THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

Evening Star, Issue 3807, 7 May 1875, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

The ‘ Argus ’ o! the 12th instant contains a report, extracted from the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald’ of the 6th, of a statement made in the New South Wales Assembly by Mr Bums, Postmaster-General, relative to the negotiations for the San Francisco mail service. We must go from home, it seems, to learn news. Mr Bums explains that, when Mr Bussell was in Sydney, it was agreed between him and Mr Samuel (Postmaster-General in Mr Parkes’s Ministry) that the two Colonies should resume joint negotiations, for the San Francisco service. Mr Bussell was anxious to establish a service by way of Auckland, but Mr Samuel could not be induced to consent to such an arrangement. Ultimately it was agreed that tho two Governments should appoint representatives in London, with power to arrange for one or twc services; “one, that known as Hall and Forbes’s contract, and the other, a service which was called Forbes’s service, that is to say, a service which would supply New Zealand,’' as well as New South Wales. The representatives were authorised to accept a contract for either of these services in February—the date when the existing agreement with Messrs Hall and Forbes would lapse—for a sum not exceeding L 90,000. Mr Russpll proceeded to London to conduct the business on the part of New Zealand, and Sir Daniel Cooper was appointed to represent New South Wales. But when those gentlemen met in London they took on themselves to alter the terms of the agreement. They resolved on calling for two tenders; but instead of adhering to those agreed upon, they substituted for the first service via Auckland the very one which Mr Russell had advocated in Sydney and Mr, Samuel refused to adopt. The Government of New South Wales seem to have thought the representative* in too great a hurry. On hearing from Sir D. Cooper what had been done, they immediately telegraphed that ample time must be allowed for Colonial contractors to tender, and also for contractors in America, should auy desire to do so. In consequence of this action of the Government, negotiations were for a time suspended. Since then, further proposals have been received, which are still under consideration. Mr Burns did not feel justified in stating to the House what these proposals were; but they included plans for two services similar to those first proposed, and for a service by way o! Auckland, with a proposal that vessels taking the contract? should reserve half their passenger acoomraoda tion for New Zealand. In the latter case, the oost would be largely increased. Mr Burns ended by saying that the Government regarded the public faith .of the Colony as in some degree pledged to New Zealand, and that therefore, a) sacrifice of their-.own-opinions, they intended to adhere as much as possible to the terms agreed upon with Mr Russell. In reply to a question about the penalties due from the - late centraofcors, he said that the Government would do their best to recover them but were aot very wuguine of success. The last news was that the principal, surety had placed Lis affairs in liquidation.— * Press.