§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the date upon which the Pacific cable was opened to public use; what is the total aggregate interval of time during which through communication between the United Kingdom and Australia by the 948 Pacific cable has been suspended; and on how many occasions has the telegraph route been interrupted.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain.) The Pacific Cable was opened for public use throughout its entire length on the 8th December last. The cable has never been interrupted, though certain interruptions have taken place in its connecting land lines in Canada. These interruptions occurred on five occasions, and have involved a suspension of communication for 147 hours.