THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 68, 3 February 1862, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd, 1862.

Tub Wellington Government lias refused the vnticin^ offers of the contractors to curry down the English Mail immediately on arrival at Melbourne for the trifling subsidy of £3000, even although, as a make-weight, the prompt that the " Aldinga" should be enlisted in the service was thrown in. Yet the refusal arose from no lack of appreciation of the value of fin efficient Mai! service, nor from any disinclination to pay the expense of securing one. On the contrary, the utmost desire was manifested to secure for Wellington a useful Mail Service, but the place is fortunate enough to possess :i Chamber of Commerce, which interests itself in matters commercial, and a Superintendent and an Executive that possess some knowledge of postal arrangements. Tlie consequence was, the value of the offer ivus correctly gunged. Almost in the words we have so frequently endeavoured to impress on the commerci-il community of Dunedin, the Wellington livlapendmU referring to the rejretion of the offer, says, "Of the advantages of steam communication there is little need to write, but we may say, that the mere fact of getting the European Mails a few days earlier is one of the least important, without it accelerates the course of post, which it would not." Duiu'diti and Canterbury, not so wise in their generation as their less pretentious, but certainly more painstaking, neighbor, have entered into contracts for bringing the English Mail down—contracts which are utterly valueless, since no provision is made for reruining the mails at the latest date". Contrasted with these contracts, it really is quite refreshing to notice the energy with which the people of Wellington entered into the matter, and the prudence with which they avoided being attracted into a bad bargain. Careless indifference prompted Canterbury and Uunedin into making a contract; judgment and discrimination kept Wellington out. of one. Not that Dunedin has anything to regret in a pecuniary point of view ; the contractors are fully entitled to the paltry subsidy of £800 for six months—for past services if for nothing else. But what JDunedin should be ashamed of it, that it should have to go to a neighbor far less fortunate than itseif to understand the duties and advantages ofils own position. The Superintendent of Wellington (but for a technical difficulty that occurred in assem-

bling some of the members of the Council) was to have gone immediately to Canterbury to arrange, not for the entering into a contract for a direct mail from Melbourne, but to arrange a weekly or three-times-a-monthly service between Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago. Let the mercantile community of Dunedin learn what is the estimation in which the place they neglect is held by their northern neighbor Wellington. We quote from the Independent: — Looking to what Ofago is d:ii!y becoming, and believino- that, in its marvellous prosperity it will-.com-paratively outrival Melbourne, many of the inducements which formerly rendered direct communication with Melbourne urgent are much lessened; we are tiifiivfoi-n inclined to think that a steamer between Otasro, C:iTi?;-:lmi-y, and Wellington would be in many reaper:; pivierabk", ;md a subsidy which might iust.lv be thought too hijh for a monthly communication with Melbourne viit tin; South, might be well spent in subsidizing a steamer for two or threo trips a month to the South only.

In a late paper from Nelson we notice similar remarks. " Dutiedin," it said, " was bound to become the Melbourne of New Zealand." Will not the merchants of that fortunate place accept the position that thus freely and without envy or jealousy is offered them. To be the mercantile capital, the commercial centre of" the Great Britain of the Southern hemisphere," is no inconsiderable position for a city that two or three years ago was a village. But nohUsse oblige, and those who prove themselves unequal to their position have no right to complain if that position is lost to them. Dunedin as yet enjoys unminglcd fortune. The chalice from which it imbibes isfilied with sweets alone; but a reverse may come, and in the hour of adversity it'may look back with bitter regret to theopportnnitieslost,thcadvantages neglected. A goldfish! ma}'breakout in any of the neighboring Provinces, and Dunedin find that it luis lost for ever the chance of maintaining itself as the commercial capital of the colom-. But if it availed itself of its present opportunities, the other Provinces might turn out to be one vast gold-field, and Dunetlin's commercial supremacy be not disturbed. The recognized centre of commerce, it would benefit by the advancement of its neighbors. Suppose it to have secured, by proper contracts, a mail service, that making Dunedin the starting point, gave the fullest postal facilities to the whole colony. Its position, as a commercial capital, would at once be recognized ; it would have proved itself entitled to it. Again we urge on the Merchants of Dunedin" to take energetic action to induce the Government to secure a twice-a-month service with Melbourne, to bring on at the earliest and return at the latest moment the English n;aijs, and a weekly communication with the Northern Provinces.

