The evening Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1870

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 134, 14 June 1870, Page 2

The evening Star. TUESDAY , JUNE 14, 1870

The return of the City of Melbourne, from Honolulu, with the first San Francisco mails, is a subject of sincere congratulation, and though she has not brought us all the glad news we might have hoped, affecting our future prospects on the question of the port of call, it cannot be said that she has brought us anything absolutely discouraging. Ontheprinciple then that

" no news is good news" we are bound to fee satisfied. There seems, however, a disposition in the city to rejoice as if the victory was won, but it is advisable to not " shout till we are out of the wood."

That the opening of the new route should have been received in California with a burst of enthusiasm was natural; and that great credit should be awarded to New Zealand for its spirited action, was to be expected, but beyond the sanguine hopes of Mr. Hall we1 can see nothing in the published accounts as to the state of the question but what is very vague and visionary. Mr. Hall has made most satisfactory arrangements for transmitting* his passengers through to England, and the single fact that firstclass passengers can travel from Sydney to Liverpool by the £an Eran cisco route, with more comfort, pleasanter scenery, shorter time, and only a few pounds over half the cost, as compared, with the Suez route, contains in it such elements of infallible success as to make us regard the trans-Pacific Mail Service as confirmed ; but the question what interest we in Auckland will have in it is still sub judice. B-ival bills were pending before the American Legislature, each, according to the custom of the country, having reference to a particular contractor, known and acknowledged as such, and dependent for success on the superior adroitness in " log--rolling" of the friends of either party. We have no assurance that either Mr. "Webb's bill nor that in favor of the North Pacific Company will be entertained ; still less that the subsidy proposed or any portion of it should ever reach Mr. Hall or his enterprise. He may have tendered, or intended to tender if one of the bills is enacted, at a sum far below the amount to be allowed, but it is wholly ignoring the first principles of American politics to suppose that this would affect the bestowal of the contract. In most British communities political jobbery i&subrosa; it is true in New Zealand the attempt at concealment is very slight, but in theTJnited States theleast concealment is not considered requisite, nor does public feeling expect it. The Bill, which is considered likely to pass, is framed expressly for Mr. Webb. The ships are to \>e first-class, and American-built; the contract is only to be let to American citizens of experience, ability, and ample means, and to the lowest responsible bidder ; and so well known is it in Washington, that the contract specified in the Bill is for Mr. Webb, that the progress of the Bill is telegraphed to San Francisco on the day the mail left, as Mr. Webb's probable success —"Webb is " likely to get the subsidy." It should be remembered, too, that in the Bill, which seems the basis of all our jubilation, it is expressly stated that the boats are to take Fiji and New Caledonia on the route. Let anyone look on a chart and see what that means. Our dangers, we fear, are not to the South, but to the North, and in proportion to the probable success of Mr. Webb's bill, we have to dread the claims of Fiji beyond those of Wellington. The question of the port of call is still far removed from grounds of satisfaction, and instead of the latest intelligence lulling this city to the slumber which it loves so well, there are only too good reasons for its moving public feeling to the most wakeful v gilance.

We obserre that Dr. Schuken, medical officer lately on board the City of Melbourne, endeavours to rebut; our statements in yesterday's issue, respecting his discourtesy to the Press, the unkindly relations existing between him and the officers of the mail boat, and his being " accidentally" left behind by that steamer on Monday; and our contemporary the Southern Cross befriends the doctor so far as to say that the reporter of that paper experienced no discourtesy. We reiterate our statements, on the best of authority, that in Honolulu the reporters were kept waiting through the obstinacy of the doctor refusing to open his cabin door ; and in the harbour of Auckland, the reporters from the Evening Star and Neto Zealand Herald were detained, as we have stated from the same cause. We concede the truth of the statement of our contemporary the Cross, for it was after the act of discourtesy that the reporter from that journal arrived, meeting the reporters from the other three jeurnals of Auckland on their emerging from the cabin with their files of exchanges. We further stafe from personal knowledge that files of exchanges were placed on board the City of Melbourne on Saturday night for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Melbourne Argus, and some other journals; and with our own ears, and in the presence of five persons, we heard Dr. Schulzen say that he had thrown the whole lot out on the deck of the vessel. As the steamer was coaling at the time, and it was raining heavily, we can fancy in what state our Australian contemporaries received their files, if they have received them. As the doctor has been in search of us all day, in order to give us, as he says, "A. d— good hiding," we do not desire to provoke him. As to

any animus towards him, we have none, as we have never had the pleasure of conversing with the doctor; though probably after we shall have received from him what he intends, we shall be better acquainted with one another. Frbemasonbt.—A Provincial Grand Lodge under the Irish Constitution was held last evening, at the Masonic Hotel —Provincial G-rand Master Bro. Pierce presiding, assisted by Bros. G-oldsbro' and McMath, Pro. Grand Masters. Bro. Hooper was appointed Deputy Pro. Grand Master, and a great deal of business connected witk the interests of the " Graft " in New Zealand transacted, after which the lodge adjourned until September next.

We understand that Mr. John Copland, of the Thames Hotel, is about to erect a neat refreshment room adjoining the Music Hall, Symonds-street. There are to be two separate departments for ladies and gentlemen. Something of the sort is very much wanted, and has been long talked of, and we are sure that it will be well patronised.'

All parties having claims against the estate of H. J. Davidson are requested to send proof of the same to W. J. Vance and Co.. Queen-street, before Friday next.

Notice is hereby given that Alexander Brown has become insolvent. Meetings in the estate of Andrew Pollock and William James Casely are fixed for the 20th and 18th inst. respectively. The choice of Thomas Macffarlane, Esq., in the estate of Alexander Hamilton Hunter, has been confirmed. The same gentleman has become trustee in the estate of Simeon Lewis Lazarus.

The Provincial Secretary gives notice that in future the hours for the reception and issue of gunpowder at the magazine at Mount Eden Gaol will be from 8 a.m. toll a.m., and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m only.