PROPOSED NEW AUSTRALIAN LINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1194, 17 October 1874, Page 4

PROPOSED NEW AUSTRALIAN LINE.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

We received the following from our Auckland correspondent last night : —

The New Zealaud Herald's special correspondent at San Francisco sends the following just as the mail was leaving San Francisco: — "Proposed New Australian Line. — For the past 12 months there lias been a bitter rivalry between tbe Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and the Central Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and the Central Pacific Railway. There have been several abortive attempts to effect a combination ; but the recent withdrawal of the Trans-Pacific has brought about a possibility of a grand combination. The railway must either put on a line of their own, or depend upon the Pacific mail for freight from China and Japan, as very large quantities of tea, &c, are passed across the Continent consigned by China houses to New York houses. Of course, tbe success of an opposition line of steamers not inimical to their interests, was a matter of serious moment to the railway people ; but now that they are dependent upon the Pacific Company, their greatest rival, it is proposed to combine their interests. Last night's despatch from New York says : — ' The last phase of the controversy between the Pacific Mail Company and the Trans-Continental Railroad tend to a proposed combination embracing the railroads between Philadelphia and New York, Baltimore and San Francisco, with steam connection to Honolulu, New Zealand, and Australia, to run exclusively in the interests of the railroads and their European connections. The name of Cleland Stanford has been prominently mentioned in connection with the enterprise. The latter, if the negotiations are successful, will visit Europe and purchase the necessary ships. Tn the meantime, the Australian line could be supplied by the steamers Vasco De Gama and Vancouver. It is also said that failing any satisfactory arrangement with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the railroad magnates will establish a China and Australian lino in their own interests.' "