ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1692, 17 January 1862, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Wellington Independent.)

15th January, 1862. Sir, — At the last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce here, a resolution to the following effect was passed, " That the assistance of the Provincial Government should be solicited to give effect to its views by way of subsidy, so far as practicable, by the re-opening the commercial interests with Melbourne."

The subsidy which is thus asked for is a sum •f aboul £3000 sterling, to run a steamer from Canterbury to Wellington, which will carry the mail to and from Otago and Melbourne. This may be a very good thing so far as the interests of the few merchants here are concerned, but whathas beentheeffect of giving subsidies to the steamers now running to and from Wellington* The snbsidies now received by the Coleman Company and the Wellington Steam Navigation Company, pay a proportion of their expenses, and in the case of the Colenaan Company, a very large proportion indeed, and thereby enable them to run on the passage and take up whatever freight, &c, may offer, to the exclusion of the sailing vessels, who are thus driven out of the trade, and opposition prevented. The public would have no reason to complain if the speed and regularity (such as it is) were added to civility and moderate charges; but when the freights are kept up at sach rates as to prevent produce being sent to market, — rudeness anil incivility with extravagantly high rates of passage, and an utter want of accommodation, be put up with by those who must perforce tendure it — all travelling to and fro by visitors for information or pleasure is completely barred, which under better arrangements would be taken advantage of by many persons from the other colonies — no wonder the public should think they are " paying too dear for their whistle," and that while the settlers are contributing to the commercial advantages of the port, they are not receiving an equivalent in facilities for the conveyance of their produce to market. The large sums paid as subsidies, are in the eyes of the settlers so much money thrown away, which if laid out on roads or tramways would open up the country aud benefit both settlers and merchants; they therefore naturally look for n quid pro quo. When a subsidy is given to a steamer it is for the purpose of enabling her to run at low rates of freight while the trade is being opened up and until the settlers can haveencreased the amount of produce to what would affJrd profitable employment for the vessel, and this arrangement would soon place the settlers and vessel on a satisfactory footing; but it has not been carried out on the part of the steamers.

Under these circumstances the settlers are quite justified, before agreeing to subdise a steamer to run on any passage, that the vessel or owners should submit a schedule of freights, &c, to their consideration, either through the Provincial Council,. Chamber of Commerce, or otherwise as may be most convenient. I am, Sir, your's, &c, Country Settler.