THE NEW FRENCH LINE OF STEAMERS TO AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2033, 29 March 1881, Page 2

THE NEW FRENCH LINE OF STEAMERS TO AUSTRALIA.

Some further pirticulnrs respecting the proposed subveutioned steam line between France, Australia, and New Caledonia were recently given m the Economists Franco's. The Bill has undergone examination by a parliamentary commission, which has apparently pronounced m fnvoi- of Marseilles ns the port of departure, which has grievously disappointed the people of Bordeaux. The Chamber of Commerce m that town has taken the mutter up, and urged the special claims of that port m a letter to the commission. It is stated that an injustice will be done if Bordeaux is deprived of a trade which shchus already partly developed, tho majority of the French vessels proceeding to New Caledonia having hitherto started from Bordeaux, which place provides tho chief outward cargo. This lias consisted mainly of wines and oilier food stuffs. The return cargo again consists of fine wools, which have their chief French markets m Bordeaux and Havre. The transhipment from Bordeaux to Havre costs relatively little. It is for grain cargo only that Marseilles appears to present any adv-nlage as a market, and this advantage has been diminished this year by the increased arrivals of American grain at the Atlantic ports, and the decreased shipments from the Black Sea, for which latter Marseilles is of courso the most convenient port of entry, m Australian line from Marseilles would go by way o' the Suez Canal, and would only connect with Reunion by means o£ a branch service, na m the case of the present Indo-Chinese line. Forty-two days would be required for the passage to Australia. A Bordeaux line would go by the Cape, and would not only have the advantage of offering facilities tor developing French trade with South Africa, but would call directly at Beunion, and reach Australia ia 38 day 3. It is argurd also that the vessels might touch at the Senegal, and enable the Mesaageries Maratimes to shorten their passage to Brazil and the Eiver Plate. Iho Messageries Maratinies Company, who arc expected to obtain the new concession, have offices at Bordeaux as well as at .Murseilles. The Economiste Francois considers that these arguments are weighty, and poinls out that if tho vessels start from Bordeaux the interval between the departures nil! bo long enougli to enable the vessels themselves cften to collect and deliver cargo at Havre without transhipment, a consideration which should induce the Chambers of Commerce of Havre i and Paris to support the claims of Bordeaux.