galvanized homogeneous iron wires, each 0099 of an inch in diameter, each wire served separately with strings of Manilla hemp yarn, and drawn through compound, the served wires laid on spirally, and the whole passed through compound. Total weight of cable when finished, about If ton per nautical mile. Sections of the above described cables are shown on the annexed drawing. Specification B. (The Core to be the same throughout.) The Conductor to consist of 7 copper wires laid up together into a strand weighing 112 lbs. per nautical mile (2,029 yards). Conductivity of the wire to be equal to at least 90 per cent, of that of pure copper. The Dielectric to consist of 3 coatings of gutta percha and compound, weighing 142 lbs. per nautical mile. Total weight of Core, 244 lbs. per nautical mile. The Core, in every case, to be served with best jute yarn. The outer sheathing to be similar to those mentioned in Specification A. Siemen Beothees. 3, Great George Street, Westminster, S.W., 24th July, 1872.

Siemen Beothees to the Geneeal Managee, New Zealand Telegraph. Sib,— 3, Great George Street, Westminster, S.W., 25th July, 1872. Having heard from their Agent-General in London that the Government of New Zealand ia desirous of seeing telegraphic communication established between New Zealand and Australia, we have sent in to the Agent-General a proposition for the formation of a company for laying a cable between Cape Farewell and Sydney. We hear that other tenders besides ours have been sent to the Government; and as we presume that the Government will follow your advice in making their selection, and believing that you have hitherto been satisfied with the manner in which we have executed your orders, we trouble you with this letter to request your favourable consideration of our proposition, supposing our terms to be as good as those of others. We think it right to add, that we make our own cores, both gutta-percha and india-rubber, and that our existing means for sheathing cables are as large as those of any other telegraph cable manufacturers. We are able to turn out from 100 to 200 nautical miles of cable per week, according to the description of cable. We have, &c, Siemen Beothees.

Mr. J. A. Bied to Mr. E. Richaedson, M.H.R. Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Sib,— Christchurch, N.Z., 9th August, 1852. I have the honor by direction of Committee of the Chamber to hand you copy of resolution passed at a meeting held yesterday, to the following effect: —■ " That, in the opinion of this Committee, the commercial and general interests of New Zealand would be much benefited by the connection of the Colony with the outside world, by means of a submarine cable to Australia." Trusting/the matter will receive your earnest consideration, I have, &c, J. A. Bied, Edward Richardson, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. Secretary. 3