STEAM NAVIGATION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 44, 8 November 1851, Page 9 (Supplement)

STEAM NAVIGATION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

[From the " Nelson Examiner," Oct. 18]

An advertisement having appeared in the, " Examiner " of Saturday last requesting- " persons desirous of seeing- Steam Communication established between the different ports of New Zealand " to meet at tfre Wakatu Hotel, on the following Wednesday, " to discuss the propriety of taking immediate measures for that purpose," a highly respectable and numerous body of settlers responded to the call, and assembled in the large room of the Hotel at the hour appointed. Mr. Staffoed having been requested to take the chair, read the advertisement which had called the meeting, and said that it was a proof of the interest with which the question of steam navigation for the colony was viewed, that so large a body of persons had assembled, on a simple request to do so appearing in the newspaper, without a name attached to it. The advertisement, he believed, had been inserted by Mr. Elliott, the Editor of the " Examiner," on his own responsibility, and it was well known that the subject of Steam Navigation for the colony had long engaged that gentleman's thoughts, and that he had on repeated occasions brought it prominently before the public notice. Although hitherto his efforts had not been attended with success, he (the chairman) thought the time had arrived when something might be done towards the accomplishment of an object which they must all have greatly at heart, and he should be greatly disappointed if some practicable plan was not now introduced to their notice.

Mr. Elliott said that lie bad felt considerable diffidence in venturing- to call together Ills brother settlers on his own simple authority to discuss the important question of Steam Com- | munication for the colon}', and he was therefore much gratified to witness a meeting so numerous and so respectable as the present one, assembled for that purpose. This at. once inspired .him with confidence—he saw that there was no longer an indifference and apathy on the subject of Steam Navigation for the colony, be thought it altogether unnecessary to point out its advantages, socially or politically—these were too apparent to require a word from him on their behalf. Every one resident in New Zealand must have felt that from the nearly total absence of all internal communication between the different settlements, that no country in the world so much needed Steam Communication on its coast as this, and that without it, we never could become a prosperous colony, nor be able to unite for any great useful purpose, Passingover, then, considerations which all would admit, he would at once direct himself to the important question, How is this thing, which^ we all so greatly desire, to be accomplished ? The question was, he thought, easy of solution. He would propose the formation of a Joint Stock Company, with a capital of 10,000^. in shares of 51, each. Supposing this was done, and a payment of I^. per share made within the first four months, he would borrow from the Steam Fund of the settlement (which in all probability would be available within that time.) the sum of 5,000?. for five years. Then another call of 11. per share at the end of the first year would in all likelihood be the whole contribution required until the time arrived when the borrowed capital had to be repaid, and, at all events, the capital of 10,000/. instead of having to be raised ■within a few months, might be made up by small calls, spread over a period of five or six years. By this means many persons would take shares who would not otherwise be able to do so, and others take an increased number. In regard to the proposed loan, or bonus, 'he thought this would be a most legitimate application of a portion of a fund subscribed for the express object of promoting Steam Communication in this settlement, and that it should be lent without interest. If however his expectations in this respect were disappointed, although some delay anight be created by it, the loan required could easily be obtained in England, provided the colonists showed on their parts that the undertaking was intended to be a bona fide one. Still, an arrangement with the Trustees of the Nelson Funds, here on the spot, would undoubtedly be the better mode of obtaining the money required, provided it could be done. With the capital thus obtained, he would suggest that vessels should be procured on the screw-propeller principle—one about 170 tons, builder's measurement, capable of carrying about 200 tons of

cargo, to be used in keeping up a constant communication between all the settlements of the colony, from Auckland (Manakau) to Otago, and the other of about 50 tons, builder's measurement, to carry from 50 to 70 tons, to be used as a tender to the larger vessel when needed, to take her place in case of accident or while going under repairs, (so that no interruption should occur in the conveyance of mails,) and at other times to be employed on the coast of our Bay, or in the Straits—crossing to and from Motueka and Massacre Bay, acting as a tug in case of need, conveying fat stock from the Wairau to Wellington and Nelson, and, during the wool season, assisting in conveying wool from that and other districts to the shipping ports where vessels might be loading. To give confidence to the public, so as to induce them to come forward readily and take shares, two things were necessary —one, to show that shareholders would not be involved in difficulties by incurring unknown liabilities ; and the other, to show that if the scheme held out no prospect of extraordinary profits, it at least afforded grounds of belief that the capital embarked in it would not be thrown away, but pay at least a fair interest. It was desirable for the first object that the Governor should be applied to to charter the Company, limiting the liability of every shareholder to double the amount of his subscribed capital (as had been done already for banking companies in the colony,) and knowing how anxious his Excellency was to see Steam Communication introduced here, he (Mr. E.) had no doubt but that the Governor would readily accede to our views in this particular In respect of the success of the undertaking, he thought that would be fully guaranteed by the Governor giving us for a stated period of years a bonus equivalent to the annual cost of the Government brig, to convey the mails and Government passengers —say 2.000/. for five years, the brig might then be sold, and the Government would have its work done better, and be money in pocket, as it would save the heavy charges of the brig, and the gratuities now paid to masters of vessels for carrying mails. There was no doubt but this would also meet the views of the Governor, for his Excellency had made an offer of the kind more than two years ago. This, at all events, would be a security to the sfiareho/rters against loss for the ursc live yeai\s, after which there could be no question, from the traffic which in the mean time would have sprung up, that the vessel would pay her own expenses, and yield moreover a large return to her proprietors'. This, then, was an outline^ of the plan by which, as it seemed to him, tlifey might obtain within a very short time, Steam Communication between the different parts of the colony. He was not, however, wedded to this particular scheme, if any better or more practicable one could be shown. His object in calling the meeting together was not to thrust upon them his own particular views, but to invite discussion, and to seek by their joint deliberations to devise some method for giving the colony that communication between its different settlements which was so necessary for the welfare and advancement of the whole. Any plan by which this could be attained, should receive his warmest support.

