THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10865, 15 January 1901, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

MR SEDDON'S SPEECH IN SYDNEY. (from ora spbcial correspond-snt.) SYDNEY, January 9. Just on the eve of his departure for Brisbane Mr Seddon was invited on board the magnificent mail steamer Sierra. He was accompanied by Messrs Witheford and Fraser, M.H.R.'s, and Lieutenant Hughes, of tho New Zealand Contingent.

In proposing the health of the Company, Mr Seddon said the appearance of this magnificent vessel in New Zealand and Australian waters was an evidence of the great commercial enterprise of the older countries. As the head of the colony of New Zealand he said there was room for all, but he was not going to forget those who, in the colony's days of adversity in a commercial and maritime relation, liad stood by them. He was not the man to forget old friends, as they all knew, and there were those to be remembered who had helped to make them what- they were. He wished the enterprise every success, and hoped that a more favourable development would take place in the future.

At a later stage Mr Witheford considered that the new service would result in a blending of interests between America and Australia that could not have been brought about in any other way. The outlook as far as New Zealand "was concerned was a very bright one. With the opening of the Nicara-juan Canal, New Zealand would provide the principal ports of call for the great traffic that would be attracted to the colonies as the result of tho establishment of this line of steamers.

Mr Seddon, in replying to the toast of his health, said, wijh reference to the arrangements in connection with the mail service, he would be no party to allowing anybody to take away from his colony what reasonably belonged to it or to take it to America —friendly as she might be. They mirst noi_ expect that whilst coming here and establishing another service which was going to injure their colony and injure the Comp'SkY which had been identified with New ZSdand fo long that he would be a party to help them in that. He believed himself that Messrs Spreckels and Co. should have left well alone, just as at present they were treading on very dangerous and maritime ground they would be safe, but the moment they did anything that was unfriendly to their colony and to their nation it tvould be resented in a way they would not forget. That was plain English. As far as he was concerned there was, in his opinion, a bright future for their colony, and for Australia whether united or not.