THE STEAM POSTAL SERVICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 571, 8 November 1862, Page 7

THE STEAM POSTAL SERVICE.

MEETING OT? THE AUCKLAND CUAMBEU OF COMMERCE.

"We extract from tho Daily Southern Cross the following report of the meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on the subject of the Steam Postal Service : —

Mr Hsirrop snid he would beg permission to real a few e> tracts he had collected upon the postal service, and introduce gome few remarks taken from the speeches insde on the subject ia the House of Com mons, An inquiry into the postal arrangements of this country was no new thing v The Parliament of Great Britain had movt-d at various timps for an inquiry intathe postal arrangements with India. China Australia and NewZ^aland; but, unfortunately, he had not been able to lay his hands upon the Blue-book containing the evidence collected by the House of Commons during the sitting of the committee in the session 1851. Lord Jocelyn in big speech Hated,

I " That iis any question where the colonial interest nas alleotal. ih. r.> were no less than four dep lrtmunts by wlii.:li enquiry cmi'd he instituted. First the eolo. ml lepiit tmetit, then the creasury then the post office, and, lu-tly, the admiralty. During the la t eight year», the qiustiou ot steam communication with Australia had b-en at vaiious times liei'ore I the puli'ic, i'lid various ruitcs propped. The first 1 one opening no a line nf eomiiunication between the , wosfcern oaat of the Nthmus or' P.i««»ii.'k and Australia, by wiyof Gil.ipag<w, T.iliiii. aid Now Zeala d, by winch .he journey wou'd be performed in sixtyfour ('ays. He felt strongly that there could be no lung more important for our c Jovial interests than ti:it wibe and judici.ms amusement*) should be entered into fo,- rapid mid g, n-ral inter-couiinunication with eveiy part of the empire " After the expiration ot me contiact for cir'-yinj! the mails per packets to the Australian colonies, about Fehruarv 4th, 1848, there had been no new contract entered into, and 110 regular communication with the colony up to March, 1851. Lord ,Vais iv the same debate sajd, The interminable dehy» had, he understood, ludiwJ certain partie* amone the colonists to appeal to the tfoverninent of Hi^ United States of America to put on steamers between Panama and Sydnoy." in consequence »f the I >ss of the steamer-, White Swan and Lord Won>U>y, and the arrangements the Postmaster-General was makiiur with reference to a {.o^tal line of c unmuni -ation via P.unina, an opro •- tunity whs afforded the Cliainb r of considering the postal service geneialiy. and thd advanra^ei th-i city and province of Au-klaml would deiive from ihe Panama Route Postal Act, 18G2. Had the honorable Crosbie Ward returned to Auckland from the South, it, would have been ns wed to li.ive appointed a c-MnmiUeo to wait upon him on (he subject. But, such 1101 b-inar the cn«<, he would point out : — Ist, Hut nny new postai seruee to be e.tihlished bi-twean New Z aland and Great Britain, via Panama, having its port of an ival ami depu-ture other tlitu at Auckland, would not In; beneficiil to the merchants or public generally. 2nd, It would not be more expeditious. From a pauar reprinted from the Li/ttelton Times, the distance from

Mil-s. Welliniitoi to Panama was cimputed at.. 0,300 From Southampton to Panama . . . . 5 612

