THE PANAMA SERVICE. SYDNEY DEMANDS THE TERMINUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 893, 24 September 1866, Page 4

THE PANAMA SERVICE. SYDNEY DEMANDS THE TERMINUS.

Wk see that the Government ofNew South Wales is fully alive to the claim of Sydney in b:ein«- made the Tve.stern terminus of the Panama trunk line. On this condition only 'Will. New South Wales conclude, the. arrangement initiated by Dr.; Eeathersijone. for a joint liability between, the two colonies of the amount ofthe; subsidy to be. paid to the Panza Company, ■'■...';', With Sydney, as the, terminus, the.Government that the Qpoik Strait route... is not only the. most uncomfortable for passehgers, : .:but..that it positively entails a loss of at days, between "Panama, and Port jac&soj*.

compared -with ths passage to be made by keeping a high southern latitude, and the steamers touching at the northernmost port of New Zealand for the purpose of dropping Ifew Zealand mails and passengers. This ■will not onlyjbe as many days saved to Sydney, but to New Zealand also, and iu serving herself in this matter Sydney will be also serving the interests of this colony as a whole. Mr. forwarded from "Wellington, in Mayl ast, a draft of the contract to be made with the Company, and requested to be favoured with any suggestions or alterations which it might appear to our Government to require. He pointed out that the contract was nominally between New Zealand and the Company alone, but that only £o"3,000 had been voted for the subsidy, inasmuch as the pledge oi New South Wales to bear a proportionate share of the cost was at that time before the General Assembly, and was confidently relied upon. He suggested, therefore, that this colony should also'become a party to the contract with the Company, and the more so as such a position would give the Government a more direct control in the working of the service than it would otherwise have. But, failing that, lie proposed a mutual agreement between the two colonies, of which he also forwarded a draft. The latter arrangement seems to have been preferred by this" Government The difference between the two modes of action amounts to this, that, under the plan adopted. we have no direct responsibility to the company, but at the same time we have no further control over its operations than arises from the necessity of obtaining our pecuniary support. If the New Zealand Government finds itself rich enough, to do without our assistance, and prefers independent action, or if it should find that it can make better terms with the Victorian Government, it is at liberty to do so. V\"e stand pledged to the New Zealand Government, but only so long as it acquiesces in the conditions we impose. We are not pledged ait all to the company, and wo arc only contingently pledged to New' Zealand. We can withdraw. We can also be discarded. The agreement as forwarded by Mr. Stafford has been materially modified by Mr. Parkcs, and, in order to appreciate the present state of the negotiations, it is necessary to understand the exact nature and bearing of these alterations. Mr. Stafford's agreement provided that it should liold good until the termination of the contract tinless otherwise agreed upon —that no new contract affecting the service should be entered into without JS ew South Wales—that there should be a monthly contribution to. the subsidy ' —and that New Zealand should pay premiums ; and receive any forfeitures that might accrue under the working of the contract. This is in ; terms of the memorandum signed by Mr. Cow- ' per and Dr. Fcatherston. But to this Mr. ' Parker has added that the contract shall not be '' varied or altered in any respect," with- ; out the written concurrence of the Govern- '. ment; and he has also added this following paragraphs : —: -, "That the aaid letter or memorandum in writing \ dated the 11th day of March a.'. ISOS and the 5 Said otber letter or memorandum in writing dated J the 23nd day ot April a.d. ISRS and this present ] memorandum of agreement shall be considered as ,- together constituting the agreement between the Governments of New Zealand and Xew South Wales j under which the rights and liabilities of the said , Governments in respect of or in relation to the b iid mail services are denned the said memoranda a I ' these presents being read as constituting one agi-oe- j ment. Provided that these presents jhal| be con- ' sidered in respect to any proviso stipul ition or agree- •' meat in which they may differ from the said ] memoranda as expressing the final intention of the I •parties hereto." ( *. * 1 " That during the continuance of this agreement t the port of Sydney shall be tho western termiu us of t the said mail service to which all the said company's s steamers conveying mails for the Governments of t JTew Zealand and New South Wales shall come as | their final bort'of discharge on the voyage from \ Panama and f.