STEAM COMMUNICATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 313, 28 November 1857, Page 4

STEAM COMMUNICATION.

The following letter is published, at the request of his Honor the Superintendent, for general information : — Co'onial Secretary's Office, Auckland, September 14th, 1857. Sir— l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 31, of the Bih ultimo, on the subject of the extension of an luter-Provin-cial Steam Service to Otago. The Government entirely concurs in the sentiments entertained by the people of Otago on this subject, and believes that it is both essential to the public interests of the Colony, and just to that Province, that it should he included in the general system of New Zealand Steam Communication, and I desire to assure your Honor that no exertions have been, or will be, spared by the present Minis, try to attain this object. As I believe that the circumstances in connection with this question are not exactly understood, I will refer shortly to the arrangements which have heretofore been made with respect to the InterProvincial Steam Service in New Zealand. Shortly after the arrival of the steamer " Nelson," I, as Superintendent of Nelson, in concert with the Superintendent of Wellington, made arrangements with the agents of that steamer which provided for Otago being visited "at least once in three trips." With this agreement the then General Government had nothing to do, and the subsequent resolution of the House of Representatives in the Session of 1854 had merely the effect of repaying to the Province of Nelson the amount which, under the terms of my contract with the " Nelson," had been advanced from the Treasury of that Province. The steamer ran under the terms of that contract for the whole timeduring which she was employed in the Inter- Provincial Service, was bound by it only, and looked to the Nelson Government for, and received from it alone, the suhsidy paid her. I may here observe that when the terms of the contract with her were under discussion, both the Superintendent of Wellington and' myself endeavoured to arrange that Otago should be visited as often as any other Province ; but, chiefly from a belief on the part of the agents of that vessel that but few passengers and goods would be forwarded by her between the other portions of the Colony and Otago, (the greater portion of the trade of that Province being with Australia,) they could not be prevailed upon to agree that she should absolutely run to Otago every trip, but reserved to themselves the right of determining how often she nvght go there, subject to the condition thaj; it should not be less than once in three trips. ' y When the " Nelson" was withdrawn- rrora the New Zealand service the then Gen.er.al Goyernment made an agreement; with the " Zingari" to continue it, much on the same terms as the '«« Nelson" was hound by, except that Otago. was left out. This, I believe, arose from the absolute' refusal of the agents of the "Zingari" to permit her to visit Otago. , The contract with the " Zingari" having expired during the Ja«t wspion of, the General Assembly, it was extended for «x months on exactly* the same terms by the Governmen^of M r. Fox, which immediately preceded the present one, and

further renewed fro'ui< month to month until she left in May. So far, therefore, it will be observed that the present Ministry had nothing to do with the feet that Otago was excluded from the benefit of steam communication with the rest of the colony, and that what communication of .that kind it has already had is attributable to myself in conjunction with Dr. Featherstone, in our capacity of Superintendents. When the" "Zingari" became, from want of repairs, xinfit to continue-in the service, the Government contracted with the " Wonga Wonga" to make two trips with the mails, and was most anxious that Otago should be visited ; but, as the principal object of the owners in sending her to the South was to offer her for sale there, she was not allowed to go further than Canterbury, and it was *- with some difficulty that it was even agreed that i%he should call there twice. Every effort which the present Ministry have made for the establishment of a steam service for New Zealand has included Otago within the circle of ports to be visited ; the three agents, Mr. Sewell, Dr. Campbell, and Mr. Dillon Bel!, who have severally been commissioned to arrange for the above ' service, have all received instructions to that effect, and every advertisement issued by the Government, either for a joint Inter-Colonial and Inter-Provin-cial Service, or for Inter-Provincial Service only, has included Otago ; while at the same time the Government have intimated that they would prefer that line which would ensure that Otago and Manakau should alternately be the first port of arrival and the last of departure between New Zealand and Australia. Hitherto no tender which, could possibly be accepted, having regard to the funds probably available, has been leceived, mainly, if not indeed entirely, from the fact that there are not at present in these seas sufficient steamers suitable for the service to ensure competition ; and accordingly the Australian Steam Navigation Company has alone tendered, and has asked no less than £30,000 per annum, with, other restrictive conditions, for the joint service to which I have referred. Under these circumstances the Government has not been able up to the present moment to make any arrangement for a New Zealand Steam Service, and all the Provinces are now in this respect iv a similar position with Otago. The Government will, however, not remit its exertions to establish a permanent and efficient Steam Service ; and your Honor and the people of Otago may rely that if the present Government are enabled to establish that service, Otago will most certainly be included amongst the places to be visited. As I observe from the local papers that some misconception exists with respect to the part which the present Govern ment has taken in connection with the Steam question, may I request that your Honor will be good enough to let the above circumstances be fully known. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your very obedient servant, E. W. Stafford. His Honor the Superintendent of Otago.