THE RUMOURED WAR

We make the subjoined extracts from the Melbourne papers, b3> which it will be seen that the apprehensions entertained there are rather in excess of what was anticipated. The paragraph concerning tha war insurance significantly bears out the tenor of remarks lately '■ made in these columns. The Melbourne offices consider the two ])!.t cent, risk was " only to apply to the 31st December, and ask four per cent, additional for war-risk on car goes to Europe, and one per cent, additional to New Zealand. The alteration in the route of the Great Britain—which steamer, in consequence of the war rumours, is going home by way of the Cape of Good Hope instead of Cape ilorn—is a noticeable circumstance. Still, taking everything into consideration, we see no reason to alter the opinion expressed in Saturday's issue. There is little danger of war being regularly declared between England anil America but considerable risk that private ring expeditions may be fitted out. from California. A leader of a filibustering expedition of the bind would be perfectly irresponsible. The risk he runs in case of capture he knows, bui he would think himself safe in chancing it. Supposing th it war be not declared, and England ask for compensation for injuries done by vessels sailing under the United States flag, America has only to disown them, or perhaps even.by n double stroke of policy say they were Confederate Privateers. If you can catch them hang them as pirates. Mr. Sew ard will toll our Aml>a-s:idor. Hut what chance of catching them can there he when they can run into scores of ports on the west coa-.t of North and South America and I abandon their vessels? O.ie pr-z» of a gold "* freighted r-hip would cover the cost of halt' a dozen vessels. Another aspect of the case, which has not '" been considered, is that it is quite likely before ' the rumour of war Ik'twcen England and -~ America, that privateering expeditions were ■, preparing in the California!) waters. It was no secret that England was fit!ing out a hostile "' expedition to Mexico,' and that the Federal states bad shown no inclination to j;>in the convention ol allied powersihat was being formed f to insist on redress of Mexican outrages. We • may easily fancy enterprising dashing American captains proposing k> sail under " Mexican letters ol'marqueto the South Pacific waters, and, after making a capture of one or - two gold-ships, to escape to a 8011 th American pon and laugh at pursuit. These will bcihe very men to avail themselves of the sk-ndersst rumour of war between England and America. True, they might have no formal American or Mexican commission, but they would consider they had a little authority from each nation, and for the rest, the fleet ness of their ships and the chances of rich booty, would elo away with any nice scruples they might be troubled with. War or no war with America, a privateering expedition ■ t is a quite likely visitant, ami it is by .no means consolatory to know that neigh--1 bouriug Colonies are taking ofiijient precautions to guard against the dangers to their ports, so that they will be able to play the ; game ol "he's none of my child," to a hostile . expedition, whilst the New Zealand Ports f will offer every inducement to a visit. " "When the works in Llobsou's Ba}' are completed," says Mr. llaines, " which will be in ten or twelve weeks, no privateer or small force would venture into the Bay." We wish we 1 could observe the slightest indication that the works which would place the entrance to Duuedin in an efficient state of defence, and 1 which could be completed in an equally short, ,if not shorter time, were about to be con- ; structed. Probably the head of the Government, Sir George Grey, has hardly yet heard of th.; intelligence brought by the last mail. The following are the extracts referred to : — The danger now is the presence of a single privateer . among our bay shipping, or the visit of a s-iiuulivn, u'lichc" cannon nr.ght exact a contribution iVoui the denizens of tin; Australian metropolis. It is ridiculous to say tliafc suck an incident won't happen. If we are at war —and it is quite possible that wo are— what is there improbable in such a contingency. Privateering has not j;one out of fashion, notwithstanding the Conference of l'uris, and we all know Unit San b'runeisuo is full oi'boltl spirits, wlio.se thirst for gain and adventure would desire nothing batter than an expedition of this kind. It would take iw great time, trouble, or publicity, to equip a small but powerfully armed fleet fora buccaneering descent on tlie other gold country. Look at the secrecy and rapidity with which some of the tillibustsring flotillas were'despatched from the American seaports, which have always an abundance of suitable vessels —always an abundance unsuitable men. ]3ntit is superfluous to talk of the power of aocresy on the presei ■ occasion. Perhaps before the friends or agents of our Government within the Union could transmit warning of such a project to thise colonies —nay, even j as .soon as the announcement of a declaration of war could itu'-h us. those hostile intiji'lopers mii-ht (Imp a.ichor in Hobson's Bay. The tclegmph has superseded the pony express in the desert wh eh divides tlu Atlantic and Pacific States; foui-days will now bear a lnessajre from Washing-ton o;1 New York to tian FiTi-iei*co,";md it is only a two month-!' voyage from San l-YaiicHco hither in a sailing vessel, and less than a mouth by steam. Mat-tars might be got ready beforehand, and orders for a squadron to sail, whether on the Government or 011 private account, mfoht promptly follow in California, the news of war. We may or may not have such a visit, and we may have it any moment.; nad tiiu question is, aye wo ready to receive it with all prop;!' irv.ioi'S? The Russian frigate, the Swctlauu, came in the other J day, and she v/as abreast of our shore, and in the

centre of our shipping, before anybody knew anything about it, and then there was not even a gun at hand to return her salute. Our Victorian volunteers, curious to inspect the Swetlana, have been treated by her gallant crew to cigars and sherry, not to eauisdir and round shot; but if it hail been rm enemy's vf»-t;i —and an enemy's vessel might enter as easily—how exceedingly foolish we should have looked ! — Agit. " Tlie news brought by the la.st mail of thu seizure of the Confederate commissioners on board the West India mail steamer, coupled with a report that friendly relations between England and the United States had actually been suspended, caused considerable excitement, which was not lessened by the reception by the Hank uf Australasia of the 'following telegram from the head oih'ee in London.—' London, 3ntl December, 1301.—Probability of war with Federal States of America. War premium of insurance; vessels already sailed frmu Australia, one per cent. ; to sail before :ilst Dcuumhar, two per cent,.' All this h;\s; givfcti an additional interest to tl)3 question of our defences, which lias been brought before the House more than ouee : and on Wednesday, Mr. Haiues said—' tie had that day been in communication with the engineer officer in charge of the defensive works, and lie was able to say that it was tho opinion of the military authorities that no large body of troops would ever be sent here by an ensmy. The danger was from a small force or n privateer, and when the works in Hobsoii's Bay were completed—which would be thy case within "ten or twelve weeks —no privateer or small force would venture into tho bay.' On the same evening, a vote of .£42,SjO for these and other military works, was agreed to."— Argus. " The war risk on marine insurance has been asked in this colony—four per cent, additional for cargoes to Europe, and one percent, additional fur New Zealand. The several companies taking the marine risks are for the present awaiting farther advices. We do not hear of any war risks having been taken, but in the eveat of insurance, the extra premium would be required. Some of the insurance offices, it is understood, have entered into special arrangements, which place them on tlio same footing as the English underwriters with regard to the price of the war risk, and to tho date of its imposition."— lbid. " The Great Britain, which sails in the course of the following week, proceeds by way of the Gape of Grood Hope on this voyage, the alteration of her route having been occasioned iiy the supposed probability of hostilities with the Federal States of America."