CAPTAIN BENSON ON THE PANAMA SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 899, 1 October 1866, Page 5

CAPTAIN BENSON ON THE PANAMA SERVICE.

The following given l>y Captain Benson, | Manager of the P.N.Z. and A.K.M. Co., in reply to questions put by the Postal Committee, we take I from the Welf'anjton Independent of the 2*2 ml inst. I Captain Benson, in reply to questions, said, —" I I could not think of agreeing to the admission of the I New South Wales Government as a party to the 1 contract, oven conditionally, because I objeeb j)eri sonally. Such stipulation must be referred to the | Directors in England. I have 110 objection to sign tho draft contract drawn up by the PostmasterGeneral, provided that that portion of the preamble referring to the New South Wales Government being a party to the contract is struck out. 1 think that Wellington is the best port for the quick distribution of tho Panama mails over the whole of New Zealand. By the Chairman—Are yon of opinion were tho port of call changed, and Auckland made the port of arrival and Port Chalmers the port of departure for the Panama steamers, that the postal service would be thereby benotitfced ? Captain Benson—Most certainly not. Chairman—Are you of opinion that such a change would be beneficial to the Company ? Answer—Most certainly not. Chairman—Would such a change as that mentioned in those questions decrease the time of service between Panama and New Zealand, and Panama and New South Wales ? Answer—l am of opiniou that the decrease of time in performing the service between the Ports mentioned in New Zealand and Panama, and New Zealand and New South Wales, would be inappreciable. Chairman—"Do you think such a change would favourably atfect the Company as respects passengers' traflie and cargo ? Answer—We prefer a central port for all purposes of trallic. Viewing it in every respect as it atfeets the Company, I endorse my former opinion. On a succeeding day, Captain Benson repeated j the same answers to similar questions. j Qucstioji—Would calling at Tahiti make any, ! and if any, what dillereuee in time ? | Answer—Calling at Tahiti would cause a loss of three or four days per passage, besides which, tho route is a dangerous one. j

Question —if it were fixed to call at Tahiti, which then would be tlie best port of call in New Zealand?

Answer—Wellington, with regard to time. Question—Judging from the experience of tho Rakaia, are you of opinion that a more northerly course would be a quicker and a more agreeable one to any port in New Zealand than that taken by her ?

Answer —From Captain Wright's report to me, I am of opinion that :my more northerly course that could have been taken, would not have affected the

weather she experienced nor tho timo of her arrival here. lam further of opinion that the arrival at Wellington was as early as if bound to any port in New Zealand.

Question —Have you examined Port Chalmers Harbour, with the view of ascertaining whether it would be capable of of accommodating the Panama steamers, and with what result ?

Answer —Yes, 1 have. 1 must decline to allow any of our Panama ships to enter it in connection with the mail service.

Question —How would it suit to have Port Chalmers made tlie port of departure forthe.se steamers? Answer—lt wonlil not suit the Company .at all under present circumstances. Question —Would it lengtheu the voyage ?

Answer—No. Captain Benson gave similar answers with respect ;o Bluff harbour.

Question —Do you consider the Bay of Islands a good place of call for steamers ? Answer—l have no knowledge tif the Bay of Islands.

Question —Would a plentiful supply of good coal at a cheap rate at the Bay of Islands make any change in your views as to the best port of call ? Answer —As my Directors have made an arrangement to work the Panama line with Welsh coals, the question of a supply o£ coal at the Bay of Islands would not affect us.

Question —To what ports irf tho distance tho distance the shortest ?

Answer—l have not calculated the exact distance, but I believe no port in New Zealand is shorter than Wellington. On a subsequent day tho following evidence was given hy Captain Benson:— Question —If the shortest line was drawn from Panama to Sydney touching New Zealand, where would it pass over New Zealand ?

Answer—Cook's Straits. Question —Will you be so good as to furnish the the Committee with the reasons why you have come to t.he conclusion that you have stated in reference to t.ie port o£ call and distance.

Answer—Wellington is the best port in New Zealand. It admits of ingress and egress at all times of night and day. Capt. Wright of thelvakaia

—excejjt as a boy twenty-live years ago—never having seen the port, brought his ship close to the wharf without a pilot in the middle of the night, anil I consider the distance to be shortest of any accessible port in New Zealand, Auckland Jjeing twenty more miles than Wellington, and Panama to Sydney via Auckland about eighty more than through t'ook'n Strait. Question —-Is it the intention of the Company to take the larger vessels which ply between Panama and Wellington 011 to Sydney "! Answer—Our present intention is to let the trunk lino steamers remain in New Zealand, and to perform the intercolonial distance by branch steamers, and so have the Australian mails again on their way in about four hours after thu arrival of tlio Panama steamer. The branch steamers which the Company would provide are capable of continuing the service right through to Sydney at ten knots. Question —Is this decision dependant 011 any provincial arrangement for the repairs of the Company's vessels'! Answer—-No, it is not. It is based upon the distance between Panama and New Zealand beiug fjuitc sufficient for any one vessel to do. Question- —Are there at present at any port in New Zealand the necessary conveniences for relitting and repairing the Panama steamers V Answei—None that I am aware of. Question —Is the service now continued to Sydney by the Panama boats as aniatterof necessity ? Answer—Yes. Question —Do you intend, on tlio part of the Company, undertaking the necessary work for providing the conveniences required'! Answer—The Company are taking steps to provide repairs, but they leave to the Government accommodation for sighting the ships' bottoms. Question— Hon' long do you consider it will- be before the Panama boats can be repairedandrefitted in New Zealand 'I Answer— Ten or twelve months.