STEAM AT LAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 316, 19 December 1857, Page 5

STEAM AT LAST.

(From the Ly Helton Times, Bee. 9.) 'By. a letter which appears in our columns to-day, undressed by Mr. Gibbs, the manager of the New Zealand and Australian Mail Steam Navigation Company, to His Honor the Superintendent, it would appear that we may place confidence in the news conveyed by the Wellington Independent of the 28th ult. Mr. Sewell has been as successful in this business as in that portion of his mission which related to finance ; and if the terms on which he has made the arrangement are correctly reported by the Independent, he has certainly made a most satisfactory bargain. We have only space to add that, as well as we can make out from the plan accompanying the letter addressed to the Superintendent, the routes are to be as follows : — The Australian steamer to leave Sydney and Melbourne alternately for Auckland, and to proceed from Auckland to Wellington. The branch provincial steamers to leave Wellington, the one for the southward trip to Canterbury, Otago, and the Bluff; and back to Wellington ; the other northwards to Nelson, New Plymouth, Manukau, and back. No details have come to hand to enable us to give more accurate information. We copy the following paragraph from the Wellington Independent) of the 28th ult : — We stop the Press to announce that the Imperial Government and Mr. Sewell completed arrangements on the 16th September, with the New Zealand and Australian Mail Steam Navigation Company—(Capt. Gibbs, Manager) for the establishment of Inter-Colonial and Inter- Provincial Steam. Two vessels of 800 tons and 200 horse power, to run between Australia and New Zealand, and two vessels of 500 tons and 100 horse power, to branch from Wellington North and South. The cost £20,000 per annum ; £12,000 to be paid by the Imperial Government, and £8000 by the Colony. And we are authorised to publish the following letter, which conveys authentic though not exactly ample information on the subject : — The New Zealand and Australian Mail Steam Navigation Company, Limited. 15, St. Mary Axe, London. 16th Sept., 1857. To His Honor the Superintendent, Canterbury. Sir, — I beg to inform you that the above Company has this day completed arrangements with the Imperial Government, and with Mr. Sewell on behalf of that of New Zealand, for the conveyance of Her Majesty/s Mails between New Zealand, Australia, and the different Provinces of the first-named Colony ; and furthermore, that the necessary steam-, ships will be despatched to the Colony with as I ' little delay as possible, to assume their various stations. I have the honor, &c, (Signed) Fredx. F. Gihbs, Manager.