THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3148, 9 March 1872, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

(Melbourne. Argus.)

Some of the New Zealand 'papers'i'appear to j misunderstand the sentiments entertained.by this journal towards the Pacific mail service. Because we felt it to be our duty to censure the original Panama project—the failure of which fully justified the exceptions we took to it—it is erroneously concluded that we are adverse to the Califorcrian line of mail steamers. So far from this having been the case, we have repeatedly taken occasion during the last five years to recommend the grant of a subsidy by this Government to a niail service via San Fraucisco ; and if at the same time we have felt called upon to criticise the performances of the competing! lives of steamers, this circumstance by no means j renders us indifferent—much less hostile— to any reasonable proposition for assistance which may be addressed to this Government. It is true that, .in so far as a Californian mail service is concerned, events have greatly diminished ths value of this mode of transit since September last. The opening of'the Mont Cniis tunnel has shortened the distance which separates us from England by twentyfour hours. We bave seen, in two or three instances, when the boats of the P. and 0. Company chose to " put on a spxirt,". that they could accelerate the conveyance bf the mails in a material degree; while it is very well known to those who have made 'the voyage, that by avoiding the detentions which now occur at .Galki, and Alexandria or Suez, four idays, might .be saved r .on the journey. Thus, then, we may look forward, sooner or later, to so rapid a transit of letters between Australia and England via Suez, as to preclude the possibility of sue-

cessful competition by any other route; even admitting that the establishment' of new railway lines, by which a direct communication should be opened up between Halifax and San Francisco, should have the anticipated effect of shortening by four days the period of time occupied in transmitting a letter from Liverpool to Melbourne, or Sydney via North America.

The grounds upon which we have hitherto supported the proposition for offering a moderate subsidy to a Californian line of steamez-s, was upon the ground that they would in all probability prove to be the pioneers of commerce between the United States and these colonies. We ventured to prognosticate many months ago that America would relax her protectionist policy, and endeavour to regain that foreign trade which her fiscal follies have gone far to destroy. We pointed out, before ever an American buyer of wool appeared in Melbourne or Sydney, that the peculiar character of the American staple and the exigencies of the manufacturers would bring the latter into our own markets, and that their rivalry with English and Continental buyers must be favourable to the woolgrowers of Australia. This has. actually taken place, and as there appears to be every disposition on the part of President. Grant's Administration to modify the tariff of the United States, and to bring it more into harmony with the principles of common sense and with the true interests of the American people, we hope to see our commercial relations with that country extending year by year. It is in view of this auspicious prospect that we have been anxious for the establishment of a regular line of steamers between Australia and California, and that we have believed, and still believe, it would be good policy for the Legislature of this colony to contribute a moderate subsidy to whatever company is best qualified to perform the work with punctuality, regularity, and efficiency.