-om whi.li the said company's steamers < start oa tLe return voyage to Panama it being ] the intention of the parties hereto that the mails carried for the New Eolith Wales Government shall at ' ill times be delivered in the part of Sydney by the f vessel on board of which they shall be shipped at ' Panama and at Panama by the vessel on hoard which 1 they shall be shipped *■* t •■ xuat during the continuance of this agreement ' the Government of Xew Zealand shall not permit or ] suffer any letters, newspapers, book parcels or other things ordinarily carried by post which may he re- . fceiyed in any part or place in New Zealand, from or j through any colony which does not by arrangement with the said Government of New Zealand and New South Wales contribute to the amount paid by the said Governments to the sail company for the said ' mail service to be conveyed by the said company's steamers either as a distinct mail or portions of a ' mail forwarded by such steamer or as a p jrtion of any mail made up of letters newspapers or book puree s posted in New Zealand but shall in tho event of any letters newspapers or book parcels posted at New Eealarid. to be carried by such mail bearing the postage mark or stamp of any colony not contributing as aforesaid exclude such letters newspapers and baok parcels from the said mail. '.'. All mails made up for transmission by this mail service from any port or place in Tasmania or in any port °r pl"»ce in any of the colonies of Austral!* -3* contributing to the subgidiea to b» y 0' ' Colonies of New Z?eW and New South Wales to the said Company for tho said mail service shall be forwarded to the port of Sydney for transmission by the said mail service at which port the sea pos'age in reßpect thereof will have to he paid and shall not be received in any port or place in New Zealand to be forwarded from thence, ''■ ":The ; Government of New Zealand shall at the eipiration of each and every month during the continuance of this agreement furnish to the Government of New South Wales a return specifying the number of all letters newspapers and book parcels forwarded from New Zealand by the mail steamer during the month, and a like return shall at the expiration of each month be forwarded by the government of Jfew South Wales to tho Government of New Zealand Provided always that if the Panama New' Zealand and Australian It oyal Mail Qompany shall in any particular fail to observe perforin and keep all and ' exary the terms and conditions of the said hereinbefore recited agreement bearing even date herewith for extending the said postal service for the benefit of the said colony of New South Wales or if the Government of New Zealand shall not in all things perform observe and leep all and every the agreement contained inthese presents according to the true intent and meaning hereof it shall be lawful for the Governor for the time being of the colony of New South Wales on behalf of the Government of the said colony by in writing under his hand directed to the Governor for the time being of the colony of New Zealand to' terminate this agreement whereupon all liability of the said colony of New South Wales to contribute to the expenses of the said po'tal services Bhall at once and from thenceforth absolutely cease and determine as if the said memoranda signed by the said I. E. Featherston and Charles Cowper respectively and the3B presents had not been signed or entered into." The stipulations by Mr,. Partes quoted above were forwarded to New Zealand by the Kakaia, and no reply, of course, has as yet been received. We have yet to learn how far the New Zealand Government will accede to them, and the agreement, of course, will not be signed until the two polonies have settled their differences and come to a final understanding.

Cholera in England.—The Home Xew* says -. —" There is too much reason to fear that the cholera, after hovering around our coasts with a sort of indecision, has at length invaded the country in earnest. Outbreaks which occurred in Liverpool and Southampton have assumed a very decided character. At the former port numerous cases had been admitted into tho wards of the workhouse, of which more than half had pioved fatal. At Southampton there have been many deaths, and they are said to be on the increase. Cases are also reported from Llnnelly, in the Bristol channel, and at South Shields. But, besides this. 4 .he disease has at length distinctly appeared in London. The outbreak is principally in the cast. Several cases have been admitted "into the London Hospital, and others have occurred in the same neighbourhood. Patients have also been brought, to Guy's, St. Bartholomew's, and the Westminster Hospital , and cases have been reported iu the parish of Marvlebone. City of Auckland Assessment. —Tho Secretary to the City Board notifies that the rate for the half-year, from the Ist of .Tunc to the 30th of November, lSliti, being overdue, the Collector will attend at his office nil the days this week after this day to receive payment. OxKai'XHA and Maxcahei Briikje.—Contractors willing to fender for the proposed bridge can see plans, ic„ nt fhe office of Dalton, Brothers, from September 21th to the 29th inclusive. Tenders are required for carting 100 posts. 301) rails, G gate posts, and 2,500 Hobarl Town palings, from Custom House-street, to Mount Hobson, lleniuera. Tenders to be leit- with Mr. ;>. Alpe, Chapel-street. The quarter will commence at the High School, Auckland, on Monday, the Ist of October. The quarter at the Church of England Grammar School will commence on Monday, the Ist of October. Tuekk is to be lent on mortgage, from the City of Auckland Debentures Sinking Fund, for such a period as maybe agreed upon, the sum of £1000, iu one or two equal sums. Tenders, specifying interest and other particulars, to be sent in to Dr. Pollen, Deputy-Superintendent. OnuiXATiox Service..