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Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2433, 27 October 1866, Page 5

Bmtf #ito*i B&fiSflfii«.«*Tli<j Marl* borough Express of the 20th indb., says i-» "We are glad to see thatthisistoboan accomplished fact, since the owners of the Lyttelton announce by advertisement elsewhere, their intention to place her as a regular trader between this port, Wellington, and] Nelson. The advantage to the merchant' will be great ; from the time of giving his . orders, say for goods from Wellington, in two days he may have them in hand for sale ; while with sailing vessels, the same service, would bo done quickly if completed in aj week. Another advantage is fafety, goods must certainly be safer in a suitable steamer crossing the bar at the mouth of the river, than in a sailing vessel ; and we know that as regards carrying wool, the underwriters insure at a lower rate goods carried in a steamer than sailing vessels." The sarae paper also remarks : — We are authorised to state that Captain Milo has made arrangements for placing a steamer on the line between this port and Wellington, and we believe in a very short time, our wish of a fortnight ago with respect to the Falcon will bo realised. We are told that the entire support of the mercantile community has been assured to him. We congratulate the province at large, but this district in particular, on the prospect of a constant and permanent steam communication with the capital of the colony. New South Wales Debentures.— The Brisbane Courier says: — We are glad to hear that the favorable report given by our Telegraphic Correspondent as to the sale of the New South Wales debentures to thS extent of £800,000, has been confirmed by advices received from private sources. The advantages which will Accrue, not only to New South Wales but to other colonies from this sale will be great, and will induce more confidence in the money market. Already it has had that effect in commercial circles in Sydney. Queensland. — By the Beautiful Star we have Brisbane papers to the 10th instant. The Brisbane people have been flooded with news from England and America, and don't know which mail service to. support. The Courier of the 10th inst; says : — " There are at present, as we have mentioned, three routes by which the mails from England are conveyed to Australia. It will be a subject of consideration with the Legislature as to which they will vote a subsidy. The Panama line of steamers, now that the great work of telegraphic communication between America and England is completed, offers many inducements ; even although the last steamer, the Ruahine, was beyond her time. The P. and O. Company have lately been more punctual ; and it is a matter for discussion whether arrangements could not be made by which, presuming we carry on the Torres Straits route, we could ensure a fortnightly mail. The new line has not yet had a fair trial in one .respect, as, owing to some misfortune or unforeseen delay, both the Souchays and the Hero have not arrived with our mails in time to catch the homewardbound mail steamer for Batavia. Even presuming greater punctuality be observed, the question of expense still suggests itself. We have, there is no doubt, reason to pride ourselves upon even the partial success, which has attended the experiment of the new postal route. At the same time we are paying too dearly for it, and whilst we congratulate ourselves upon our pluck and enterprise, other older colonies arelooking on, waiting to avail themselves of any advantages likely to accrue, and also exhibiting the most prudent reticence until they ascertain how the scheme is likely to work."

The Fighting at Hawke's Bay. — Some correspondence respecting tho recent engagements between the Militia and Volunteers, and the Hau Haus at Omaranui and Petane, is published in the Gazette of yesterday, On the 17th October, the Premier, although tho Government had nob received any official account of the engagements, wrote to the Superintendent of Napier, expressing his approbation of what he had done and expressing the thanks of the Government to Lieutenant Colonel Whitmore, and those who served under him. Subsequently a report, dated the 15th inst., was received from the Superintendent in continuation of his report of the 9th inst. It stated what measures he took, and gave an account of the proceedings of Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore and Major Fraser. It also enclosed plaus of the enemy's position at Omaranui,' Major Fraser's despatch to LieutenantColonel Whitmore, and copy of a letter from thellev. S. Williams, showing together with the statements of the prisoners, that an attack on the town of Napier had been planned by Parnapa and Eangihiroa to take place in three days from that time. The Superintendent also enclosed the instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore, and after stating the importance of cap. Turing Paori To'ki, recommended that the prisoners should be sent to the Chatham Islands, and that the Government 'should send down arms and ammunition. The despatches do not contain any information which has not already been made public. On the 13th inst., the Superintendent wrote to Lieut. -Colonel Whitmore, stating that to avoid complications with the Taupo and other tribes, it w&uld be advisable that the combined forces under him should not march beyond W T aiparati, unless it was absolutely necessary for the capture of Paora Toki, or Anaru Matete. The last letter in the Gazette, is ono dated the 25th inst., from the Premier to the Superintendent, acknowledging the receipt of his letter of the 15th, and "referring to his previous communication of the 17th.

Departure of Emma, ex-Q,ueen of the Sandwich Islands. — The Liverpool Albion of August 17th says :— -" This royal lady, whose visit to Great Bx'itain was considered, and justifiably so, as a step towards the extension of our friendly intercourse with the various tribes inhabiting the islands of the South Seas, after a. protracted visit to Europe, leftj:his country on Saturday Inst, on her homeward voyage. She sailed in the Royal Mail steamer Java, Captain Moodie, for New York. Queen Emma, who, as is well known, suffered to a considerable extent during her European sojourn from the effects of climate, it will afford gratification to many to know, has so. far recovered as to leave our shores in comparatively good health. Including the modest retinue of tho Sandwich Island Queen, the Java took out above a hundred and fifty passengers." Submarine Tunnel.— ln a letter to the editor of Rerepath's Journal, Mr. Remington C.E., describes his plan for carrying a tunnel from England to Frauce. His route under the sea is from Dungeness straight across to Cape Grisnez, which is about midway between Calais and Boulogne, a little nearer the latter than tho former.

MiSttmaisMßjM,— Tlw Melbourne flele. graphic Correspondent of the Sydney Empire, dn October 8, states the following in reference to mail arrangements t— •" In reply to the Clumber of Commerce, the Victorian Q-overnment says that it is unwilling at present to undertake the responsibility of a fortnightly mail via Suez, especially since the Governments of New South Wales and South Australia have intimated their intention to withdraw their proportion of the subsidy. The correspondence with the Home Government implies this objection to the proposal, unless an increase is effected in the postal rates. It says tliafc Mr. Verdon has been instructed to ascertain the best moans of extending the postal communication with Australia, whether via India Panama, Batavia, or the Cape. The correspondence touches upon the proposed sorting of the letters by the mail steamers on their passage up from King George's Sound, and estimates the cost at £2000 per annum, on account of which the Government hesitate adopting the proposal."