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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7657, 7 June 1886, Page 4

The Legislative Assembly of New South Wales has at length adopted the San Francisco mail contract, provisionally made by the Government of that colony with the Government of New Zealand. It is now about six months since the arrangements for the service now being conducted by the Union Company, in concert with the Oceanic Company, were entered into ; but the several Ministerial changes which i occurred in Sydney prevented the formal consideration and confirmation of the same by the Assembly of the sister colony. These changes at one time rendered it somewhat uncertain what attitude would there be assumed by the representatives of the people towards this question. The wish of the Sydney merchants to secure a direct through service between that city and San Francisco was the originating cause of this uncertainty ; and the influence they could command in the House induced the Government of Sir John Robertson to regard their project with favour, and, for a brief time, it looked as if they would succeed. But the reign of this Administration was shortlived, and was succeeded by that of Sir Patrick Jennings, by whom the service was regarded in a different and broader light. Meanwhile the contracting companies very wisely resolved to send their steamers right through from each terminus of the line, without making a break a Honolulu, as was originally intended, and thus removed one of the grounds of objection entertained at Sydney towards the service. All difficulties, whether of a political or commercial nature, having been thus obviated, the contract appears to have at last been agreed to without hesitation and with apparent cordiality.