Mr. PALMERasked the Postmaster-General whether the underground telegraph cable connecting Newcastle with London and the Midlands is now complete and in working order; and, if so, what is the reason for the delay in the transmission of telegrams from London to Tyneside which occurred during the storm of the 11th, 12th, and 13th instant?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe answer is in the affirmative, but, as I said in answer to a question yesterday, while the provision of an underground cable may prevent the complete telegraphic isolation of any town with which it is connected, it is little safeguard against delay. The speed of transmission with an underground conductor is slow as compared with the speed of an aerial conductor, and when the work proper to aerial wires which are broken down is thrown upon the underground conductors they become congested with traffic.