CHANGE IN THE P. AND O. COS INDIAN MAIL ROUTE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 9315, 7 January 1879, Page 3

CHANGE IN THE P. AND O. COS INDIAN MAIL ROUTE.

(S. M. Herald, Dec 20.) The Government (says teb. Daily News of October 22ud) lately made a contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, which involves the abolition in February, 1880, cl the Southampton mail service, and the dispatch of .all correspondence and newspapers by way of Brindisi. One effect of the change, it is said, will be that the steamers of the above company will no longer call at Malta, j and that consequently the island will lose all ' the advantages accruing to it from one hundred and four visits per annum now paid by these steamers. Th« withdrawal from Malta pf direct mail communication with Egypt and India will no doubt prove a great inconvenience to the naval and military officers stationed at Valletta. But the Maltese are naturally more concerned on their own account than they are on that of the English families living in the island. The trade of Valletta largely depends upon the hurried visits. made to the Sfcrada. Eeale by the passengers on board the mail steamers. Brief as the sojourn is, it is usually long enough to enable visitors to part with a good deal of their spare cash in exchange for fclie special products of the island, to see the splendid public buildings of the city, and even to indulge in a hasty drive to the old town, of Civita Veechia, or to St. Paul's Bay. j The passengers by the Peninsular and Oil,, ental steamers are exactly the class of people • who have money to spare, and who are disposed .to spend it in gratifying their curiosity, or iv purchasing presents tor their friends. It is estimated that, if the steamers no longer touch at Malta, the commercial community will sustain a loss of £50,000 per annum. If the exigencies of the service require it, and if economy and efficiency will be promoted by the change, we applaud the Government for making it. Bnt the Maltese, of course, £o nof.like it j and the lopal authorities have appealed to the (government to reconsider their decision. We have no doubt that their representations will be fairly considered, But justice must be done, even though the sky should fall in Valletta..