THE Wellington Independent. Saturday, February 26, 1859. SYDNEY AND THE PANAMA ROUTE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1327, 26 February 1859, Page 3

THE Wellington Independent. Saturday, February 26, 1859. SYDNEY AND THE PANAMA ROUTE.

A Special Meeting of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, was held on the Bth instant, ((.consider the present postal arrangements with Europe. The making Melbourne the headquarters ofthe Suez line—the mail from theuce to Sydney being carried by branch steamers-has excited very considerable dissatisfaction in New South Wales. By a resolution ofthe Legislature, that colony some lime since deolored ihat she would be no parly to any contract via Suez, unless it was first submitted to the colony for approval and acceptance; at ibe same time she affirmed that it wis of tbe first importance and cotisequenoe that the Panama line should be established, and voted towards this object _. .0,000 a-year for the next ten years. The contract with the P. and 0. Company, was entered into by the Imperial Government without reference to the Australias, most probable from a desire to place the mail servioeon a permanent fooling as speedily as possible, and put a stop to tbe irregularities ofthe last two years. It appears by what we can gather fro tn the speeches, that in tbe communications recently received from the Colonial Ollice, tbe PostmasierGeneral expresses his belief that the Panama service wil! not be required if ihe Suez contract is faithfully performed. To this opinion Sydnov nol only attaches no weight, but is impressed with the conviction that the establishment ofthe Panama route is more than ttsiraple question of postal communication und the advantages to be derived from it. She looks upon it as a national question—a question whether New South Wales is to consider herself a tributary of Victoria and lose that position to which she maintains her situation, comtnoroe, nnd resources entitle hor. Willi ■_ 15,000 from New Zealand, it is thought that no further sum will be requisite to make up a moiety of the cost ofthe Panamaline, the Imperial Government contributing the other moiety of JE73.000 as its share; but though thus angered there is, wo are happy to say, an evideut disposition to act in a conciliatory spirit, and if Victoria will share the subsidy and benefits of the Panama line, New South Wales appears inclined to contribute towards the present one vU Suez.

New Zo-dliukl readers will understand the feeling of those two Colonies, with regard 1.0 their l>eing made respectively ports of call and d.pariui'e, by considering it lo be exaoily ihat which has existed between tho North and South of these Islatxds, ivhonover a port, in one or tho other, has be«m suggested as that al whioh tho .Mail St.ttmers should first call. If Wellington was proposed, Auckland, as the larger individual province, naturally considered her interests neglected; while if Aucklan d was named. Wellington, tho Southern coittro of more than two-thirds of the whole population and wealth of the Colony, lias also naturally protested ugainstit. Tho solution to which wo uro arriving at hero, is just that which Sydney has propused fur Australia. Rather I ban continue to put up with present arrangements, Wellington and Auckland both seem to prefer being let alone to subsidize thoir own steamers,'and to render the comti._tni._.tiou of lhe South with Australia complete, the Superintendent has just accompanied Mr. JVl.At.drow on a visit lo Canterbury and Otugo. Iv

default of this, if a mail service is to be arranged by the Gunerul Government, then the proposal recently mado in Auckland of a double line, one calling first at the South and departing; from the North, tho other calling first at the North und departing from the South, seem» the ouly one feasible. Just so witli Sydney. Ono of tho speakers at the Chamber of Commerce meeting', above referred to, tells us ihat if a postal communication is brought into operation towards which all Australia is to contribute, it must bo a double one ; that via Suez contiiiuiiiig to Victoria its present advantages, that via Panama giving to New South Wales all that she seeks. If this is not agreed to, then the latter asks for liberty to establish the Panama line ou her own-responsibility.

New Zealand is dooply interested in the question now agitating Australia. The Panama line mutches as from the rear to the, van.; makes us to Great Britain the nearest o'f'her Southern Colonies, instead of tho farthest; and raises us from comparative insignificance into importance- Fortunately this can be done without in any raeusure exciting the jealousy of Australia. Our rich sisters can afford to patronize us without fearing that we shall become any impediment to their " settlement in life," and in return we shall be very glad if we can in any mea.sitre restore quiet to their ruffled breas-ts. To this end we are glad to know that in the event of Victoria aud New South Wales contributing towards the Panama line, New Zealand will be able to remove all jealousy by placing them on a par in all respects. The Suez steamers make Molbourne their head quurturs and send a branch steamer to Sydney; if the Panama liners call at Wellington, they can tranship into a branch steuirnor for Melbourne the mails &c, for that Colony, while Syduey will enjoy all tho advantages of being the head quarte.rs. On the establishment of these alteruaiteliries they will thus each become head rjtinrters and branch stations.