§
SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON moved—
That the Contract, dated the 9th day of May 1879, entered into by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury with the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance and Eastern Telegraph Companies, for establishing Telegraphic Communication with the South African Colonies, be approved.
The hon. Baronet said, this subject had often been under the consideration of various Governments, in one form or another; but not until the present had it taken any definite form, either on the ground of expense, or because it was thought the difficulties in the way of construction were insurmountable. The present contract was for the payment of £35,000 a-year, contingent upon the proper working of the line; and he had no doubt that in a few months there would be a communication between the Colonies and this country—a communication, the want of which had been seriously felt in the recent South African complications.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Resolved, That the Contract, dated the 9th day of May 1879, entered into by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury with the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance and 909 Eastern Telegraph Companies, for establishing Telegraphic Communication with the South African Colonies, be approved."—(Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson.)