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with this or any company it should be clearly stipulated that this effective means of protection against the ravages of marine life should be provided. I have, &c, Sandfoed Fleming. The Hon. Mackenzie Bowell, Minister of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa. II. —The Pacific Cable Memorandum respecting its Establishment. [See Enclosure VIII. in No. 32.] lll.—Appendices. [See Enclosure IX. in No. 32.] IV. —The Pacific Cable (Adveetisement). The Government of Canada invites cable-manufacturing contractors, &c. [see F.-5a., 1894, p. 1] V.—Geneeal Conditions. 1. At the Colonial Conference, held in Ottawa, between the 28th June and the Bth July (inclusive) a series of resolutions were passed relating to the Pacific cable (copies appended) [For continuation see F.-5a., 1894, pp. 1 and 2.] VI. —Route of Cable. [See F.-5a., 1894, pp. 2to 4. For the map enclosed herewith, see appendix to this paper.] VII. —Resolutions passed by the Colonial Confeeence, 1894, in respect to the Establishment of the Pacific Cable. [See F.-5a., 1894, p. 4.] VIII. —The Pacific Cable Letteb from Mr Sanfoed Fleming to the Ministee of Tbade and Commebce, ex-President of the Colonial Conference, 1884. [See F.-5a., 1894, pp. 4 to 6.] IX.—Resolutions passed by the Colonial Confebence, June and July, 1884, in respect to the Establishment of the Pacific Cable. [See F.-5a., 1894, p. 4.] X.—Remaeks on the Pacific Cable, by Mr Alexandee Siemens, referred to in Mr Sandford Fleming's Letter, 20th July, 1894. [See F.-5a., 1894, pp. 6 to 10.]

No. 31. Mr. Sandfoed Fleming to the Hon. the Pbbmiee. Sib, — Ottawa, 7th January, 1895. I ask permission to address you unofficially on the subject of the Pacific cable. The Hon. Mr W B. Ives, Minister of Trade and Commerce, transmits by this mail for your information the following documents, viz. (1.) Eeport on the mission to Honolulu, dated 15th November, 1894. (2.) Additional report on tenders, dated 11th December, 1894. (3.) Memorandum on the establishment of the Pacific cable, dated Ist December, 1894. 4.) Letter on the estimates of revenue, dated 28th December, 1894. (5.) Letter suggesting steps which may be taken, sth January, 1895. I beg leave, with the knowledge of Mr. Ives, to offer some explanation on these papers. You will learn from No. 1 that friendly relations have been established with the Hawaiian Government, and that there is a fair prospect of arrangements being effected for landing the cable on some one of the islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. No. 2 refers to the Fanning Island route. The information contained will be of value should, through any cause, none of the Hawaiian islands be available for a mid-ocean telegraph-station. In inviting tenders it was made a condition that the speed capacity of the cable should be twelve words per minute. The firm which sent the lowest tender based on this condition likewise offered to supply fifteen-word and eighteen-word cables. The report points out that a responsible firm offers to lay a cable on the Fanning Island route with a speed capacity 50 per cent, higher than originally contemplated, and guarantee its uninterrupted working for three years. The price asked for the cable of increased capacity is much within previous estimates furnished by the General Post Office, London, for a twelve-word cable. No. 3. In this memorandum I have endeavoured to point out the advantage which would result to the public from the adoption of the principle of State ownership in the proposed undertaking. I venture to think it is made reasonably clear that no cost would be entailed on the taxpayer, and that the revenue would yield an annually increasing surplus after meeting interest and all other charges. No. 4 refers to the revenue, and gives reasons for the estimates submitted in No. 3. No. 5 suggests that the first step to be taken is to ascertain how far each Government will assent to the principle of State ownership. I may mention that, owing to the absence from Canada