.... , 11 91<2 Iff h\s mil 'og-fi were c nrcil, a vessel steaming 10 knula would tnke more thin 49) diys to accomplish the voyasr-; but even if the mufs ■irrivftl in fifty days at Wellington, the Auck and mnils would require to he s?nt l)y some inter-provincial line of s enmprs to Auckland, which might take, calling; in at Uawke's B.iy, pro'mb'y five days more ; thus the mails would not he received any quicker than they previously h,d been vki Marseilles. He found, however, from a-iother paper, the proposed Panam-i route to New Zealand was. some 2,252 miles les; than the previous one :— Miles. Milford Ha yon to Colon or Aspinwall, calling at the Azores - - - 4,300 Colon to Panama or Aspinwall (railway) 40 Pai'ama to New Zealand, coaling at the G,im biers .... ,5,3-20 If this mi'cage were correct it would mako 9,600 Siraiwrs could nvike t!«e run in 45 days or less, steaming only nine knots an hour, and by the aid of canvas and less consumption of coal, the weir and t-'ar of fie machinery would be considerably kssenel. If Auckland were c tiled upon to p.iy for any new mail service via Panama, the port of Auckland not being the poitof arriv.d and departure for the in uls, it would be better to have the mail sent direct I from Melbourne heiv, shoe the distance from Mcl- ! hourne to Sydney w.is nhout 590 miles -and though the fonnpr was some 200 miles further off, still making that allowance, Auckland would gain nnarly two days time by hiving the communication direct fioin Melbourne. Colonel Smythe, in hU report to the Imperial Government, stated " that the Hue from Sydney to Panama crossed the Northern Island of New Zealand almost ia tiie latitude of Auckland." Deducting the Miles. Distance between Auckland and Sydney - - ... They would h«ve the distance to Panama ----- 6,42G Add to that - - - - - 4,650 Beincr 46 days' steaminsr 9 knot*, or 52 days' steaming 10 knots - 11,070 He had thus tendered them all he had Luen enabled to find out ; as importunately he had not been able to «cc the B'ue Books respiting the proceedings in the i House of Commons iv 18-31. He would move, " That th" postal s\stem should be considered. At a former nieefing of this Chamber a vote of thanks was passed in .\itoi- rf the Honorable Prosbie Ward, the Post-masfer-Gene-iil, for tin; trouble he hud taken, and the ewtious he hnd made to secure to the city and province a sutticipnt postal service. Tint this system has unfortunately been disarranged by the 10-s of the White Swan steamer, and has been still furtliei dUor* wised by the more recent lo.ss of the steamer Lord Worsley. That as some time must transpire ere other boats are plarwl as connecting links on the inter-provincial line, it would be as well ro oonsi ler our postal system generally, and more particularly with reference to the interests of the piovince of Auckland." He miatlit suggest that it would be advisable that Ihe Chairman of the Chamhpr should put himself in correspondence with the honorable Air Crosbie Ward, prior to his leaving this country for Australia and Great Britain. Should any discussion ensue at the meetinur, upon the merits or demerits of the question, he yet felt satisfied it would meet with the approval of* the Chamber, that the Chiirmnn shou'd be authorised to communicate with the honorable Crosbie Ward. Mr Jame3 Henderson had pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr Harrop said he raiirht be pardoned for sppaking a am so ?o>n, hut he thought it very important that fie Chamber should come to some decision upon the subject, seeing- thitt a mon h ago he had heard that I the PvMmaster-Genernl was leaving for Jinglanl in \ two months, after the prorogation of the Assembly, j and it would be for the inhabitants of the province to j combine together to assist him in fixing the port o' n'Tival at Wellington - providing they agreed that such a result would be to their advantage; and, on the other hand, shou'd they consider that hy receiving th. ir mail from Wellington, they would be laboring under a disadvantage : then they must unite to oppose it. Mr Bain believed the best way to conduct the affair would he +.o nppoint.a sub committee, to ascertain all particulars, and report to the Chamber as to the desirability of the scheme or otheiwisa. He could not very well see how they could proceed in the matter, until (hey had a report from a committee deputed to take the question in all its hearings. Mr Harrop had no obje.ittion to offer to the course proposed^ only that the time was slipping away. Mr Bain said a speci d meeting could he called for the purpose of taking the proportion iulo consideration ; and it would be welt, whilst on the question, to consider this postal sy-tcin generally more particularly f»r the province of Auckland. But in taking that course, the members of the Chamber would prefer having the opinion of a committee to suide them as to what had best be done. He might ask, when was the hon. Crosbie Ward about to depart ] Mr Hasrop said he understood in less than two months after the breaking up of the House. It was not his intention to come back to Auckland, as he was to depart from the south to Melbourne, and perhaps via Sydney and the 1 ! to find his way home. Mr Bain suppo ed, in moving the resolution, Mr Harrop had foue definite plan in view for the Chamber to take up. Mr Harrop said the chief point to consider was whether the mail could be delivered in Auckland in a shorter time than by the present arrangements. If that coul 1 not be effected— if they could not guarantee the receipt of the mails to be more speedy than via Marseilles, there could of course be no advantage in it. It would not be at all to the advantage ot Auckland to contribute fur a postal service n.ure via Panama, unless Auckland was made the port of call. Col. Smythe, who was authorised by the Givei-nment at home, to see if the Fijis or Sydney would be in a direct line via Panama, found that the nearest point, following tne great circular mode of sailins;, touching Auckland ; and this port hiving the tinest harbour and likewise the nearest he (Vlr Harropi thought they should, as citizens and merchants, endeavor— not to get the postal undertaking iecme I 10 another port, hut brought to them at their own doors. It would not b» with any *elftsh views they could urce the subject ; but the Port of Auckland was the one within the shorlest ilistance. Mr Bain enquired what was the qiuekp..4 despatch reci rded of the mails. Mr Harrop said the quickest known was fifty-four days._ They had not accurate information regnrdiug the tune t'> b" consumed t'i-i Panama; but aocnrdiu"to Mr Crosbie Ward, it would take about flf'y days to arrive at, Wellington. C •nseqnently, if the steamer arrived at Wellington at the expiration of fifty days and the mails for Auckland were "despatched. by the inter-provmcial line— say by way of Hawke's Buy— they would not receive their mails much quicker than a ready on record. Captain Hnttray did not entertain a doubt tnat Sydney, and most of the other Australian cities. would rather have Auckland made the port of call. Mr Bain believed the steamers would themselves i settle the ports of call. They would have to make \ Auckland by way of the North Cape, and that was h day's sail from the city. - Mr Harrop said it wns true there would be a loss of 100 miles in doubling the cape ; but he believed this would be accounted for in the great circle sailed on the other side. Mr Bain considered there could be no question lhnt, if the Panama line was carried out, the northern port would be taken for several reasons. It lay in the line of the great circle ; and the iaUffest of Byd-

