AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 881, 1 December 1870, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

FBOM GBEVILLE AND CO.'s TELEGBAM COMPANT (BBUTEB's AGENTS.) November 22. The Provincial Council yesterday considered the message of the Superintendent relative to subsidising a steamer to Fiji, and after a discussion, in which an almost unanimous opinion was expressed that the Council should postpone their approval of the message until the Estimates had been brought down, progresa was reported.—The following resolution has been passed in the Council:—" That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to bring before the Council, this or next session, a bill localising the representation of the Province, so that from no district can more than one member be returned."—A message from the Superintendent draws the attention of the Council to the necessity of their advising him as to the class of immigrants it is desirable to bring into the Province under the Public Works and Immigration Act.—Another message requests the Council to consider what railways it is desirable to construct, and estimates that Auckland's share of the Colonial loan will be .£1,875,000 and 620,000 acres of land.

la mining matters I am pleased to be able to report a continued inorease in the yield of gold, though operations hitherto have been somewhat retarded by the drought* Coromandel yields are splendid. Amongst the claims which are taking the lead for large yields I may mention the LittleWonder, 1,560 ozs. from 35 tons ; Queen of Tiki, 476 ozs. from 45 tons; Royal Oak, dividend of .£l9O per share; Harbor View, dividend of «£l6; Swedish Crown, 150 ozs. from 10 tons ; Little and Good, lOOlbs of specimens. Rich alluvial gold has been discovered in tha upper Tararu. The Point Russell has, yielded 104 ozs. from 80 tons; and the, Just in Time 113 ozs. from 71 tons, A destructive fire has occurred at One* hunga, destroying four shops and a cottage. They were insured for «£3.00i Mrs Kurslitt has died suddenly at Hamilton (Waikato), of heart disease. "November 27. The Estimates for 1871 have been placed on the table of the Council.

The Grahamstown branch of the Tele* graph office was opened yesterday. The Local Industry League met yes* terday, and decided to give a course of lectures throughout the country.. The Boiling Down Company commencea operations immediately. The remains of Capt. Weston, missing; for three years, have been found at Henderson's Creek*

NEW MAIL SERVICE. MEMORANDUM BY THE HON. THE POST-MASTEE-GENEBAL. [CONCLUDED JBOM OtJR LAST.] The Postmaster General believes that the contract times are such that it would foe impossible for the Australian colonies not lo come in and contribute fairly in reduction of the sixty thousand pounds subsidy. The contractors have assisted in maturing arrangements by which the journey between San Francisco and New York and from New York to San Francisco will be performed in five days, instead of seven ; and a steame r is always to be ready at New York to start with the mails for England... as soon as they arrive. The transit from San Francisco to London will then be effected in fifteen days, which, from Sydney to San Francisco, the time will be thirty days. The mails from London to Sydney or from Sydney to London, would be delivered in forty-five days, and mails to or from Melbourne would be received and delivered in forty-seven days. Those times, indeed, would probably be materially reduced; for the contractors state that they would be able to save two days should it be worth their while to do so. Supposing New Zealand adopts line No. 2, the Government would be able to choose under the thirteen service conditions, either Sydney or Melbourne as the port at which to make the times correspond with those of the boats of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, or tjie Government would be able to give to either Sydney or Melbourne an absolute fortnightly service to EnglandWhichever of those courses might be adopted, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion, that there would be a mail service to which public opinion in the Australian colonies would demand that contributions should be made; whilst it is also impossible not to conclude that, as a passenger route, the service would be unequalled. There are many other considerations to be taken into account in choosing between the services. Line No. 2, with contributions from the other Colonies, and with the English postages which would be sent free, by the United States foregoing the transit charges, shall not cost much, if any, more than twenty-five thousand pounds. Whilst under similar circumstances, Line No. 4 would cost about the same amount, with far less advantages. Line No. 3, with nearly equal advantages, would cost about the same, but with less risk of costing more through the Colonies not contributing. But the contractors have the option if the Line No. 3 is not adopted, of choosing between Line No. 3 and Line No 4, so that No. 3 cannot be counted on. It will be for the Assembly to decide whether Line No. 2 involves so much risk as to make it desirable to be prepared for the substitution of Line No. 4, 'which, after all, would be a very good service. It, or any of the other lines would give New Zealand a service which would cost much less than the Panama service or than the Suez service (with inter-colonial and inter-provincial distribution boats) has cost; whilst, as compared with either, it would confer immeasurably greater advantages, direct and indirect. The contractors propose to charge eighty-five pounds for the through passage to England, including railway fares across the American Continent, and to leave to each passenger the option of proceeding direct, or of delaying at different places as long as may be desired. The Post-master-General is informed, although it is not a condition of the contract, that a uniform rate to England is to be charged from all parts of New Zealand. Should effect be given to the provision for the admission, duty free, into the United States, of New Zealand flax, and of wool, the produce of New Zealand or ofauy Colony contributing towards the service, another inducement to the Aust alian colonies to contribute will be supplied. It can scarcely be doubted that the establishment of the Line will lead to the development of the New Zealand coal fields, in which case it would be no exaggeration to regard the subsidy as being more than recouped to the Colony by the money payments for its coal, and by the employment t) labor and capital which would be afforded. The time table fixed for the commencement of the services is as follows: —To leave Port Chalmers, Sydney (if required) and London, on the Ist of each month*

Auckland on the 7th, and San Francisco on the 16th. This will enable letters despatched from London on the Ist of the month to be delivered in Port Chalmers on the 15th, and in Sydney on the 16th of the following month. There will be about a fortnight for answering, and replies leaving Port Chalmers or Sydney on the Ist will reach London on the 15th of the following month, thus giving a " course of post" of about one hundred and five days, or three months and a half —the same will apply to answers to letters sent from Port Chalmers or Sydney. In the case of Wellington or Auckland, the time here stated would be reduced by several days. In conclusion, the Postmaster-General would observe that the contract appears to be one of an eminently satisfactory nature. It will stand the best chance of meeting the requirements of the whole Colony as a first-class mail, passenger, and commercial service, and if tested as regards its effect upon the much discussed separate interests of the different parts of the Colony, the conclusion must be that no service more likely to do justice to those interested could be obtained, even if one could be devised. The following description of the vessels to be employed is taken from the American Lloyds for 1870: Nebraska. —The steamship Nebraska, 2,143 tons register; built in 1865, under official supervision ; specially surveyed and classed as Extra Al in 186.9; built of oak and hackmatack, on iron frame; three decks and beams; 15 feet draft; half-brig rig. Dimensions, 370 feet length; breadth, 29 feet; depth, 26 feet. Beam engines, 81-inch cylinder; stroke of'piston, 12 feet. Double planked with 4-inch oak. Made 15| knots on her trial trip. Nevada. —The steamship Nevada was built at the same time as the Nebraska. Her tonnage is the same, and she is in every respect a similar vessel, except that her cylinder is four inches larger. m Dacotah. —The steamship Dacotah, 2,153 tons register, was built in 1865, and specially surveyed and classed in 1869 as Extra Al. She is similar in every respect to the Nebraska. At present she is employed in the trade between New York and the West Indies. Moses Taylor.—-The Moses Taylor, 1,354 tons register, was built in 1857, and was re-surveyed and classed as Extra Al in 1869. Julius Vogel. Auckland, Nov. 24,1870.