THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 60, 8 September 1885, Page 2

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

♦ The position of the San Francisco mail question is rather a curious one. The House somewhat unwillingly, and entirely oat of consideration for Auckland interests, resolved to go to a certain extent in regard to

subsidising a continuance of the service on certain terms, calculated to render it more useful. The attempt ti obtain any tenders for this new service, and within the limits fixed by Parliament, has failed. Neither the Union Company nor the representative of the American Company ia willing to undertake an 18 days' service for a subsidy of .£30,000, and with Auokland aa the direct terminal port. The Government are willing to concede two days in time, but are not, it teems, prepared to either increase the amount of subsidy or to allow Sydney to reap all the advantages of being made the terminal port, while New South Wales refuses to contribute to tho anbaidy. Whether either of the parties who have been "nibblincf" will see their way to tender before noon to-morrow on the new terms, two extra day? time being allowed for the voyage, remains to be seen. If either is willing to undertake the contract on such terms, we suppose they will fret it, but we most earnestly trust that neither the House nor the Government will consent to waive the other conditions. As a mail service the colony, Auokland exoepted, doeß not want the San Francisco line. It can be better served by the direot steamers, Auckland, we confess, stands at a serious disadvantage in regard to the direot service, owing to its geographical position. From a commercial point of view even Auckland has not derived any great advantage from being simply a port of call for the San Franoisoo steamers, and the colony has really not derived any benefit at all. If Auckland was mado tho terminal port, it at least would obtain something in return for the subsidy. The money would not be altogether wasted. If no one will undertake the service on the conditions which alone wonld make it worth while for this colony to maintain it at its own cost, then it will have to be dropped. Probably a very brief discontinuance might lead America to give its often promised but never realised subsidy, to ensure a recommencement of the service. American interests are involved in it to even a larger extent than are New Zealand interests. If tho service ia dropped, and the oolony has to depend on the direct steamers for oonveyanoe of its mails, then their time must, if possible, be expedited, and everything be done that can be done to mako that servioe more benefioial and convenient to Auokland. Probably in the end Auckland would gain rather than lose by the ohange.