THE POSTAL SERVICE VIA TORRES STRAITS.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 802, 4 July 1865, Page 4

THE POSTAL SERVICE VIA TORRES STRAITS.

The Brisbane (Queensland) Courier publishes the following with reference to the line of steam communication already established in the Indian Archipelago : —

" The line is worked by an English Company, with a subsidy from the Dutch Government, There is now monthly steam communication between Singapore and Timor, at one end of the Torres Strait route, and still more frequent steam communication between Brisbane and Sydney and Port Denison at the other end of that route. All that is required at present is to fill up the gap between Timor and Port Denison, a distance of about 1700 miles, with a convenient coaling station halfway at the new settlement near Cape York. Probably a steamer once in two-months, or six times a year, each way, between Timor and Port Denison, would be sufficient to open the trade; and until this roule becomes better known, and the traffic increases, one screw steamer of 400 tons or thereabouts (such as some of the boats now plying between Sydney and Brisbane) could easily perform this service. The voyage each way between Port Denison and Copang, in Timor, would occupy about a fortnight, including stoppages at Cardwell (Eockingham Bay), and Somerset (Cape York) ; which new settlements would thus enjoy periodical steam communication. It is to be recollected that the Salamander, which his Excellency Sir G, Bowen succeeded in persuading the Home Government to furnish for three years, will not be available after July, 1867; before which time the Queensland Government must make arrangements for establishing steam communication with Cape York. It is also to be borne in mind that the South Australian Government would probably contribute to the subsidy, on condition of the steamer touching at its settlement at Adam Bay, which would not be far out of the direct route to Timor. It would require a subsidy of about £50,000 a year to have a monthly line of steamers from Singapore to Sydney, whereas most of the advantages of opening the Torres Strait route could at once be secured at probably less than one-fifth of that sum by subsidising the local company. This is a kind of assistance to the Q.S.IS". Company, to which no one could reasonably object, seeing the great public advantages to be derived therefrom,"