F.—3a

24

153. And in the estimated cost you gave in you put down the cost of the cable to Cape York at a much higher rate than the one to Port Darwin ?—Yes. 154. Why did you do that ? —lt is a longer cable. 155. But you can select the same length if you like up to Copang ? —I cannot tell you that. I merely went by what I got from our people. Cape York to Banjoewangie—they told me you must have a much heavier cable through that sea and also a greater length. 156. By Mr. Boucaut. —That is through Torres Straits, is it not ? —Yes. 157. All full of coral?— Yes; full of coral reefs. 158. By Mr. Mem. —You got coral reefs in the other line ?—No, we have not broken upon them. Upon the Banjoewangie line we have only broken three times. 159. By the Chairman. —Do you consider that the breakages and interruptions upon the line between Port Darwin and Singapore are excessive as compared with other breakages elsewhere ? —The breakages are not. The interruptions we have had have been from insects. That is a special feature that has developed upon this system, and does not develop itself upon other systems. 160. That being so, the second cable would be liable to the same?—We hope in construction to prevent the animal from being able to penetrate it by sheathing it. 161. You are not very confident about it?-—Yes, I hope so. 162. You made a remark that even its existence had been unknown before, and you did not know how it got done?' —Yes, you will see from that cable — [explaining the section of a cable to the Chairman] —that you cannot answer for a part of the cable getting a twist the wrong way.—[ The witness explained the proposed method of protecting the cable.] Ido not know what metal they are actually going to use. I suppose it will not be iron, but probably be a softer metal. 163. By Sir James Wilson. —Something that will not oxidize so much ?—Yes ; they have to solve the question themselves, and they have done it since I left home. Sir James Anderson said something about it in his message. 164. By Mr. Todd. —It would hardly do to put in a sheathing where electric action would take place? —I hope not. Admiral Richards says "New patent cable, especially designed to resist the teredo"— that is all I know about it. We are not likely, you may believe, to put down a cable in a position in which we think it likely to come to grief, because we are putting down our own money. 165. By the Chairman. —l presume it is contemplated to keep both cables repaired —you would not leave the old one ? —Certainly we should not let the other go to the bad ; what you talk about is a duplicate cable, and if we let the other one perish, you have not got a duplication. The ivitness ivithdrew. Edward Charles Cracknell, Esq., examined. 166. By the Chairman. —We have just had Colonel Glover in the room with respect to the offer made by the Eastern Extension Company in respect to the duplication of the cable. Are you acquainted with tho offer ? —Yes. 167. Have you formed any opinion as to its advisability or comparison with other possible modes of communicating with Europe ?—Yes ; I think tho offer of the Extension Company is, perhaps, the cheapest, except the line to North-West Cape, which has been recommended for consideration by me. 168. Then where ? —Thence by land to Champion Bay, to the present lines in Western Australia, and then via Albany to Adelaide. 169. Have you considered the line in the route of the mail steamers from tho North-West Cape to Ceylon ?—Yes ; that is a line that I cannot recommend. 170. What is the objection to it?—lt is right across the trade winds. It would be impossible to send a repairing ship to make repairs if the cable broke at any time ; in fact, the cable would have to be abandoned in the event of a break. 171. By Mr. Burns. —Would not that line be also open to the very serious objection of being too long a section for the cable ?—Unless you can land at Keeling Islands ; but I do not think you can. 172. Even if you can call there, would it not be too long a section for the cable ? —lt would not be too long, as that all depends upon the size and weight of the conducting wire. 173. What are your reasons for being in favor of the line from North-West Cape to Banjoewangie ? —Chiefly on account of its economy. 174. By Sir James Wilson. —What part do you call the North-West Cape ? —Exmouth Gulf. 175. By Mr. Burns. —You mean the line to be from Singapore to Banjoewangie, and Banjoewangie to North-West Cape ?—Yes. v 176. An estimate, I believe, has been made that that line could be constructed for about £400,000? — Yes. 177. By the Chairman. —What advantage is that over Port Darwin ?—lt is shorter. 178. Not very much shorter ? —Not very much shorter, but the other advantage is that you get a duplicate land line by that means. 179. Do you think a duplicate land line essential ?—I think so ;it certainly would not be a perfect duplication without a duplicate land line. 180. By Mr. Burns. —One advantage would be a complete duplication of the cable by land over to Adelaide ? —Yes. 181. Have you any knowledge of a reliable character with regard to the sea between North-West Cape and Banjoewangie ?—No, I do not think any reliable soundings have been taken there ; it would be necessary to take a set of soundings before the cable is laid ; that is the only difficulty I see in the way ; but I do not suppose the depth, of water there is deeper than the Atlantic. 182. To which project does your opinion incline, the line from North-West Cape to Banjoewangie, or the proposal of the Eastern Extension Company ?—I am not altogether wedded to tho North-West line,, except that it would be more economical. 183. It would be a thorough duplication then by land and by sea ? —Yes, it would be ; or if we could get a land line, or a portion of a land line, connecting with Port Darwin, via Queensland would answer as well.

Colonel Glover, continued, 10th May 1878.

35. C Cracknell, Esq., 10th May 1878.