MR. LUCKIE, M.H.R., AND THE MAIL ROUTE. ROUTE*

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1661, 19 August 1873, Page 3

MR. LUCKIE, M.H.R., AND THE MAIL ROUTE.

ROUTE*

To the Editor of the Colonist. Sib, —A good deal of abuse has been showered on Mr. Luctie, M.H.8., because of his alleged defeotion from the interests of Nelson in voting as he did in the mail serrioe question. Let the facts speak for themselves. There had been two letters received from Messrs. M'MeckanJ and Blackwood, one date" 24th June, offering a service from Melbourne via the Bluff for £5000 a-year, the other dated Ist August, offering a service via HoHtika and Kelson at a price of £6500. The Government, possibly under pressure from the Otago, Canterbury, and Wellington members, resolved to adopt the route by way of the Bluff. Accordingly, after a lengthy speech, Mr. Vogel proposed the following motion :— "That Ihe Committee recommend the Government to notify to Messrs. M'Meckan, Blaokwood, and Co. their acceptance of the firm's offer, as made in the letter dated Melbourne, June 24th, namely, to establish, in accordance with the schedules of times and the conditions contained in the letter, a service to and from Melbourne to Wellington, landing and receiving mails at Bluff Harbor, Fort Chalmers, and Lyttelton, both up and down, and to maintain and perform such service during three years, for an annual payment of £5000." . Mr. Sheehan moved as an amendment that the following words be added to the motion : — " And that simultaneous arrangements should be , made—pending the establishment of the San Francisco servico—for the establishment of a service direct to and from Auokland and Sydney, connecting with the Suez line, at a cost not exceeding £5000 per annum." . . ( .: ■ It was known by those who have a keen eye to the proceedings in the House that the line by the Bluff was a certainty—was a forgone conclusion; that the Government would certainly carry its motion for which Canterbury and Otago were prepared to vote en bloc. Mr. Luckie, I have reason to know, was aware of this fact, and I believe he was desirous of : remedying the injustice which would arise to Kelson and other Northern ports by this one-sided arrange* ment. What he said on the subject is copied from Hansard asfollows:— " Mr. Lttokie : Sir, I should feel disposed to support the amendment in preference to the resolution of the Colonial Treasurer. I have observed that throughout the discussion the Province of Nelson has never once been mentioned, and I expected that' the honorable member, for Nelson City (Mr. Our tie) would have said something on the subject. By the adoption of the amendment just proposed, the Government can effect two objectsr-r-the one referred to by the honorable member for Rodney, and another which would place Taranaki and Nelson as well as Auckland in more rapid communication with the mail boats than by this Bluff, service. There is no doubt an objection, a natural one probably, and it is this; the long distance which Blind Bay necessitates the steamer to run;: but the difficulty would be got over bj subsidising the boat whioh would come from Sydney to the Manukau The steamer would accomplish that voyage in a little more than four days, and a vessel could be despatched from the Manukau down the coast. So that in 'the Sydney service would be included Auokland, whioh is now kept largely out of view, and Nelson and Taranaki, although small Provinces, would .receive that consideration to which they are entitled. I hope the Government will be disposed.to give this matter their favorable consideration." . Mr. Collins moved the fallowing amendment:— — "That the proposals contained in the letter of Messrs. M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co., of the lit August, be accepted." In supporting this amendment Mr. Collins, explained his object thus :— "That is to say, that what is commonly called the Cook Strait line be adopted, in place of that proposed by the Government. Ido not propose to enter largely into an argument upon this question. I think, really, argument is superfluous. It is hardly a question for argument; it is unnecessary, surely, to argue to prove that the most central port of New Zealand—that the most centrally placed City in New Zealand—that the City whioh is the seat of government—ought to have ; priority in this matter. It is unnecessary to argue that the mails can be more easily and readily distributed throughout New Zealand from Wellington, than from the Bluff. What we desire is, the.greatest amount of convenience for the whole Colony. We do not, at a House, I hope, desire that any part of New Zealand, though it be ever so prosperous, should derive advantages at the expense of the rest. The way in which the whole of New Zealand can be beat supplied with letters and news, is- undoubtedly by the terminus of the line being at the most central port of the Colony, whence all parts of the Colony can be supplied with their letters in the shortest possible time. A great deal has been said as to the opinion supposed to be entertained by honorable members from Otago, namely, that Otago is New Zealand. Ido not myself say they think so; but there is an opinion abroad to the effect that the members of this House have hitherto been unduly influenced by the predominant power of Otago. I have not the slightest jealousy of Otago : I rejoice in her prosperity, and trust it may continue ; but Ido not wish that the whole of New Zealand should have to. bow down to Otago, and I think this is a very good opportunity to prove whether or not this House feels itself under the necessity of giving way in every possible manner to Otago: As I said before, I think it useless to argue on this matter, as it is plain, to a common-sense understanding, that the terminus of the postal line of New Zealand ought tq be in the central town of the Colony." Mr. Luckie had already spoken in, favor of Mr Sheehan'i amendment, on the grounds he had stated as reported in Mansarcf, and with, I believe, a full frnowledg c that the Bluff route was practically as good as dooided, and that it was futile fighting it; but rather that it was advisable to seour 6 j if possible the aeoond service, by which Nelson at least would not be so greatly neglected as she would be without it, There were 48 votes in favor of the original motion, and only 17 against it. Mr. Vogel then gave an assurance that, pending the re-establishment, of the Californian mail service, he would subsidise a line from Melbourne and Sydney to carry the Suez letters via the Manukau, if the cost did not exceed £5000. Of course Mr. Luckie has been subjected to the usual amount of unjust aoousation from, the quarter that delights in distorting facts and garbling telegrams, in order that they may be able to^perform that literary bravoism which has so long characterised that noble gang, with whom detection even iB deemed no cause of shame. However, Mr. Luokie will no doubt in due time answer for himself. It may, however, now be said without any indelicacy, that those who ba,ve known him best ought to know that he never disguised his meaning, never deceived his 'friends'; and it is neither generous nor just to impute' dishonest motives to one who' has never spared himself if he had a public duty to perform or a publio wrong to remedy.—Yours, &c, Aw E^ionop.