nev was so much connected with Auckland, and so di-jointc'l fioiu Ota?o, that it would lie very aivr*e to giving any d.cUioi, otherwise ih.lll for Auckland. I lime could be no -'oubt, howuver, that Otago would ba supported hy Melbourne. Captain ttattray did not think Sydney ami Queensland would consent to have the mails sent southward.

Mr Uain felt almost convinced they would not consent to have th" m tils sent through Cook's Straits Mr Harrop said, independently of the imme liafce subject before them, there was anot er important matter which they should consider alousr with it ; and tiiafc was the po-tal tervice in the meantime— v:> to the Ist January, 18Gt, when the act would become law. Mr Cio*hie Ward was desirous of issuing a new cmtract ror the caivying the mails for the service during 1863 ; but there was nothing in his a Ivertisemenr m the papers stating how Auckland should be supplied.

Air B lin belUved it would remain as at present In the absence ot any alteration being stated, he considered they might take this for granted. Mr Harrop considered it possible tint such midit be tho intention of the Postmaster-General, but nothmcr was said in the advertisemeat. It did not even say whether there would be a steamer between Sydney and Auckland. The Chairman s.iid the advertisemeat was left untouched as recorded Auckland. Mr Bain inquired how long the Inter-colonial Company s contract lasted ? The Chairman answered for seven years, from the commencement.

