THE 'FRISCO MAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 211, 6 September 1899, Page 2

THE 'FRISCO MAIL.

ME WITHEFORD'S' SCHEME

In bringing before the Harbour Boad yesterday afternoon the important matter of a faster mail service between this colony and San Francisco, to which reference was made in onr last issue, Mr J. H. Witheford said: "1 thought, gentlemen, you would I probably like to hear something- upon ! this matter, that is, the latest proi posals with regard to the San FranI cisco mail service The first matter is to try and make this the premier service of the colony, to secure its acknowledgment as the premier mail service between New Zealand —not Auckland only—and England. Lately I have received information from the Oceanic Company which states disj tinctly they are prepared to do this. j The time in which letters can be dej livered under the new time-table proposed is 20 days and 7 hours, which shows what can be done. I thong-lit it was just as well to bring this matter forward, and I wish to lay before you the whole question as it occurs to me. The first thing to arrange is the permanent establishment of the San Francisco service as New Zealand's premier mail service. This should be done before entering into contracts for subsidising mail services via Australia, as until the running of the American steamers is fixed it is premature to fix the others. New Zealand, the most isolated of the seven colonies of Australasia, cannot be content with accepting the tail end of the other colonies' mail services, and receiving her mails and passengers from Europe after they have come by the longest route and percolated through all the ports of Australia, when we lie in the direct path of the speediest and pleasantest route to the Old Country. 1 have travelled both ways. The only thing necessary to make the San Francisco route the most perfect is the running of a similar class of steamers as the P. & 0., Orient, and other companies' vessels on the Suez route. While in America, I saw Mr Spreckels, who expressed his willingness, as he has done throughout, to build firstclass steamers for the Australian and New Zealand trade, if the colonial Governments would give reasonable contribution for a fixed term of years. He would then be willing to risk the heavy outlay required in building swift and luxuriously fitted passenger steamers, and establishing an important passenger traffic between the i European ports and the colonies via I America. An American company, j such as the Oceanic, deserves friendly I recognition, 'when we consider the 'long years they have punctually carried our mails with inadequate support. New Zealand is drawn into still closer relationship with America (geographically), because the first colonial possession of the United States is 2084 'miles near our shores than the American Continent itself—and the last maritime enterprise in which America is reported to be engaged is the erection of a landing-place, coaling station, etc., at Pagapago, in the Samoan Islands, thus bringing- America's trade interests within 1594 miles of New Zealand. Meat and other products can be most readily supplied from here, and Mr Spreckels has assured me of his intention to create all possible markets for our products in the event of coming' to arrangements with the colonial Governments. The equipment of Calliope Dock, and increased deep water berthage, will put the Board in the gratifying position of meeting all requirements of the modern type of vessels which are now being built. I will now refer to the most important feature in the proposed change in the San Francisco mail service. By the new schedule the London mails will be delivered in Auckland in the record time of 26 days 7 hours, and from Auckland to London in 27.V days. This splendid service would be every 21 days instead of monthly, as hitherto, the vessels travelling at an average speed of over 16 knots, and will, I understand, be ready in time for the Paris Exhibition. I have no hesitation in thus bringing the matter before the Board, as 1 have no private ends to serve, and nothing to gain, but I share with you all the common desire to advance New Zealand, and run the colony on business lines.. In view of the importance of this question, I have written to the Premier in order to have something definitely done in the matter. Mr .Witheford then read a copy of the letter forwarded to the Premier, which appeared in our last issue. Continuing, Mr Witheford said: "The schedule proposed is as follows: the steamers sailing every 21 c>ays: — Outward: Leaves Sydney Wednesday, 10 a.m., arrives Auckland Saturday, 2 p.m.; leaves Auckland Saturday evening, arrives San Francisco Monday, 6 a.m.; or, say, three clays and four hours from Sydney to Auckland, and ltU days from Auckland to San Francisco, and 271 days from New Zealand to London. Inward: Leave San Francisco, Wednesday, at a quarter past. 10 p.m., a?-rives Auckland, Saturday, 8 a.m.; at Auckland nine hours, leaving at 5 p.m.; arrives Sydney, Wednesday, 5 a.m.; or, say, 15 days and 19 hours from San Francisco to Auckland, and 3 days and 12 hours from Auckland to Sydney; and 26 days 7 hours from London to Auckland. .Interval at Auckland between up and down steamships, 14 days and 10 hours; interval at Sydney' for replies, 7 days and 5 hours; interval at San Francisco for replies, 16 days and 16 hours. My feeling in this matter is that before separate arrangements are entered into for other mail services, this the one premier service for the whole colony should be first settled, and then the others that are necessary could be fixed so as to fit in with the time of the arrival and departure of the Frisco mail steamers. Tt is necessary we should establish this one service on a permanent basis for from five to seven years, so as to justify contractors going to the trouble and expense of arranging for finer steamvers and an all-round passenger traffic. After the fixing of New Zealand's quickest and best service, the subordinate services could be more advantageously arranged. I hope that the most earnest recommendations will be made to the House of Representatives !to arrange thp San Francisco service, not as an Auckland bu+ ns n pni~-,;.-.i

necessity. Southern sheep growers and produce raise.rs are espeeinllv interested in the pstablishment of now markets in the New World opening up mirier American influence in the Pacific. Frozen mea.t and prorlnce of all kinds will find an important outlet. One of the binr/rest works which New Zealand has before it is the trade across Hie Pacific, and this Frisco mail serive, T honestly believe, is the best service for the colony, and should be established for seven years. T do not say this because T ha.ye any interest to serve except that of the colony, as T have no private interest in any of the companies."

Mr Niccol, who was presiding, said they were much indebted to Mr Witheford for all he had done in this matter. As Mr Witheford had already brought the matter under the notice of the Premier, the Board could do nothing further. Of course, it was all a question of what this fine service was going to cost. If it was only to cost £30,000, then it would be well worth considering, for it would undoubtedly benefit the colony. As the Chairman of the Board was" going to Wellington shortly, it would be well for the whole facts to be placed in his hands.