THE MELBOURNE AND AUCKLAND STEAMERS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 224, 8 February 1865, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE AND AUCKLAND STEAMERS.

We perceive that the s.s. Auckland is taken off the berth for Melbourne, and we are sorry to learn that after a succession of trials to perform a Melbourne and New Zealand monthly steam service, by the two boats belonging to the P.N.Z. and A.E.M. Co. without any subsidy, it is found that a mere passenger and freight trade at the commencement is inadequate for their support. The losses upon each boat are about £SOO per voyage, and unless assisted by the Auckland Government, further attempts by the Company, we are told, will have to be abandoned, at least so far as Auckland is concerned. From the correspondence upon the subject which has already taken place between the Auckland and Melbourne Chambers of Commerce, a fair amount of encouragement was expected to attend the experiment, but we are sorry to observe so heavy a deficit in the earnings of the boats, and trust rather than the line should be altogether abandoned that the Provincial Government will step in and give a proportionate amount of support to the project, until the General Government may in all fairness bo induced to grant Auckland the like postal advantage that the Southern ports are enjoying, of a monthly service to and from Melbourne.

The Melbourne Government, we have no doubt, would contribute a subsidy to this line if the case was fairly laid before them by our provincial authorities, by guaranteeing a few thousand pounds to give the line a fair trial. We are satisfied that ultimately the line would be selfsupporting.—JN. Z. Herald.