The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-07-30

geographically all the great British
possessions in every quarter of the
globe without passing through
Europe. Thus the line would mater
tally strengthen the military and
naval power of Great Britain. 1t
would place the Pacific fleet in direct
relations with the Home Government
on the one hand and with Austria
lasia ON the other, from Fiji or any
other of The islands at which the
line might touch, while affording, in
case of war, the only trustworthy
communication between England,
Australasia, India, and the East
The land lines used by the Company,
being exclusively on British terri
tory, would be completely protected
in time of war, and following as they
would do main line of railway,
would be at all times under constant
supervision, and would not be so
liable to interruption as the line
through the interior of Australia.
The Continent of America would be
placed in direct communication with
these colonies, and q great expansion
would inevitably take place in the
trade of the Pacific.
The Herald, continuing, says n
company has been formed in Canada
to carry out the project, closely
connected with the Canadian Pacific
Railway and strongly supported by
the Government. The proposals
now before the Australasian Agents
General in London for a guarantee
to the Eastern Extension Company
are given, as submitted by Sir John
Fender, chairman of the company
and the Herald concludes its i'm
portant leader as follows:
The Agents General are inclined
to agree to these terms, and in virtue
of instructions they appeal to the
Imperial Government to share in the
guarantee to be given to the COM
pany on the ground that Great
Britain is as much interested as they
are in obtaining cheap telegraphit
communication. In the meantime
the Canadian authorities appeal tt
the British Government, represent
ing that such guarantee woult
virtually mean monopoly of cable
communication, and would proven
them from realising project o
great importance to the Empire
The British Government, after full
consideration, declines 10 take par
in the guarantee, on the ground tina
it would be bad precedent, ant
would prevent the laying of cable
in the Pacific, TO which naturally il
attaches great Importance.
So the matter stands at present
and the stoppage which has now
taken place will tend to make all the
colonies contemplate with satisfac
ton the possibility Of Pacific cable
We have stated above some of the
advantages affecting both England
and Australasia, but there are other!
which we in New Zealand have es
pecially to consider. We are threat
ened now with a stoppage Of TIT
{ San Francisco mail line, which ha
, for years past preserved communi
cation across the Pacific. If thai
line ceases running there will be NJ
connection across that great ocean
But if cable were laid touching n
Fiji and other points, so virtually
giving rapid communication to al
the archipelagoes of the Pacific, ;
steam line would be certainty
The advantages offered by Sir JohI
Pender are no doubt considerable
but there are many things to be con
sidered. 1t would indeed be pit,
if the Colonial Governments wer
by any joint action with the British
Government to stop the project Of .
Pacific cable, and so to prevent tn
4 establishment of steam line, whicl
I would be Of great Importance t
these colonies, and especially to Ney
Zealand.