TRADE AND TRAVEL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4316, 27 March 1901, Page 4

TRADE AND TRAVEL.

This week has witnessed a noiseless, but nqno the less important change in- tve relations between New.,Zealand and trans-Pdcific, trade, aiid travelling facilities. The Union Steam Ship Company, which has hitherto been associated in the running'of the mail-steamers between this country and San Francisco, has severed its connection with that line, and is now acting as agent for .the steam sendee, between. Australia and Vancouver—the “all-red” mail route. The local company may be relied upon to do its utmost to secure a traffic that ought not ho be absorbed by a. foreign steamship service to the exclusion of all others. Apparently, no effort is to be spared to render the new service as efficient and expeditious as, and even

more' Comfortable than,, its heavily subsidised rival, the Vancouver service, now existing between Australia and the western shore of Canada, the AVarrimoo will be replaced by the Mo- j ana, which was, as many well know, the favourite ship in. tho San hrancisco line, when tho Union Company was interested in that service. Wo also learn that tho other steamerc to be engaged in the New Zealand - Australia-Caua-dian service will bo so re-modelled, over-

hauled and replenished as to render the Vancouver boats second to none among passenger-traffic steamers. In view of this change, Air V iilmm Stitt, assistant general passenger a gear of the Canadian-Pacific Railway Company, at Winnipeg, is on a visit to these colonies, and since ms arrival in New Zealand has been in close consultation with the various managers of tho Union Steam Ship Company. -Having regard to all tho conditions of the sendee, and the facilities and ramifications of the Union Company, in Australia, and this country, it is tho opinion of Sir Stitt that the company will ho in a batter position than ever to take cr.ro of the European ‘ travel by way m ,-..e American Continent. In this connec-

tion it may he pointed out that tho! Canadian-Pacific Railway has a groat advantage over all other lines in -iincricn, inasmuch as it has its own track from tho Pacific to the Atlantic, ami is thus enabled to run through trains' from ocean to ocean without putting travellers to the inconvenience of changing. There is said to b<s less trouble in making a trip to Great Britain- by this railroad than by any other. The Moana will run alongside the railway lino at Vancouver; and, as the company has made such a; will enable luggage to be checked on hoard, passengers have only to step from the steamer’s gangway to tho wcll- , furnished oar awaiting their arrival.

So complete have the arrangements been made under the supervision .of Mr Stitt, that accommodation on the Atlantic HneVs to England is reserved for passengers, without feo, as soon as the steamer arrives at Vancouver. Travellers are thus saved the , worry and annoyance or applying for berths at the railway journey’s end, and are able to enjoy the scenery through which the railroad passes. It is well-known that the scenery on the Canadian route far surpasses that of any other in grandeur and effect. There is a stretch of sis hundred miles of mountain scenery, which includes views of glaciers, canoiis And cataracts, scarcely equalled auywhero in the world. Then there is the deep fotest glade and the wide expanse of prairie, together 'with the lake and river scenery, culminating in'a' picturesque view of the famous Falls of Niagara. With respect to the popularity of, the line, there is little question. Though it is only fourteen years since the line from, the-Atlantic to the Pacific coast was fopened, the company 'has built Up an immense traffic with japan and China, owning its own steamers in that service, as well ns on the great lakes of the Continent. In order, toe,’ to facilitate ‘the traffic of the coming summer over '.the, north-* ern hemisphere, the Canadian-Pacific Hallway Company will daily put on two trains to cross the Continent from both ends, and each train will he equipped to iqilv'the distance - of‘throe - thousand miles, without inconvenience or .delay. Unquestionably the resource and enterprise of the Canadians is remarkable, and it is confidently expected that the Vancouver route will in a very short time be more desirable and 'popular than any other service extant. Meantime the Union Company has rendered this country and its people admirable service, and it is to bo hoped that, the Postmaster - General will bo. able to offer to the company an opportunity of sharing in the mail-con-tract, and thus remove the anomaly of having British mails and merchandise "carried .in ships subsidised by a foreign country to the disadvantage of our own.