Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1203, 21 December 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1871.

The problem of a fortnightly mail service between the mother country and the colonies, which shall be satisfactory to all parties, is one beset wit,h difficulties—so much so that it may be said to be almost hopeless; and the utmost that can be accomplished is to approximate as closely as possible to the required conditions. The several colonies must of necessit3 T be visited in suppession, and, as a matter of fact, a dif-

fcrence of time mtjst intervene between the despatch of the mails from home and their delivery at the different ports of destination. If two alternate routes be given, and the colonies first served by one of the routes be those last served by the other—which appeal's to be the fcest practicable plan—it is at once obvious that although the despatch of the mails may take place at regular periods, the times of their delivery will be very diverse, and can only be fortnightly, or any approximation to it, for more than one or two of the whole number of colonies ; and as the average time of pas sage between New Zealand and Melbourne is abput five days, it follows that what would be a fortnightly service for one would be an irregular service of about three weeks and one for the other.

The above considerations will alFord a reason for the disinclination of the Australian group of colonies to join with New Zealand in subsidizing the present service via San Francisco, and why they object to New Zealand being included in the route of the mail steamers. Melbourne being the cen ti'al colony could by a direct San Francisco service secure practically a fortnightly service, but if New Zealand be included in the line, must submit like ler neighbors to a somewhat irregular service. On the other hand; if New Zealand be not included in the line, it would have to provide a branch service, and in addition submit to a delay pf three pr four days in the receipt of her mails by that route.

Our owri opinion of the matter is th&t, provided the line of San Francisco steamers touch at Auckland only, to deliver and take the mails and such cargo as falls to the share pf New Zealand without making unnecessary delay, and proceed at once to Melbourne or Sydney, the full advantages of the services would be secured as far as possible to all the colonies. This would of course require two local services, one for the East Coast and the other for the West, which services could be very efficiently performed dining the outward trip of the mail steamer ; but in this as in other matters the vexed question of protection is made to have its influence, and we accordingly find that the Assembly made it a condition of its assent that the mail steamers should proceed along the New Zealand coast for the benefit of the wool trade of the Colony. Of course it is hopeless that the other colonies would aid such a service, and accordingly New Zealand must be saddled with it< whole cost.