THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, December 28, 1858.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XV, Issue 1200, 28 December 1858, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, December 28, 1858.

LUCEO NON TJRO. "If I have been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons from the spark I bore.

THE STEAM POSTAL SERVICE.

We heve been favoured with a copy of the following memorial, originating in the Province of Canterbury, but forwarded for signature to the other Southern provinces. We are told by a gentleman who has been the round, that the feeling of all those Provinces, without exception, is in favour of the prayer ; that while they were under the impression that Auckland claimed more than her due, they were disposed to resist ; and that when they found that she asked for no more than her fair share, they themselves were ready to be the first to claim it for her. We are told, and see no reason why the information should not prove correct, that at Wellington the memorial will be signed, with the elimination of a few lines in the fifth paragraph, which might be construed into a reflection on the competition with the General Govornment which has been entered into by the Wellington Provincial Government.

MEMORIAL Of the Bankers, Merchants, Traders, and others, the Inhabitants of the Province of Canterbury, New Zealand, to his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, &., &c. Humbly Sheweth, — 1. That your Memorialists are deeply interested in nil matters that affect the prosperity and welfare of New Zealand. 2. That your Memorialists view with the deepest interest and earnestness the development of Steam communication with the several Provinces of New Zealand, and between New Zealand and the Colonies of Austral ia. 3 . That in the opinion of your Memorialists the time has now arrived when it io necessary that there should be established a direct monthly communication between both Sydney and Auckland on the one hand, and between Melbourne, Wellington, and Nelson, on the other hand. •i. That in the opinzon-of your Memorialists these two main lines should be worked in conjunction and the times of departure from Australia so arranged, that in the event of the English Mails not arriving at Mel-

bourne in time for the Steamer sailing on fixed dates from that Port, they should be sent on to Sydney and conveyed by the Steamer sailing from thence. 5. That your Memorialists deprecate extremely the effects of Steam competition and the confusion that must arise if several lines of Steamers, subsidized by the respective Provinces and by the General Government, should beiunning in competitiun wit!i each other, and without any paiticular arrangement as legards time of sailing. Your Memorialists believe that, without some arrangement, the Steamers now on the coast of New Zealand cannot be kept running, except at a heavy loss to their owners, under which circumstances the service could not be performed in a satisfactory manner. It is extremely desirable therefore that the interests of the several lines of Steamers, should, if possible, be amalgamated. 6. That in the opinion of your Memorialists it is highly expedient, that, as a Steamer is now running between Melbourne and Wellington, the New Zealand Royal Mail Company's Steam vessels should perform the Monthly service between Sydney anJ New Zealand, so as to complete a rpgular fortnightly communication between Australia and New Zealand, and so that the vessels of the Company should sail fortnightly to all th« Provinces in conjunction with the main lines. 7. That your Memorialists confidently hope and believe tha^the several Provincial Go^ ernments and the General Assembly will freely sanction any adequate increase in the subsidy now payable to the Company that may be necessary to secure *n object so desirable as fortnightly communication with Australia and with the different Provinces of New Zealand. 8. That it is the anxious desire of your Memorialists that such a sum shouM be paid for the service in question as will ensure its efficient accomplishment, and allow of one Steamer being laid up always in a state of readiness in case of accidents to any of the other Boats ; which Steamer, no doubt, the New Zealand Royal Mail Company could undertake to provide. 9. That in the opinion of your Memorialists there should be allowed to the Steam vessels at each Port in New Zealand, not less than forty-eight hours, if required, by the Company's Agents, for coaling, and for loading and discharging cargo, as well as for accommodation of passengers. And your Memorialists will every pray, &c, &c. We cannot help expressing the gratification which we felt in reading this corroboration of the opinions which we have so often expressed in regard to the feeling of the Southern Provinces — one at least for certain — towards Auckland. It has been over and over again imputed to us, for electioneering purposes, that we had undue propensities towards the South — that we were too much linked up in intimacy with Southern members for the interests of Auckland. We have never had but one object, — fairplay and justice to all, indifferently; to sooth in terpiovincial jealousies, and to help in the formation of- one powerful, united, and prosperous colony^shaking off the paltry squabbles of a nest of petty, but antagonistic republics. An opportunity for conciliation is afforded, which must not be thrown away, While unable to approve of the course that has been taken et Wellington, in regard to the chartering of the 'Wonga Wonga,' as tending to the dislocation of all Government in New Zealand, we still think that an attempt ought to be made to regard bygones as by-gone, and to induce Wellington, at the expiration of her short agreement, to throw j her strength into a general echeme. From what we learn, by private communication, the difficulty would be much less than might be anticipated by those who merely read the colonial newspapers. The disposition that has been shewn by ivlr, Coleman to enter into a modification of the original ' ontract, is an additional reason for a new attempt at cordial co-operation A special meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, in consideration of the existing contract Mr. Colemnn was requested by the Chairman to attend, with a view to enquiring whether the Royal Mail Company were willing to alter the routes of the sailings of the Company's steamers, and laving on a boat direct between Sydney and Auckland. We are able to state that a proposal to that effect has been made to the General Government. According to the terms of the proposal, it appears that an additional mileage of about 240 miles per month will have to be performed by the Company's steamers ; but no additional snbsidy will be required. We refrain, for the present, from entering into other details, having no desire to interfere in the negotiation, but still intending to open up the whole question as fully as possible on the first convenient occasion.