Air Ha-rop beuevecl every gentleman present wouM agree with him as to the imfispens.ibie neces-ity of sending the Auckland mails Hy no other wav thau by steamer direct, from this port to Sy" ney. He had heard that .lay that the September miil w-13 too late to be s-'nt home. They were thus rewarded for s«ndll% «« ll ° a - 800 miles out of ' the route - Mr Bain said the present cou^e a lopted wa? inj'lnous in another respect. Nofc only hnd the Auckland nruls to ba made up so much eat ie than those ivm Otag... but ou receipt of imw.i in London Auckland intelligence was alway* the oldest and Otago. by Jecuring the mails round by that port, always came down to the latest da'e. It was absurd ' ro tlnuk that Auckland mails should have to be made up so very much earlier than those from Ota:?o.

liie Chairman said he could mt entertain any objection against Mr Harrop's resolution ; in fact he believed thpy were all impressed with its importance, and were thankful to him for b.iu-iug it forward, in such a satisfactory manner. At the sime time he could not divest himself of the idea that the resolution wa<j somewhat vagur, and if passe.i, ha was afraid nothing cou'd be djne in its present torin to carry it out. At the kit rnejliug he had su^est.-d tint a deputation or a sub-committee should he appointed to wait upon the government, nnd p iiut out as clearly and forcibly as they c >uld tne chief advantages to be gained by the establishment of such a pustal service ; and at the same time to ascertain from the government as fully as possible what was intended ,to be done on the subject. Mr Lroshie Ward might possibly be home before the Chamber could take action in the matter, but he (the Chairman) did not think that {,'entleman could do mnch injury to the interests of AuckLmd, before they hml decided as to the best course to be adopted. It would thus be sepn that the Chamber must, iv the first place, rely upon the report of the sub-committee which might be formed. That committee would make every neccsairy enquiry into the suhiect, relative to the selection of the best places where patent slips could be obtained, machinery repaired, and that without a>iy reference to Mr War.J. The government simply would offer, alter the expiration 'of 1864, L3D.00); but th'-y must noc suppose that the government would accompany that sum with the terms, that Wellington or Otago .should be the first port of call, or even Auckland. So really all the Chamber wo .Id be abJe to press upon them would be the advantages of Aucklaud ; to show the company which roijiht be firmed that it would be the best and the shortest route. With repaid to the present service, it could not be denied it was very unsatisfactory, but the disarrangement had arisen from the loss of the two vessels, and which human foresight could not prevent. At present, as regarded the English in lil, he thought Auckland was very well served. Tney received their mails in fifty-five days, and their punctuality was commendable. He did not see how the time could be shortenrd, unless they got a steamer from Melbourne, which he did net suppose could arrive Ji^re in less than ten days. The vessels from Sydney had kept their time, with great regularity j but if they looked forward aud considered how Auckland was growing, he thought they would agree with him that the time would very soon cotne when they would want not one line only, but two lines— one by way of Suez, and another by Pauama— not clashing together, but frien lly and necessary, each in its sphere. He did not think, ere long, that it would be oojected to by the government, and the people would assent to it. In the meantime lie thought they would be acting wisely to move that a committee be formed, to confer with tue government upon the subject, treating the rnnttcr in all its aspects, and repo-t thereupon to a subsequent meeting of the Chamber. The whole Panama question was summed up in a few words. Th' re would be offered on behalf of this province L3o,ooo,an<l if Queensland and other colonies in Australia gave their quota, the subject would be taken up.

