THE The Otago Times. Inveniam viam aut faciam."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 273, 4 November 1862, Page 4

THE The Otago Times. Inveniam viam aut faciam."

DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4,

In a play called, we believe, u Nan, the Good-for-jSTothing,"' two characters are represented, both of an exceedingly impulsive nature. But there is a marked difference between them. The one always starts off at a violent rate, but gradually, as he proceeds, becomes more subdued, until at last he entirely dies out. The other commences in an exceedingly mild manner, but gradually, warms up, until he ends iv violent earnest. The one commences in a passion, and ends mildly. The other commences mildly, and ends in a passion. The Otago Chamber of Commerce reminds us of the first, the Auckland Chamber of the second. The one commences anything it takes in hand with an appearance of downright earnestness and determination which would appear to be irresistible, but speedily exhausts itself, and a reaction of utter apathy ensues. The other—the Auckland Chamber—commencing in a very moderate manner, gradually warms to its subject, and seldom leaves it without having worked it up to its utmost pitch.

The Committee of the Otago Chamber lately elecied set to work, with an earnestness and zeal that led us to look for great results. The letter treating on Mr. Ward's proposed postal arrangements was really a model of clear reasoning and temperate writing; and we are able to say that it has beea much thought of by those withfwhom its ultimate consideration rested. Contrasted with the action taken by the Wellington Chamber, the committee of which, after deliberating some time on the matter, simply und stolidly affirmed the opinion, that the Melbourne steamer should go on to Wellington, without any reference to the convenience of the rest of the colony, the cosmopolitan tone of the Otago Chamber stands out in bright relief. The Committee next took up with considerable vigour the Panama Route question, and handled it with energy, and apparent earnestness. A course of action was agreed tipon, and everything seemed in a fair way. when the efforts of the Chamber suddenly collapsed ; at the next meeting there was not even a quorum, and the matter appeared to have become forgotten.

The Auckland Chamber, on the other hand, has commenced where the Otago Chamber left off. A lengthened meeting was held, a report of which appears in another column, in which the speakers, after fiercely denouncing Otago's pretensions and advocating their own, with no superfluous modesty, concluded to call a special meeting to take the subject into .further consideration. In the course of the discussion the speakers displayed a singh-mindedness that partookof the sublime. They were determined to consider the Panama question, in reference to its relation to Auckland, and they did consider it accordingly. No thought of any other Pro- ] vince was allowed to disturb the serene depth. of the devotion they deemed they owed:to^ their own. .Ant Aucklaud aut.nullus. If Auckland were not to be the Port of Call, then they did not want a Panama route. They talked . awayY until '.-_ at at last they seemed to think that Auckland was New Zealand, and the Chairman finally gave effect to the notion in words :—-".The whole Panama Question" he said " was ;t summed up in a few words. 'There would "be offered on behalf> of this Province "£30,000, and if Queensland and other, j " cities in Australia give their quota, the sub-1 "ject would be taken up." Could the force of impudence further go. The appropriation made by Act of the General Legislature, to be defrayed out of the funds of the General Revenue, to which Auckland contributes some few shillings in the pound, was an offering on behalf of the Auckland Province. No word was said of any special appropriation by the Province itself—the speakers considered the £30,000 was-an Auckland offering. The members of the Otago Chamber of Commerce in recommending Otago as the port of call, adduced arguments whiph they conceived i proved that the choice would bo beaoftcial. to

the rest of the Proviuce. They did not deny that their own Province would derive special benefit, but in consideration of this they proposed that the Provincial Legislature should supplement the General Government subsidy, or provide the whole sum if the other course could not be adopted. But the members of the Auckland Chamber neither cared for the convenience of the rest of the Colony, nor "did they propose, in consideration of the special advantage they coveted, to defray one penny of the expense. The £30,000 voted by the General Government was an offering on behalf of Auckland, in their eyes; and, in so many words, they expressed as much.

We will, on another occasion, glance through their estimates of time and distance, meanwhile it is sufficient to state that they are fallacious from beginning to end. By way of Otago they would not be so many days from Engfand as they seemed to conceive they would be if the Panama steamers were to call directly at Auckland. In regard to distances, they made their computations by direct lines, instead of reckoning the divergences necessitated by the winds and currents. Otago, by the route that would have to be pursued, is considerably nearer to Panama on the up-line, whilst Auckland is nearer on the down-line. The one requires a southerly, the other a northerly track to be taken. The difference in time between the up and down routes would be considerable if Auckland were the port; whilst with Otago they would consume as nearly as possible the same time. With Otago as the port, the service could be performed many thousand pounds a year cheaper, whilst the colony would also have the advantage of lines of steamers from the Australian ports subsided by the Australian Governments. With Otago as the port Victoria could avail itself of the Panama route; with Auckland it would find it useless. Ota >•.-, would be a far more convenient port to 113 other provinces of New Zealand than Auckland. And finally, if Otago were not the port the Panama steamers could not make 2few Zealand their terminus. They would simply touch at Auckland and proceed to Sydney, and Sydney would be the terminus. All the advantages of passenger and goods traffic, and of steamers running to connect with the Panama line, would be thus lost to New Zealand. Instead of the latter being the contractor it would he subordinate to New South Wales. And all these disadvantages for what ? Because Auckland may get its letters a few days earlier, and dispatch them a few days later than the other Provinces. "It was absurd," said one speaker, "that Auckland should '• have to make up its mails so very much " earlier than those from Otago." And so, to gratify Auckland exclu'siveness, that already monopolises three - fourths of the Genera! Revenue, the rest of the colony is to be ignored, and the chief advantages of the Panama line passed to auother colony. Commercial considerations, not political influence, should be allowed to guide a matter of this sort ; and when it is remembered that Auckland trade h so small, that a single steamer between it and Australia requires to be subsidised to the the tune of £14,000, it must be evident that in making. Auckland the Port, the expense of conveying the mails to and from that point from' other parts, will be enormous, whereas with Otago the trade is sufficient to induce steamers to run for little or no subsidy.