THE MAIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3696, 15 September 1873, Page 3

THE MAIL SERVICE.

To the Editor of the Heeaij). Sib,—Aa there i3*now every probability oj the afore-mentioned mail route being reopened by British capital and British-built steamers, and placed on a permanent and satisfactory foundation, with your permission I take the liberty (and I consider it such with the present despotic Executive) to draw t-lie atteulion of our G-oveVnment to one clause iu the proposed contract, which, if permitted to pass into law, must do incalculable injury ia the future to the Bhipping interests of this colony. It must be still fresh in the minds of your readers that uuder the late Webb arrangement the American steamers, on their arrival here from San Francisco, were permitted to carry both freight and passengers between the intermediate porLs along the New Zealand coast, to the manifest injury of our local shipping companies. From the telegraphic information lately received from Mr. Russell concerning the new contract, it will be noticed that a similar clause to the one already mentioned appears to find favor with Mr. Samuel and himself, namely, that the main boat from San Francisco should, in each alternate trip, continue through to Dunedin, and of course, as in the Webb case, picking up freight and passengers between Auckland and Port Chalmers, the profit upon which naturally being remitted to England for the benefit of tho mail contractors there. Now, considering that our present Premier is known to be a staunch advocate for protecting local industries, it is to be hoped that be may Beo his way iu this particular case to give practical efTect to his convictions, by stipulating iu the contract with New South Wales that the main liuo packets will be prohibited from carrying other than through goods and passengers between Auckland and I'ort Chalmers. In fact, that they should ply upon similar conditions to thoso imposed by Act of Parliament iu England upon the ruitway companies, regarding mail and express trains, namely, that they only stop at certain important stations on the through trip. The foregoing has reference to the large main boats only, and from the telegram I am unable to say whether the branch bjat is also to be provided by tho English company or not; _if it is, then the same rule ohould hold good 5 but assuming that this portion of the service is to be provided for by the colony, then there could be uo reasonable objection against a local company haviug the power to receive passengers and freight ut intermediate ports. Apologising for trespassing to such an extent upon your apace,—l am, &c\, F. H. TIiOUP.