§ COLONEL PERCY HERBERTsaid, he wished to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to the Submarine Telegraphic Cable to Gibraltar, for which a sum of £30,000 was granted last year. The right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer then stated that the actual cost of the cable, when constructed, would be £115,000, and he believed, al though he could not find it in Hansard, that it was stated by the Government that, although the season was too advanced to enable them to proceed with it last year, it would be proceeded with early in the spring. The spring had passed, and they were well into the summer, but they had heard nothing of it, except a rumour that the cable, after having been purchased by the Government, had been taken by the Indian Government, to be laid down between Singapore and Rangoon. It was of great importance to have rapid communication with the fleet at Gibraltar, in the event of any disturbance in Europe, and no delay in laying the cable ought to take place. He should be glad if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would give some explanation on the subject.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked Whether there would be any objection to lay on the table copies of the correspondence which had taken place on the subject. The late Government, looking upon the laying of this cable as a matter of urgency, undertook it in a peculiar way, in the hope of carrying it into operation in the summer of 1859. Owing to the change of Govern- 178 ment and other circumstances, it was not carried out then; and if they were to wait to discuss the subject until Vote 7 of the Civil Service Estimates, in which the Vote for the cable was contained, came on there was a great chance that nothing would be done this year.
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, the papers should be examined, and if any of them were calculated to give information they should be laid on the table.