Mr Bain agreed with the Chairman that a subcommittee would be farbetterqualitied to g'eanthe necessary information ; they could then confer with t), e Government; and afterwards lay their report before the Chamber The chairman could then be requested to send such report to the Government, who would forward it to Mr Ward to take home with hi m . and it would serve for his guidance, as the opioio a of the people of Auckland. The Chairman would just mention that the Panama line wai not a new thing iv Auckland. He w<>ll remembered a deputation waiting upon the Government, composed of Mr Whitaker, Air Stafford, and Mr Kichmond : and who hml exer'ed thomse yes on the scheme very warmly. Mr Dillon Bell was also sent to negotiate with the Government of New South Wales; but at thnt time Queenslaud had not become a separate colony. He (the Chairman) recollected being called to the Chamber of the minister ot the day, and Mr Whitaker h.d expressed himself that on examination of a map he found that a steamer, sailina; on the great circular line, would strike Auckland seven miles nearer than Mongonui. The GoveniniL-nc had been most anxio-is to gel the new line established, and the Chamber of Commerce • lid all it could five years ago to secure such a service. Mr Harrop said he was quite wiling to substitute in place oi' the motion pr.po»ed, a resolution for tho appointment of a sub-committee. He would move : —

" That the following gentleraen-the Chairman, Mr Bam, Mr W. Grahame, C.iptain Hnttray, and the mover, be appointed a deputation from this Chamber, to wait upon the Government, aud ascertain their views respecting the proposed postal arrangements via Panama, and the state of the iNew Zealand postal arrangements generally." Mr Henderson seconded the motion, and on being put by the Chairman, it was carried.

Shrewd Guesses, or Lucky Hits.— According to a translation trotn Michael Nostradamus' ' Seven Centuries of- .Prophecy," it appears that he not only phrophesied ice death of Charles I. of England, the estahlisment of ihe French Republic, the deaths of Henry IV. and Louis XVI. of France, giving the exact dates ol each, but that, in 1861, a war would arise in a country beyond the seas, that many would perish, that there would be the mo3t intense hatred manifested, tint the war would last four jears, when both parties would be so utterly prostrated, and almost ruined, and then would then embrace each other with great love and joy. Nostradamus died in 1566. So far as known, he appears to have been a true prophet Punishment by Flaying Alive at Woolwich.—The official inquiry spoken of Uy Sir G. 0. Lewis in the House of Commons as having taken place relative to the cruelty practised upon a man named Bishop, who was scrubbed with sand in the cells of the Royal Artillery Barrajks, by order of Sergeant Ashton, has, it appears, not terminated in a vpry unfavorable manner to that non-commissioned officer. The public will be surprised to learn that, a few days since, Sergeant Ashton was selected from other candidates to b • sent out to St. Helena as sergeant's clerk to one of the military offices, which will entitle him to receive one shilling per day in additkn to sergeant's pay,

A writer and draughtsman, named Caboche. known as a prominent member of the " Bohemi^usfe, of Paris, has just expired. The following anecdote lg related "f him :—": — " He was returning from YersHilfeV when he heard that Fieschi had fired at the King, and the idea occurred to him that it would be a good speculation to sell the portrait ot the conspirator, and not to lose time, he drew the face of an ill-looki'ig man sitting opposite to him in the carriage in which they we^e travelling. A printseller published the portrait, which was purchased eagerly in Paris, and even by the very person who had unknowingly sat for the likeness This dash of a pencil produced to the artist several thousand francs.

Oysters— which flourish in the Mediteranean, the Atlantic, the North Sea, and iv the northern parts of the Oaitegat — exist no longer in the Baltic. The ourrent conveys the eggs thither but it is presumed that the water does not contain sufficient salt only I*7 per cant in the western part near Kiel,' and only, about 0 8 per cent near the Russian coast The Mediteranean has a percentage of salt of 37, the Atlantic and North Sea of 3 0 to 3'G, nnd the Cattegat of I 8 to 20. Tho deficiency of salt in the Baltic is evideDfcly due to the influx of a largdiiumber of rivers, which pour into it more water than is carried off by evaporation. All the efforts of the Russian Government, so far back as the time of the Empress Elizabeth, to cultivate oysters in tho Baltic have hitherto proved unsuccessful. Tb,e same issue has happaued to the endeavQure of Prince Bluohw to urtwdupe oystew on j &e«Aß*QfM«<)]a«flburg %