§ MR. HOGAN () Tipperary, MidI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received protests from the Canadian and New Zealand Governments against the concessions recently granted to the Eastern Extension Company in Australia as being likely to militate seriously against the financial success of the Pacific Cable in which the Imperial, the Canadian, and the Australasian Governments are joint partners; whether in view of these protests it would still be possible to revoke the concessions and prevent any further complications of a like character; and whether the Pacific Cable Board will soon be in a position to announce a definite scheme.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have made inquiry by telegraph as to the agreement said to have been entered into with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, but have not yet received any reply; and consequently I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject. I understand that the Report of the Pacific Cable Committee may be expected shortly.