A NEW TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 109, 1 June 1885, Page 2

A NEW TRADE.

The arrival here of the steamer Janet Nicoll to oomraenoo her oontraot with the New Zealand Government for a regular servioe with the South Soa Islands ia an important event. It is well known that Sir Julias Vogel has long taken a most intense interest in the development of commercial intercourse between thiß colony and the islands. He has twioe tried nnsuooessfnlly to induce Parliament to enter into a vast trading soheme, but he did last session induce it to sanction a moderate expenditure in establishing trading relations of a regular character by subsiding a steamer on the lino. It is nnder this authority that the contraot with the Janet Niooll has been entered into. Aa explained in a circular letter from Sir Julias Vogel to the various Chambers of Commeroe, the establishment of the serrioe between New Zealand and Tonga, Samoa, and Tahiti ia with the express objeot of fostering and extending the trade of New Zealand with the islands. The service will be once every two months. The steamer haa fair passenger accommodation and large cargo space, arranged with special regard to the tropical trade of the islands. The route will be from Dunedin, by way of Lyttelton, Wellington, Napier, and Auckland, to Tonga, Samoa, and Tahiti, or Tahiti, Samoa, and Tonga; baofc to Auckland ; thence to Dunedin, via Napier, Wellington, and Lyttelton. She will be required to remain at eaoh port a' mtximum time for the shipping and landing of cargo, and the freights on live stook and New Zealand produce are to be fixed at such rates as, while giving- the oontraotora a fair return, should directly encourage the shipment of produoe, &o. The effeot of the experiment now made will be watched with great interest. The beginning is a comparatively small one, but it opena up great possibilities, and may produce most important results.