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the Australasian Colonies. At the unanimous request of the delegates present at the Conference, the duty of giving effect to the resolutions passed, and the views expressed, devolved upon the Canadian Government. 2. In order to obtain definite data to enable all the Governments concerned to consider and adopt the best means of carrying out the undertaking, the Canadian Government deems it expedient to invite proposals for establishing the cable in three different forms, viz.: — Form A (the cable to be owned and controlled by Government; to be worked under Government authority, and to be kept in repair by the contractor for three years).—Cable-manufacturing contractors to state the lowest cash price for which they will be prepared to supply and lay the cable, the terms and conditions upon which they will guarantee its permanency, and the annual payment for which they will maintain it in efficient condition for three years after the whole line shall have been completed and put in operation. Form B (the cable to be owned, maintained, and worked by a subsidised company).—The contracting parties to find the capital, establish, work, and maintain the cable in efficient condition for a subsidy to be paid to them annually for a term of years by the contributing Governments. The offers to state the amount of subsidy to be paid yearly, and the number of years it is to be paid. The maximum rates to be charged on messages to and from Great Britain and the Australasian Colonies shall be as follows : 3s. per word for ordinary telegrams; 2s. per word for Government telegrams ; and Is. 6d. for Press telegrams. The charges on messages between Canada and the colonies to be proportionate. Form C (the cable to be owned, maintained, and worked by a company under a Government guarantee).—The contracting parties to find the capital, establish, work, and maintain the cable in efficient condition. The offers to state what guarantee of gross revenue will be required; the difference between gross earnings and the amount guaranteed to be made good each year to the company by the contributing Governments. The rates to be charged for the transmission of messages to and from Great Britain and the Australasian Colonies shall be as follows : 3s. per word for ordinary telegrams; 2s. per word for Government telegrams; and Is. 6d. per word for Press messages. Trans-Pacific messages to be charged at proportionate rates. The tariff of charges to be approved and not changed unless by governmental sanction. Route of Cable. Offers will be received for laying the cable on each of the routes, described as follows : — Route No. 1. —Commencing at Vancouver Island, the cable to extend to Panning Island, thence to a suitable island in the Fiji Group. From Fiji to Norfolk Island, and at that point the route will bifurcate to the northern part of New Zealand, and to a convenient point near the boundary between New South Wales and Queensland : Vancouver Island to Fanning Island, 3,232 knots; Fanning Island to Fiji, 1,715 knots; Fiji to Norfolk Island, 1,022 knots; Norfolk Island to New Zealand, 415 knots; Norfolk Island to Tweed Mouth, near boundary New South Wales and Queensland, 761 knots : total, 7,145 knots. Route No. 2. —From Vancouver Island the cable to be laid to a small unoccupied island indicated on the charts as Necker Island, situated about 240 miles westward from the most western island of the Hawaiian Group, and about 400 nautical miles from Honolulu. Prom Necker Island the cable to extend to Fiji, and thence, as in Boute No. 1, to New Zealand and Australia. On the section between Necker and Fiji, possibly Howland or Baker Island may be available for a mid-station, but the exact position has not been ascertained : Vancouver Island to Necker Island, 2,431 knots ; Necker Island to Fiji, 2,546 knots ; Fiji to Norfolk Island, 1,022 knots ; Norfolk Island to New Zealand, 415 knots ; Norfolk to Tweed Mouth, 761 knots : total, 7,175 knots. Route No. 3. —As in Boute No. 2, the cable to extend from Vancouver Island to Necker Island, thence to Onoatoa or some one of the eastern islands of the Gilbert Group. From this station in the Gilbert Group two branches to extend, one to Queensland and the other to New Zealand. The Queensland branch to touch at San Christoval Island in the Solomon Group and terminate at Bowen, connecting at that point with the land-lines, easterly to Brisbane and Sydney, westerly to the Gulf of Carpentaria: Vancouver Island to Necker Island, 2,431 knots; Necker Island to Onoatoa, (in