STEAM COMMUNICATION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 372, 30 April 1866, Page 4

STEAM COMMUNICATION.

(To tho Editor of the Hawke’s Bay Tlmes.J Sib,—l will, with your kind permission, say a few words on the above question. lam not going to indulge myself in writing a long rigmarole about the value of steam communisation, because that ic well known, and acknowledged by all who know aught of affairs nautical, and by plenty who do not. But what I want to write about relates more particularly to tho receipt and departure of cur English mail. As every one here knows, we receive the mail—l beg pardon—we are supposed to recoins it by tho 25th of each mouth, and our return mail leaves Napier on tho 7th cf each month (no supposition in this case). Well, I think I know of a better and, it may be, a cheaper way of arranging this affair; and it is with this object in view I now intrude upon your valuable space. My scheme is very simple, and is as lollows:—For the Government to charter a small steamer to leave Dunedin immediately upon the receipt of the English mail at that port, coming straight on to Napier, not calling in at any port, by which arrangement, according to my calculation, we would receive our mail at least two days earlier,—that is, allowing the steamer 72 hours fur the trip from Dunedfti. So much for the receipt, now for fhe return mail. The English mail steamer Haves Dunedin for Melbourne about tho 13th of every mouth;—well, allowing our steamer plenty 7 of time to catch the other one, she need not lea ve Napier till tho 9th or 10th, thus affording the good folk of Napier at least two more days to answer their letters —a great consideration, I trow, to everybody, but more especially to merchants and country settlers. To make this more plain, I submit the following :-rEKESESI SYSTEM. English mail arrives at Napier on the 25tk. „ „ leaves Napier on the 7lh Time allowed for answering letters, 13 days. TEOPO3ED SYSTEM. English mail arrives at Napier on the (say) 23rd. „ „ leaves Napier on the (say) 9th. Time allowed for answering letters (say), 16 days.

In perusing this, the reader must bear in mind that I have allowed 31 days to the month in the present system, and only 30 days in the proposed one. Therefore, the advantage to bo gained by adopting the latter system is greater still than I have made it appear. But there is one phase connected with this arrangement With which I have to deal, viz., who is to pay for the steamer to conduct the service F Government, of course, some will say j but will they agree ? They say they are short of cash ; and is it likely they will agree to another drain upon their funds ? Hardly; but if the new system is adopted, the old system will have to be thrown aside; and the money that is now annually paid for the present service would more than suffice for the proposed oue. Ido not know that I can say any more on the subject. I only trust, however, that other persons better acquainted with these matters will take the subject up ; for, in ray opinion, it would be a great boon to the Province should it ever be adopted.—l am, &c., A LANDSMAN. Napier, 28th April, 1866.