STEAM COMMUNICATION ROUND THE MIDDLE ISLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 24, 11 October 1873, Page 9

STEAM COMMUNICATION ROUND THE MIDDLE ISLAND.

a Cn)ZT ifTVi *™ Assembl r. » motion of Mr Macandrew for a Colonial subsidy of £2500, "towards the establishment of regular steam communication between the East and West Coa 3 ts of the Middle ™J7/?w J& Mr ,M", M "» nd w, in speaking on the motion, remarked that although the West Coast of the Middle Island abounded in minerals, timber, and splendid harbors, and alao contained no inconsiderable amount of land available for settlement?* t! X tne most part a terra wogmta The fine County of Westland might also, Zealand JZ >' * ?°™ dered more a P«* of Victoria thanof NeV that he submitted this proposal, so as to make the settled portion of the West Coast a part of ourselves. He found, that during the las four years Westland imported upwards of £1,800,000 worth of goods -in round numbers, £2,000,000-chiefi"y from Melbeurne. Had we deViv^l^TT"^ l^ Wi& We3fcland > «« the profit derved from this trade, or that represented by a very large proportion of it, 7*M have been^secured to, and spent in the Colony. Mor*. STrt, ♦ thl * a very large amount had been paid to Zntof - m ?£ ? lb ° vu ™ c ' wbi ° h ou g h t to have gone into the pockets of producers in this Colony, being paid for wheat, oats, flour, butter, cheese and other commodities produced in New Zealand. The people of Westland were evidently very desirous of being brought into communication with the rest of the Colony. By estfblisWng steam Sr w oSr^ 8U K ha8 i P . ropOSed '. the PP e °P le of the East and West Coasts would be brought more in contact with each other, which ZS2 dr feßf e8 " lt f 1Q * heir ." u tual benefit. Mr Vogel admitted the'impor- £ ff °f ,1 . u de . W u th the Weßt Coaßfc ' h * b ob J ecte <* the endeavor ttffflt frfr 6 ™? °/ * COlonial BU W He considered that that should be the work of the provinces desiring to establish the communication. Mr Macandrew, in the course of hi, remarks in reply, said that the object was to induce some company to establish a .team gervice right round the Coast, by Martin's Bay, JacWs Bay &c, and if the subsidy asked for from the Assembly were not fuffi cient the Provmces of Otago and Canterbury would increase the sum in order to obtain an efficient service. The West Coast 'Tune? hZs soon to see the service inaugarated. *«"«• m>i»e»