OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 44, 21 February 1905, Page 2

OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

(From Our Canadian Correspondent.)

VANCOUVER. 8.C., January 29.

THE VANCOUVER SERVICE

It is possible that a return will be made to the old order of things on the Canadian=Australian steamship line. Brisbane will in this case be cut out. and Auckland, New Zealand, will once more be made a port of call. To this end a number of active New Zealanders have been working for some months, and' the success of their, efforts is seen in the estimates placed before the Dominion House of Commons at Ottawa. There one finds a decrease of 24.G66.66d01s in the amount asked for steamship service between Canada and Australia and a. new item of fiO.OOOdols for a steamship setvice between the Dominion and New Zealand makes its appearance. In other words Canada is adding over 25J}00dols to the subsidy it pays for the service, between here and- Australasia. The New Zealand Government would pay oO.OOOdols also, but Queensland would eea=e to contribute to the cost of this intercolonial service. While it has not been definitely decided that the Union Steam Company of New Zealand, which runs the present line, shall get the contract, there is little doubt that such will be the case. Suggestions have been heard that the Canadian-Pacific Railway and the Allan Line were considering the desirability of making offers, but the rumours may be dismissed. To get the subsidy the Canadian-Australian line will have to improve the service.

i The only thing that would make either the Canadian-Pacific or the Allan line consider the subject of Australasian connection at the present moment would be the certainty of getting the contract for the conveyance of the Imperial mails, to and from Great Britain. A report has 'come from Australia to the effect that the Commonwealth Government has re : jeeted the tender of the Orient Company to do the work for the sum of 700.000d01s per annum. The cablegram further stated that the Australian Government might enter into negotiations with the Dominion Government for the conveyance of the mails via Vancouver, but so far no mention of the subject has been made at Ottawa. THE RETURN OF PROFESSOR RUDDICK-

Canada is giad to get Professor J. A. Ruddick back from New Zealand to take Professor Robertson's vacated position of Dominion Dairy Commissioner. Mr Ruddick -was the other's right Hand man for a number of years till the island colony wooed him from Ottawa. While in this countiy ' lie enjoyed a wide personal acquaintance ameng dairymen in all parts of the Dominion, and he ably seconded Profeesor Robertson in the' useful work wliich that gentleman performed. When New Zealand cast eyes all over the trorid for a man to do for it just what Professor Robertson was doing for Canada, it seemed only natural that the choice should fall on Professor Ruddick. But. after all the experienced Canadian was only lent to Seddonland. Professor Robertson's sphere of usefulness was changed a few months back, and the Federal Government tempted Mr Ruddick with the vacant position. Much as he had learned to like New Zealand, Mr Ruddick's first thoughts were still with the land in which he had studied all the needs of a great industry. When he decided to wine back to this country the press from, end. to end of the land counted Csnada fortunate" in being able to again secure the services of so competent a man. especially after the new experience he had gained in New Zealand, where administration, no matter the department, is ever energetic and progressive.

A RUGBY TEAM FOR THE ANTT PODES.

•V representative team of British Columbia Rugby football players will make a tour of Australia this year. Ihe nesotiations betwwti the clubs of the cities of Vancouver and Victoria'and the Australian Rugby Onion have advanced to such a stage* that the tour is now assured. Mr Woodward, of this city, has the arraneements in hand. He saya no date for-departure has yet been finally fixed, but the team will depart from these shores before the end of May.. The Australians, with their customary munificence, will pay all the travelling expenses of the British Columbia 10. The Vancouver team, which is composed of the champion Rugby players of the province, will probably provide at least six of the players, the Victorian club will send five men. and the others will probably be chosen from the husky miner* of Nanaimo. Springer, W orsnop, Woodward and Marpole are four of the Ibovs from this city whose Wtmes will iin 'all likelihood figure on the list, while ! J E Cornwall. H. and A. flillcspie, K. -V Pcholefield"and A. C Barnacle are the five chosen to represent the capital city. The Messrs Gillespic j asifl ken. fecholeficld playd in the Canadian team which toured England some years ago, and they tbcu proved themselves able to hold their own against the Old Country cracks. ■