THE NEW DIRECT SERVICE WITH AMERICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 38

THE NEW DIRECT SERVICE WITH AMERICA.

Wellington, June 6. — The Agent-geaeral has forwarded particulai-3 concerning the steam line •which Messrs Bucknell Bros, are establishing between New York and Australia. The line ia at present in the hands of a private company, but if it develops it will probably be thrown open to the public. A monthly service will be maintained outwards by the Cape, and homewards by the Suez Canal. Messrs Backeell Bros, are an oldegtablished firm of shipowners, who are now principally connected with the Cape trade. The steamers will be 10-kuot boats, without ,' cool chambers, and will not take pasßeDgers. The terminal port is Sydney, and cargo from or for New Zealand must be tianshipped there. Whether the line be extended to this colony will depend on the amount of cargo offering. Rates from New York to Sydney for the present will be: Rough measurement, 30s to 40s, and 10 per cent, primage ; fine, 40s to 60s, and primage. The owners say that the trade between New York and Australia averages 25,000 tons per month, but the Agent-general's office thinks this exaggerates, and in any case not much cargo would be sent from Australia to New York. The cargo to New Zealand last year amounted to 34,000 tons, and freight by sailing ship was about 36a. In anticipation of the opposition the Australian companies have sent the Celtic Kivg to New York to " collect a "cargo in competition with the Sahara, the first of Bucknell'a line, and it is expected that in retaliation the owners of sailing ships will cut . into the South African trade. The secretary of the Industrial department here has made inquiries which have resulted in the department advising the Agent-general that there is not sufficient trade between New Zealand and" New York " to induce the firm to send their steamers here. • ' There might be sufficient inward,«but" there would ■ ;be little outward cargo. The principal exports from New Zealand to Eastern America are kauri

gum, flax, sausage skins, rabbitskins, and' a,] , little wool. Messrs Bucknell Bros, are advised to | put, themselves in communication with the chambers of commerce. ■ ";