LOCAL STEAM NAVIGATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 119, 27 August 1853, Page 1

LOCAL STEAM NAVIGATION.

(From the Xehon Examiner, July 9.) A few weeks ago we communicated the pleasing intelligence that Messrs. Willie, of London, were about to despatch two steam vessels for this colony, with the intention that they should ply on the coast of New Zealand ; and that the first vessel, the " Nelson," was to leave England early in July. Since making the above announcement, additional particulars respecting the nr%>osed undertaking have come to our knowi'eii^e, which we shaH now lay before our readers. It appears then, that the well-known shipping house of Messrs. Willis, of London, has for some time past been engaged in forming a company to give New Zealand local steam navigation, and that these plans were sufficiently matured towards the end of last year to induce them to despatch an agent to the colony to visit all the settlements, and make the necessary arrangements for employing the vessels on their arrival. Captain Williams, the gentleman selected as the agent of the Company, arrived in Auckland in the Cashmere on the 9th of May, anJ after remaining there a fortnight, came on to Wellington in the Government brig.

, There is no public statement, as far as we have seen, of the manner in which the proposed establishment of local steam navigation was received by the mercantile community of Auckland, but we have been told that it was viewed favourably; and the opinion was, that on the arrival of the second vessel from England, she should be employed in running between that port and Melbourne. In Wellington, however, the question was taken up in a much more public manner. A meeting of the principal merchants and traders was held, to whom Captain Williams was introduced by Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, when that gentleman stated, as far as be was able, the intentions of his employers.

It now becomes our duty to dissipate in some degree the pleasing anticipations which this announcement of an intended local steam navigation had given rise to amongst us. We find that the Company which was in course of formation in England has been entirely broken up ; and that although one vessel, the " Nelson," will be despatched, for the colony, she will not be followed by a second; and that the " Nelson," on her arrival here, will be for sale. Whether or not the owners of this vessel will be induced to run her on the coast of New Zealand, provided profitable employment can be found for her, we are unable to say, or whether under any circumstances she must be disposed of, either in this or the'neighbouring colonies. We believe, however, that, with reasonable encouragement, the experiment of keeping her on this coast will be made.

The fact, then, stands thus. On or about the Ist of July, a splendid new iron steamer of 320 tons, fitted wijth a screw propellor, with engines of 70 horse power, and built in the Clyde expressly for the New Zealand coast, will leave England for Nelson direct. The cost of this vessel by the time she arrives in the colony will be about £10,000, and on her arrival hero it is intended that she shall be offered for sale ; and if a purchaser is not found, the probability is that she will have to leave the colony. As a very short time will now elapse before the " Nelson" will be here (for if punctual to her time of sailing she is now on her way, and may be looked for early in October), we think the colonists of New Zealand should not run the risk of losing the services of such a vessel, and that they should, lose no time in taking meas-

ures to retain her in the colony. In the event of its being shown pretty clearly that the vessel could find profitable employment here, there would, we imagine, be little difficulty in finding purchasers for her, should her owners refuse to sell her on their own account. At the meetingat Wellington, to which we have already alluded, it was suggested that the Government should give a bonus of £5,000 (to be afterwards diminished yearly), and dispense with the Government brig, which at present is costing the colony certainly not less than £2,000 annually. Suppose the General Council to he sitting at the time the " Nelson" arrives, the question of such a grant may then be brought under its notice ; and should such not be the case, the proprietors, whoever they may be, will at all events be able to treat with the various Provincial Legislatures, which by that time will,, we imagine, be called into existence. Supposing that parties in Nelson become the pm Ichasers of the vessel, or that in conjunction with others they become the owneis of her, and that Nelson was allowed to be her head-quarters,, then, we conceive, an application to the Board of Trustees f»r assistance from the Nelson Steam Fund would be favourably received ; and either in the way of a yearly bonus or a positive grant, some aid from this Fund might fairly be calculated upon. These are intended as mere suggestions; but we were anxious to make known the real circumstances under which the " Nelson" will arrive in New Zealand, and to stimulate, if possible, an effort to secure her services for the colony ; and we hope that we shall see the subject taken up in a proper manner.