Gilbert Group), 1,917 knots; Onoatoa to Fiji, 980 knots; VitiLevu to New Zealand, 1,004 knots; Onoatoa to San Christoval (Solomon Group), 953 knots; San Christoval to Bowen, Queensland, 980 knots: total, 8,265 knots. Route No. 4. —As in Boutes Nos. 2 and 3, the cable to be laid from the northern terminal point to Necker Island. From Necker Island to extend in a direct course to Bowen, touching at Apamana, a central island in the Gilbert Group, and at San Christoval, of the Solomon Group: Vancouver Isiand to Necker Island, 2,431 knots ; Necker Island to Apamana (Gilbert Group), 1,865 knots ; Apamana to San Christoval (Solomon Group), 970 knots ; San Christoval to Bowen, Queensland, 980 knots: total, 6,246 knots. Route No. 5. —As in Boutes Nos. 2, 3, and 4, the cable to run from Vancouver Island to Necker Island ; from Necker Island to Fiji, thence to Jersey, thence direct to New Zealand : Vancouver Island to Necker Island, 2,431 knots ; Necker Island to Fiji, 2,546 knots ; Fiji to New Zealand, 1,150 knots : total, 6,127 knots. Route No. 6. —Prom Vancouver Island the cable to extend to Honolulu; from Honolulu to Fiji, and from Fiji to follow Boute No. Ito New Zealand and Australia. On the section between Honolulu and Fiji one of the Phcenix Islands may possibly be found available for a mid-station : Vancouver Island to Honolulu, 2,280 knots; Honolulu to Fiji, 2,600 knots; Fiji to Norfolk Island, 1,022 knots; Norfolk Island to New Zealand, 415 knots ; Norfolk Island to Tweed Mouth, 761 knots: total, 7,078 knots. Route No. 7. —From Vancouver Island the cable to extend to Honolulu ; from Honolulu to Onoatoa, of the Gilbert Group ; from Onoatoa to San Christoval, of the Solomon Group ; from San Christoval to Bowen : Vancouver Island to Honolulu, 2,280 knots; Honolulu to Onoatoa, 2,080 knots ; Onoatoa to San Christoval, 953 knots; San Christoval to Bowen, 980 knots : total, 6,293 knots. Route No. 8. —From Vancouver Island the cable to extend to Honolulu ; from Honolulu to Fiji, possibly with a mid-station on this section if a suitable island be available. From Fiji the cable to run direct to New Zealand: Vancouver Island to Honolulu, 2,280 knots ; Honolulu to Fiji, 2,600 knots ; Fiji to New Zealand, 1,150 knots : total, 6,030 knots. The northern terminus of each route is on Vancouver Island. The cable will land at some suitable point to be determined, probably at Port San Juan, near the entrance of the Strait of San Juan, or at Barclay Sound. The several routes above described are shown generally on the accompanying map of the world. The distances given in each case are believed to be approximately correct, but are not guaranteed. Parties offering to provide and lay the cable must make their own calculations of distances and satisfy themselves. Character of Cables. —Proposals will describe the type of cables intended to be used on each section, and state the weight of conductors and insulators per knot in each case. Shore Ends. —The best description of landing cables must be employed at terminal points and all mid-stations, The proposals will describe the character, weight, and length of shore-end cables to be used in each case. Speeds. —The calculated speeds for each section of the cable shall in no case be less than twelve words per minute. Stations and Eqtiipments. —Each offer will describe the character and approximate cost of buildings, instruments, &c, to be furnished for each terminal and mid-ocean station. Repairs and Maintenance. —Proposals will state the provision intended to be made for repairs and maintenance, the number, tonnage, and value of repair steamers. In the case of offers made under Porm A, the steamers and stores will be found by and remain the property of the contractor until the end of three years from the completion of the cable, to be then taken over at a valuation, as may be stipulated and agreed. Surveys. —Charts may be seen at the Department of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa, and at the office of the High Commissioner for Canada in London, showing the soundings which have been made from time to time in the Pacific, as far as recorded. It is expected that additional soundings will shortly be made, but parties making proposals must assume all risk; and, in the event of a contract being entered into for establishing the cable, the contractors must themselves take means to find the most suitable points for landing the cable at all terminal and mid-ocean stations, It will be understood that in each instance the landing privileges are to be secured by the contributing Governments,