The Evening Star. MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2833, 18 March 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1872.

When the San Francisco route was proposed by the General Government it was opposed by various parties in the Colony. Some opposed it on political grounds. With this class it is vain to reason. As a rule, they have formed theories for themselves; and although every day were to bring into view a fresh fact tending to show they were mistaken, they would hold to it that the whole thing was a blunder. It is somewhat unfortunate that snow has retarded the delivery of the mail, for it gives a coloring to their discontent ; although, as a set off, there have been more irremediable disasters by the Suez route—which, of course, they choose to lose sight of. Others base their opposition on different grounds. They pretend the Suez route is the best for the Colony. Thees are not only to be found in Otago, but in Wellington, on the West Coast, and in Melbourne. It was a splendid thing for the merchants of Melbourne when the steamers were subsidised for bringing the mails. Every farthing received in freight was then a profit; and, since it was advisable to cultivate the trade between Melbourne and the ports of call, freights were fixed so low that importers in Dunedin had no chance in the competition. The Colony swarmed with commercial travellers, representing Melbourne firms. The case is different now : partly because the Government of Victoria has been insane enough to adopt a ruinous revenue system, but mainly because interprovincial communication is more regular, and so cheap that our New Zealand merchants are enabled to compete with those of Melbourne, But the most persistent opponents of the San Francisco steamers were certain mercantile firms interested in steam communication with the other Colonies. They argued that the whole affair must collapse, and especially that the large American steamers that now make Port Chalmers the terminus of their voyages, would never visit the place more than once or twice. They even went so far as to misrepresent the capabilities of the Port, through their organ. His Honor the Superintendent was pointed at as a visionary, and his plans treated with ridicule. It was made out as clearly as possible that large steamers could not cross the bar, that the Port would be inaccessible in short winter days; and, because of the fogs that shut out from view the coast of New Zealand, the American commanders would never be able to find their way : in fact, they were to be so beset by dangers seen and unseen that they would very soon cither cease running altogether’, or make some more convenient port the terminus. We have no doubt some people believed these croakers : we know that the commander of the Nevada was agreeably surprised to find safety where he apprehended danger; and now let us endeavor to ascertain whether or not Otago reaps benefit from this infant trade. It will be found that the Nebraska took away 1127 bales of wool and 15 bales of flax. There are many not engaged in mercantile life who will read these figures without reflecting for one moment upon what they point to. In general terms they will be prepared to agree that extension of trade is a good thing ; but they may reply, “ If the wool and flax had not gone to San Francisco, they would have found a market in England” : and this is true. We will even go further, and say in all probability they might have reached America through English agency. But the wool-grower would have found the difference between a direct and a roundabout transaction. In the first place, the buyer has come to the wool, the wool has not gone to the buyer—and that makes no small difference in price to the seller. In the next place, landing and warehousing charges, the cost of re-shipment, and payments for agencies of various sorts in England, are saved both to buyer and seller, and consequently there is room for a higher price to be paid, with a gain to both parties. We do not think we are over-estimating the difference when wo say in all probability the wool by the Nebraska this voyage, and the Nevada last, has fetched a penny a pound more than if it had been sent to England. But this is not all ; in addition to the higher price, the shippers are relieved from risk, and there is a saving of time and consequently of interest of money. It is but the beginning of a trade that seems capable of almost boundless expansion. Then as to the benefit to Port Chalmers resulting from its being the terminus of the line. Everybody knows how his Honor was counted, even by many of his friends, to be too sanguine. His opponents were very free in their remarks. The effort made by him to get the steamers to the Port was said by them to be a mere bid for popularity. Like

many other foolish people, they ridiculed what they did not understand, and could not see that any good could result from those fine vessels lying a 1 few days in our harbor. Perhaps 1 when they learn that there seems every probability of supplies being obtained and repairs being done at Port Chalmers, theji may begin to change their opinions, and hesitate before they join in any cry tending to unsettle present arrangements. Both the Nevada and the Nebraska required some little repairs done to their machinery, and both vessels found it cheaper to have them done here, and to purchase supplies, than to buy them elsewhere. Nor lias their outlay been trifling with us. For smith’s work, and other repairs, stores, coals, and provisions, the expenditure of the Nevada on her last visit amounted to £2,250, and of the Nebraska £1,500. The latter sum would have been larger, but unfortunately, through the loss of one coal vessel, and another being missing, the quantity required could not bo supplied, Nor is this all. On examination of the passenger list, it will be found that many of them were through passengers, and could it be so planned that Victorian passengers by that route could meet the vessels here instead of going to Wellington or Auckland to be picked up, the expenditure with us would be enormously increased. Independently, therefore, of indirect advantages, there is likoly to be a positive outlay in the Port of some £25,000 or £30,000 a year. This even, in the infancy of the trade : what it may ultimately reach, no one would venture to predict. We would ask those who oppose the San Francisco route what they propose as a sot off' to this positive advantage.