WEST COAST STEAM SERVICE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 394, 18 February 1860, Page 3

WEST COAST STEAM SERVICE.

The proposal to procure a local steamer to run between Manukau, Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wellington has found favour both here and at Wanganui. Upwards of 200 shares were bespoken on Saturday last, and we apprehend that no difficulty will be cxpeiienced in completing the share list, as our Wanganui friends are prepared to give the undertaking their hearty support. It has been found that the mail steamers cannot be relied on for the conveyance of live stock, and that to keep the market regulaily supplied a steamei is required, which, in case of need, can run into the Waitara river and there land cargo and take on board produce, livestock, and passengers. We hear that so soon as the share list is completed, steps will be taken to obtain an iron screw steamer of about 150 tons, of light draught, and adequate power, either from Liverpool or Glasgow ; and in the interim preceding her arrival in Now Zealand, to procure a suitable vessel either in the colony or from New South Wales to run on the proposed line. Hrior to depiiving us of direct inter-colonial steam communication, the colonial government, through the lion. C. W. Richmond, promised to make such arrangements as would

secure to this province the certain means of transmitting live stock and produce to Manukau by a monthly steam service. The Colonial Treasurer, moreover, assured the deputation which waited on him that the government would, if necessary, subsidise a vessel expressly for the purpose. We now find ourselves deprived of direct inter colonial steam communication, and (beyond the conveyance of the mail) totally dependent on the caprice of the masters of the Coleman vessels, who openly boast that they are not bound by the charter party to remain any time in our roadstead to land or take on board cargo, and that it is entirely optional with them whether or fc not they carry our produce and live stock. Thus the neglect of the General government, and the cavalier treatment experienced from the Coleman Company, have absolutely compelled us to seek a remedy, and the most effectual one appears to be the peiformance of the service by a local steamer. Our traffic, although apparently of no moment to that Company, will, combined with that of Wanganui, yield a considerable return, and although a subsidy may be necessary at the outset to enable the local boat to compete successfully with the subsidised line, the increased facilities afforded by the local steamer in shipping and landing cargo of every description, the provision of proper fittings and attendance for live stock when on board, due attention, to the convenience of shippers added to the certainty of goods being landed at the port of destination, and a considerable reduction in the present exorbitant rates of freight and passage money, must ensure it so large a portion of the public patronage as to place the ultimate success of the undertaking beyond a doubt. It is proposed to fix the time of departure from Wellington so as to afford that province and Taranaki weekly steam communication with Auckland ; and Wanganui a bi-monthly service to Wellington and tri-monthly one to Taranaki and Manukau. Although we do not anticipate that this scheme will be approved of by the General government, who appear to be under a pledge to the Coleman Company not to subsidise any local steamer however imperfectly that Company may provide for the inter-colonial service of the colony, we trust that it will receive the cordial support of the Provincial government of Auckland, Wellington, and Taranaki. The Crops. — The harvest weather has been unusually propitious and most of the wheat has been gathered in prime condition, the sample surpasses any we have seen for years past, and the average yield of the crop so favorably contrasts with that of late years as to gladden the heart of the farmer. The oat crop would have been equally good but for the ravages committed by the caterpillar. The long continuance of dry weather in the early part of the season will, we fear, cause the potato crop to be a light one : onions are unusually fine, and the yield will be large. The green crops which have escaped the grub are looking well, and we have seldom seen the pastures so luxuriant at this season of the year, so that at present there is every prospect of a large surplus supply of fat stock for exportation during the winter months. By the overland mail from Auckland we learn that the prospects of the large agriculturists and stock holders are extremely gloomy, both cattle and crops had suffered, and were still suffering, from the intense heat day after day and want of rain. The last eight of nine months are said to have been the driest for a continuance within the memory of the oldest inhabitant of Auckland.