THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 701, 22 August 1870, Page 4

THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

- - .— — :-♦ -7. {From the San Francisco Buletin, July 9.) The question of the Australian mail service subsidy is rapidly approaching a satisfactory settlement. We understand, on good authority from Washington, _ that the 3()0>d00dols subsidy asked for by Mr Webb for his line of steamers will undoubtedly be granted, and we have every reason to expect i hat the first vessel. of the new line will start before the end of the current month. There is. every reason. to suppose that the subsidy of £80,000, equal to 400,000d015, aske 1 for the entire colonial service, will aleo be readily granted when the matter is placed, before their local governments in its true light. Mr Collie, the accredited and authorised agent of Mr Webb, has teea for. some time agitating (be matter in Australia and New Zealand ; but so far, he had to deal with a great many difficulties from those in the interest of the first line. . ■>.■-. Mr Hall, of Sydney, having heard of the intention of Mr Webb to start a line of st eamers, subsidised by the United States and the colonies, saw his: opportunity to make a little money, and, possibly, become a part or ■whole proprietor in a trans-Pacific line. . So, with his limited resources, he 'started a line; and, in the hurry and enthusiasm of the moment, attained his object; by procuring the subsidy he now holds of 75,p00d015. With this and the prestige of having e>tablished the new line, he hoped either to get a subsidy from Congress or make some .advantageous coalition or arrangement With Mr* Webb. We have not, however," been advisei of his having made any slops towards proouring a Congresional acknowledgement 6f- r the merits and advantages of <his' enterprise,' and .it;, would setni (hut, on the contrary, be was convinced

of the hopelessness of the case, and at once retnrned to Australia. The misrepresentations of his party have placed Mr Webb's agent in New Zealand in an apparently false position, as well as materially impeded bis progress in getting the necessary subsidy. Hall's line now has this New Zealand subsidy, and aside from this troublesome complication has succeeded, unless we are much mistaken, ia injuring the immediate prospects and popularity of the new route. When the originators of an enterprise see no chance of its permanency they are not likely to go to any great expense in providing accommodations. This we find to have been especially the case with Mr Hall, and as one of its immediate consequences the last vessel from New Zealand, the Wonga Wonga, sailed with but half her due complement of passengers. This was altogether owing to the cheap and deficient accommodation provided and the general mistrust and suspicion of the line that prevailed. The existence of such conditions is to be regretted, since the popularity of the trans-Pacific route is not likely to be increased by its originating under such unfavourable auspices. However, we shall soon have a first-class line of ocean steamers established, and permanent colonial travel inaugurated on this route. The line now dragging out a slow existence with the aid of the New Zealand subsidy, will not if terfere, and the assistance in question will doubtless be transferred to the new enterprise without much difficulty.