THE SAN FRANCISCO STEAMERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4268, 24 November 1874, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO STEAMERS.

(From the Canterbury Press, Nov. 6.) Hitherto the Government of New South Wales have loyally maintained their alliance with NewZealand,notwithstanding the pressure that has been put upon them in the opposite direction. But .they cannot be expected to adhere to a partnership, the terms of which subject them to a loss. The inclusion of New Zealand in the contract magnifies the expense by about 50 per cent. ; the question is, whether the assistance of New Zealand is of sufficient importance to be worth the extra cost. Would not New South Wales, all things considered, make a better bargain by talcing the whole contract at a reduced rate, than by sharing it •with New Zealand at a greatly increased rate ? For instance, if a purely Australian line from Sydney to San Francisco could be maintained for £60,000 a year, while the “fork” line, serving New Zealand equally with New South Wales, could not be worked for less than £90,000, it might be worth while for New South Wales to prefer the former. She would have to pay £15,000 a year more, but she would have a service arranged entirely to suit her interests and under her sole management. For our own part we are inclined to think it would be better for New Zealand also. An agreement with the contractors to run a branch boat from the Fijis, and with the New South Wales Government to cany our mails to and from San Francisco, would answer every purpose, and would be much leas expensive than a half share in the whole contract. If, however, New Zealand must be on the main line, and therefore must be a party to the contract, she ought to be content with the delivery of her mails at Auckland. There* would be no difficulty in engaging local boats for' the interprovincial work. The result would be that, without any sacrifice of speed or regularity in the transmission and distribution of the mails, we should secure a great diminution of the expense. No benefit is gained by compelling the ocean going steamers to come south to Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers ; certainly none that is in any respect an equivalent for the additional charge the colony is required to pay for it.