—His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand held an ordination servico yesterday morning, iu tho cathedral church of St. Paul's, when two native deacons were ordained priests. Tub monthly meeting of the Masonic Lodge St. Andrew will be held this evening at the Star Hotel, Albert-street, at seven o'clock. The Auckland -Kngineer Volunteer Corps will isscmble for parade this morning, at half-past six o'clock. Southdown SnEEv.—Wc would draw the lttention of our readers interested in the breeding of shee]> to tlie letter of Mr. Every McLean, vhieh will be found in another column. Hoffmann's Concerts.—The concert to be riven this evening will comprise selections from ?igaro. Norma, Anna, Bolena, Lucrczia Borgia. A Suspicious Affair.—About two o'clock •esterday morning, a stable at the rear of Messrs. Williams and Sandes, chemists, Hob-on-strect, was discovered to be on fire. The trsfc alarm of lire was given by a man named ivans, who, with two others, was passing, and ibserved smoke issuing from the rear of the ircmises. He at once gave the alarm. Mr. ,'hillips, a fruiterer, next door, and other neigh>ours at once gave most valuable assistance, and ifter a short time succeeded iu extinguishing he ilaines. It was found that the floor of the oft had been burnt through, also the hay rack ind somo hay that was in the place. The susncious part of the affair is, that no person had )een known to have entered the stable during lay or evening, and from the appearance of the dace, tho lire must have been a considerable ime smouldering. We were informed, however, hat on a former occasion, a person was found leeping there, and noises have been heard as if .;' persons who had obtained access to the milding for shelter. The stable, however, bconged to Mr. Waddcll, the baker, on the oppoite side of the street, so that persons hearing my noise could hardly have undertaken any ■esponsibility in interfering. Either some peron must have negligently allowed tobacco ishes or other fire to fall amongst the hay, or vilfuliy set lire to the place. It was fortunate hat there was scarcely a breath of air, or the vhole block of buildings from Victoria to Wcl-esloy-sheetwould havebee'ninimminent danger. Wellingtox-strkkt Literary Association, —The adjourned meeting of the above Associaiou took place on Thursday evening last, when he debate was resumed on the following question :—•" Would the interests of Great Britain md her Colonics bo impaired by the relinquishng of Imperial rule ?" Tb.o discussion was opened by Mr. H, Corn ford, succeeded by Messrs. Davy, Bartley, McKay, Stewart, Gorrie, tnd Buchauan. Messrs. Bullock and ituut laving given their respective replies, tho meeting terminated. Next night'of meeting (Thursday. 27th instant), will be devoted to recitations, &e. 1113 ° n, y business brought forward at the Police Court on Saturday la=t was the conviction, of th.- e ivunkards. jJiSTBtCT Couet.—The usual fortnightly sitting of this Court will be held to-day, in the Council Chamber, Parliament-street, before Judge Beckham. There are some twelve cases set down for hearing. Deserter.-— A deserter from the 18th liegt., named Patrick Dougherty, was handed over to the main guard on Saturday last. The Timber Merchants and the City Board. —-A very serious inconvenience has been inflicted on the timber merchants, iu most instances the proprietors of sawing stations in the bush, at the present moment by the sudden awakening of the city authorities to the necessity of enforcing the regulations with respect to the stacking of timber on the south side of Custom-house-street. Owing to the temporary depression in the timber trade, which always more or less exists at the present season of the year, the timber cannot, except at a great sacrifice, be sold so quickly on its arrival in Auckland, but that the timber merchants require some other place for stacking it than the allotments along the north side of Custom-house-street, specially leased for that purpose. For some time past they have placed it on the unmetalled portion of the South side of the street, and have not been interfered with, as no public inconvenience was caused by their doing so. Of course wc know that to enforce the strict letter of the law they can be prevented from using the otherwise unused portion of Custom-house street, but it is a question whether it is wise or politic to unnecessarily enforce any regulation when by doing so the public interest is injured rather than benefitted. The proprietors of sawing j stations in this Province, iu. benefitting themselves, benefit'the country largely, and it is unwise, slack as the timber trade is just now, to render the outlay of their capital more unproductive. In some of these steam mills nearly a hundred men are regularly employed, and Auckland timber brings much foreign capital into Auckland. We should have rather thought that it would be a wiser policy to foster native industry than to throw uncalled for obstructions in its way, the more especially as the parties complained of already pay heavy rents for tho north frontage of the street, which is now unfortunately too small a space to hold their unsold timber. Mr. Samuel Cochrane will sell to-day, pursuant to instructions from the Commodore (Sir W. Wiseman), at the Government Stores, North Shore, ' b.oais, rigging, blocks, chains, masts, spars, engine-room fittings, tools, taps, and dies saved from the wreck of the Government stcamei Alexandra. I Messrs. Hunteu and, Co. will sell to-day. 100 fat cattle ex H.b. Page, from Brisbane; dairy co\ys, store cattle, fat and store sheep &c