AIQUVAL OP THE HON. JULIUS VOGEL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 500, 17 August 1871, Page 3

AIQUVAL OP THE HON. JULIUS VOGEL.

SPCCKSSI'UL NEGOTIATIONS MADE BY THAT GENTLEMAN. —BAIIKOADS TOR NEW ZEA-

LAND.—ACCIDENT WHILE EN ROUTE,

The Hon. Julius Vogel, Colonial Treasurer and Postmaster-General of New Zealand, accompanied by hia wife, children, and sister, arrived last evening, having come overland in the special Pullman car " Cambria." It will be remembered that Mr. Vogel arrived here in February last, and after having addressed the Chamber of Commerce on the subject of the Australian and New Zealand line via our port, proceeded to Washington and New York where, he successfully arranged the postal contract, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, with Mr. VV. H. Webb and Ben. Holladay. He then proceeded to England, where hia first business was the negotiation of a loan of £1,200,000 for .New Zealand, mainly for immigration and public works. After a very short notice the whole amount asked for was subscribed, at a price which allowing for all deductions, represented about £95 15s. This loan is of the " unguaranteed debentures," the £1,000,000 previously guaranteed by tho Imperial Government remaining to be used as, in fact, a reserved fund. Amongst othera matters to which Mr. Vogel is understood to have devoted his attention was the rendering absolutely permanent the new mail gerrico, and we hear that the British Post Office authorities are considering the whole question in order to decide whether or not it shall become an alternative service with thai via Suez, so as to secure a fortnightly mail between England and the Australasian Colonies- The Colonial Office is understood, at Mr Vogel's suggestion, to have communicated with the Admiralty, and while it is believed to be the intention of the Government to increase permanently the naval force on the Australian station, it is understood that instructions will bo given to the Commodore to so use his force as to show to the natives that the Colony has not been deserted by the Home Government. Negotiations for tho construction of railroads were opened by Mr. Yogel, with Messrs. John Brogden & Sons, the extensive contractors, and with other gentlemen. A preliminary arrangement was concluded, and Mr. .Henderson, as, representing Messrs. Brogden, is now on his way to the colony, with Messrs. C. N. Bell and J. G. Dees, as assistants. Mr. Fox, the able Secretary of Mr. Vogel, himself an old litterateur, accompanies the party, the members of which will leave us to-morrow, on the Ajax, en route to tbeir colonial home.

In crossing the Missouri at Omaha, the party had a rather rough experience. The special car " Cambria" was taken on board the H. C. Nutt, a side-wheel steamer. The works for the Omaha railroad bridges are progressing and the iron castings for the piers (to be filled v\ith solid masonry,) are standing in the river above water mark. Either through bad steering, or the force of the current, the steamer Nutt fouled one of the piers and smashed itover knockingitinto a Becond. The steamer was considerably damaged and one wheel disabled. The commotion onboard was lively, and the engineer fearing a conflagration on board extinguished the fires in the furnaces. A steamboat put off from the Council Bluff's side of the river, to render assistance ; but the Nutt finally succeeded in making the Omaha landing to the joy of everybody on board, and of many on shore, who feared that she would sink before assistance could be rendered. —News of the World, July 18.