Mr. Stephens was of opinion that the time had arrived when the establishment of steam communication was necessary to prevent that stagnation which he foresaw would otherwise arise. He thought however that the dimensions of the vessel proposed were rather small fora coast like New Zealand, and, were it possible, he would wish to see two vessels started, instead of one. He quite concurred in the description of vessel proposed—a screw propeller, but would suggest that the material should be of iron, which was now found to be greatly^prefevable to wood. For his own part he was not disposed to look for any great profits to the shareholders from the undertaking, but rather to the benefits it would confer upon the settlement as a whole, and the increased value it would give to property of all kinds.

Mr. Frazer gave a short sketch of the history of the General Screw Steam Shipping1 Company, which, according to the latest advices from England, was likely to have the honour conferred upon it of being selected to convey the first mails by steam to Australia.

Mr. Wells enquired of Mr. Elliott whether he could afford any information on the character of the coals found in Massacre Bay, as.the subject of fuel was intimately connected with that of Steam.

Mr. Elltott in reply said, that so little was really known of the character of the Massacre Bay coals, from no expense ever having been incurred by parties who had worked them, and from their having contentented themselves by taking them from the beach where they were washed by the sea, that it was difficult to say what the coals might prove to be when worked in the manner in which coals were worked in every other part of the world. He had, however; taken some pains to learn the opinion of the few practical men who had visited the spot where the coal had been obtained, and particularly that of the second engineer of H. M. Steamer " Acheron," who was a native of the North of England, and had spent all the early part of his life in the coal fields of that district; and from having been bred an engineer, had since had great experience of the different qualities of fuel. It was the opinion of this gentleman that the indications of the coal existing in Massacre Bay were most favourable, and that coal of a better quality than any which had yet found its way here in any quantity did exist in the district, was proved by a very superior sample brought over by Mr. Travers, which had been very favourably reported upon by Captain Stokes, of the "Acheron," he (Mr. E.) having sent a specimen of it to Wellington, to that able officer, at his own request. Should the Massacre Jiay coal after all prove as inferior as it was at present supposed to be, it could still be used in equal quantities with Newcastle coal, as he had the authority of Mr. Thompson, the chief engineer of the "Acheron," for saying, that thus mixed it would burn well on board a steamer.

Mr. TftAVERs thought the question of steam of great moment, and that it was highly desirable the undertaking should be attempted. He was not disposed to expect from it large profits, but to look rather to the general benefit it would confer upon us. He was of opinion that a larger capital would be preferable, so as to enable the Company to run two vessels'on the coast, as he 'doubted whether one would be able to perform the work requhed of it. By making the Company general, instead of a local one, this might perhaps be accomplished, and it would shew moreover that we had no desire to ir.GnopoV.se the ben-s-fri-s of the iiiiusrlu'kiag.

Mr. J. Watts was of opinion that the Massacre Bay coal, mixed with Newcastle coal would burn well on board a steamer, and be a better fuel than the Newcastle coal alone. If however, coal could be obtained from Massacre Bay, of the quality of the specimen brought over by Mr. Travel's, then there would be no need for going to Newcastle for fuel at all, as we should decidedly have a better coal close at hand than any known to exist in New South Wales.

Mr. Wrky advocated the appointment of a Committee to consider the question of Steam communication generally, and to report to a future meeting. He thought that somethingmight be done towards linking ourselves by steam with England by the Panama route, and that the proposition which the meeting had. heard was of too limited a nature.

Mr. Sa.xtox reviewed the changes which the colony had undergone during the last few yeavs, and showed that what would have been a premature undertaking a few years ago, was now urgently demanded by the public wants. He thought that a Committee should be appointed, to take the initiatory steps * towards carrying the suggestions made by Mr. Elliott into effect.

Mr. Sclakdehs said that although it was most desirable to connect the colony with England by Steam, yet as we possessed no adequate means' for sucli an object, it was not worth while making the attempt. To establish local Steam Communication was another affair, and a most important one, and as this was within the means of the colonists themselves, he thought the attempt to do so should be made. After some further discussion, it was proposed by Mr. Sclanders, and seconded by Mr. Wells :—

"That a Committee of seven persons, with power to add to their number, he appointed to draw up a Prospectus for the establishment of a Steam Navigation Company, and that Mr. Stephens, Mr. Sclanders, Mr. Wrey, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Saxton, Mr. Travers, and Mr. Elliott, do form such committee. Carried unanimously. , A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman, and the meeting brpke up.