AUOKLAND.

Colonist, Volume V, Issue 470, 25 April 1862, Page 3

AUOKLAND.

THE STEAM SERVICE SUBSIDY. In the Auckland Provincial Council, on Wednesday, the 19th ult., Mr. J. O'Neill moved— 1 That this Council express (heir condemnation of the present postal arrangements with tho InterColonial Steam Navigation Company, as not sufficient to meet the wants of the colony, and as having a directly injurious effect on the commerce of tliis province ; that they are of opinion that the time has now arrived for a complete revision of the postal arrangements, and that the route to England via Panama ought to be chosen and taken up, as the line which would combine the greatest number of advantages to this colony.' tl ia opinion wag that the Superintendent of Auckland should correspond with the Superintendents of the other provinces, and take their opinion regarding the desirability of giving up the present contract, and entering into arrangements with the Royal Mail Company, with the view of having vessels placed on the line between Panama and this colony (hear). The Panama route was by far the shortest way to this colony from England. By way of Sydney and Suez it took a letter between 70 and 75 days to reach England from Auckland, while it would be delivered in England by way of Panama ia 40 or 42 days.. The Royal Mail Com-

pany at present ran their boats to the Atlantic side of the Isthmus from Southampton, making the passage in thirty days, and it was calculated that equally powerful vessels would run the distance between Panama and New Zealand in about twenty days,^ owing to the smooth water. The Royal Mail Company were not indisposed to enter into an arrangement with the colonhs for this purpose, and there could not be a doubt but the line would pay well from the passenger tiaffic. The interests of America and the Australian colonies were closely identified, and the passenger tiaffic on that account would bo creater.

Captain Dnldy was afraid their wishes would not be speedily realised, owing to the unfortunate contract cnteied into with the home government. Still it was right they should express their opinion, as the representatives of tho people, that the time had come for a change. His opinion was that tha present arrangement was a speculative job, entered into by two or three men for the purpose of making money out of the colony (hear) ; he could not condemn too strongly tho conduct of the General Government of the day, in making arrangements for New Zealand which had the effect designedly of sacrificing New Zealand (hear). No better argument could be used in favor of a change than the fact that news of the most important character had been brought to New Zealand from San Francisco, by way of Sydney, sooner than it could be received by the ordinary mail route (hear). Besides, should any accident occur to interrupt the transit of the mail through Egypt and the Red Sea, they would be cut off from direct communication with England. His opinion was that there ought to be a Western mail, by Panama, on account of China, New Zenhnd, and other Australian colonies, as well as the present line by the East, serving India and part of Australia. The idea suggested by Mr. O'Neill was good, that the Provincial Governments should act in concert in this matter, for it was of vital importance to the prosperity of the colony. The gold discoveries in Otago would act as a stimulus to the Royal Mail Company, and this would be increased if the expectations regarding Auckland were only in part realised (hear). Ho would support the motion, which he hoped would be passed unanimously. Mr. Ball did not see how they could pass the resolutions, seeing that £3,000 had already been voted for a steam subsidy between Auckland and Sydney, and that the Post-master General had gone away to complete arrangements for that purpose.

Mr. Busby said, with regard to the proposition of steam to Panama, this province was not, in his opinion, sufficiently advanced to require steam navigation at all. He entirely protested against any appropriations for that purpose ; and besides the merchants of Sydney would never consent to the detention of the steamer at New Zealand for any part of the subsidy this colony could afford to pay.

Mr. Buckland supported the resolution; at the same time he thought that as this was clearly a pastoral country, they did not require steam navigation. It was inmaterial whether they received their letters a day or two sooner. His opinion was that quick sailing vessels from Panama would bring the mail from England quicker than by the present route, and thus save the steam subsidy. Mr. King was opposed to direct steam to Sydney in connexion with the mails, but would support the proposition for establishing a line to Panama. The colony would derive substantial advantage from the latter line, but could only suffer loss from the other. He knew that New South Wales would vote £60,000 a-year towards the subsidy by Panama, Queensland was willing to join, and the Royal Mail Company only asked for .£IOO,OOO a-year and they would undertake the service. He thought the present arrangement with the Interprovincial Company should be set aside, a3 although sums of money had been repeatedly voted to assist them, the manager was unable to perform the requisite service. Their boats could not last another year, (hear.)

Mr. J. O'Neill replied, and the resolution was then carried on the voices.