WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 519, 18 January 1870, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

{From the Independent.) We understand that the time within which company representatives for the colonial prize firing may be selected, has been extended from the 31st January to the 28th February. We hear on reliable authority that Mr Fox has succeeded in getting some natives to undertake the work of cutting a track from Wanganui to the Taupo plains, taking the general direction of the line pointed out by Mr Field. A Thames paper understands, that Mr St. John Branigan, Chief of the Armed Constabulary Force, is taking a look round the Thames, so as to make himself acquainted with the topographical features of the country, in case of the services of the corps ever being required in the district. Arrangements have been made by the Hon. the Premier for the conveyance of mails biweekly between Patea and Taranaki. The mails are to be carried by natives, and the days of arrival and departure will be so arranged as to take up the time table of Cobb's coach. Wellington will, by this Arrangement, be brought within three days of Taranaki. We had yesterday the pleasure of witness^ ing a trial of a new flax-dressing machine, just completed by Mr John Smith, of the Vulcan Foundry, Manners street. The machine is similar in principle to the Price machine, the leaves passing through close rollers, one grooved, the other plain, and then coming nnder a large revolving beater. The castings for the new machine are of an exceedingly substantial character; the. whole workmanship appears to be excellent, and, considering the rather unfavourable circumstances under which yesterday's trial was made, the work performed was very satisfactory. By tbe Australian papers received yesterday we learn that there is every chance of the establishment of more than one company for the purpose of opening up the mail route between San Francisco and Sydney. A empany has been formed on a small scale in Sydney which purposes to start in March next. It will make a modest beginning with two chartered steamers, and will adopt the route via Auckland, Tahiti, and Honolulu. A circular has also been issued by Messrs Collie, Stewart & Co., of San Francisco, in which it is proposed to establish a main line through from England to Australia, in connection with the Cunard line from Hew York to Liverpool, and it is expected that the whole distance will be performed in 49 days. The San Francisco Company suggests as its main line Honolulu, Fiji, Brisbane, and Sydney, with a branch line from Fiji to New Zealand and Victoria. It is suggested that a subsidy of £75,000 would be required from the Australian Colonies and New Zealand, but this sum may probably be reduced, as the line will not be nearly as expensive, and it will probably be found very much more useful and much more attractive tban the Panama route. The circular states tbat if the company is notified of a view favourable to the proposed route by the Governments of the Australian colonies and tbat of New Zealand, the directors will be prepared to enter upon the service fonr months after tie receipt of such notification. We do not learn how far tbe Governments of Victoria and New South Wales are prepared to support the undertaking, but if. they are inclined to contribute equally with New Zealand, we shall probably see the line fully established before the end of the current year. V ' " ' ' ..'