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Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 416, 29 October 1856, Page 7

The same journal gives the following history .of the formation of THE EUROPEAN AND AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL COMPANY. The following- is the history of the formation of the new Steam Company. Our information is derived from a gentleman conversant with the particular?, and who is also intimate with some of the shareholders. Our friend says ;— " You will have heard that the contract for our mails has been given to a new company under the above title, to run an independent Australian lire, via Suez and Ceylon, to Melbourne md Sydney. The boats are to be screws, not under 2300 tons on your side, or 1600 tons on this side. I need not enter into particulars, as you will see it in the papers. The parties concerned are, Mr- John Orr 15 wing', of Glasgow, Chairman; Mr. James Gaibraith, MrRobert Henderson, Mr. Buchanan (of Buchanan, 'Hamilton, and Co.). aud Mr Allan Gilrnore, all of Glasgow; Mr. John Dunbar, also of Glasgow ; Mr. John Fender, of Manchester ; and Mr.'Rdw. .'ohn-' stem, of Liverpool; and>the -history of thefhingis 1 sMunly this; they sub.sciibed £140.000, and builj

two large steamers—the European and Columbian'— just before the war. They have been employed at excellent rates by the Government, and have earned their entire cost. In two months they will be discharged ; like wise men, the Scotchmen were easting about to see where they could sell; they tried, three month"? ago, every likely channel, but in vain ; and upon the old adage, ' in for a penny, in for a pound,' they resolved to make a bold stroke, and tender for the Australian mail- Mr. Ewing, their chairman, and two of his partners, went up to town, and after a hard fight they got it. The P. and O. Company treated them with contempt, and felt convinced that no person could oppose them on that line. They tendered for the service from Suez to Melbourne for €150,000, but refused tojbe bound in any'penalties, and wrote a lette. with their tender covering 18 or 19 pages, of terms which they required to (ii.-tate. The'Glasg'ow Company, after several inter view;; with Mr. Wilson, agreed to carry the "mails" all through, from Southampton to Sydney, for £IB%,CfCK), and their offer was accepted. Then the 11.I1. an<J O. Company got wrath, and offered to do it all for 150,000/., buti t was too late. You will see an ugly article upon the subject in the 'Morning Advertiser' of 3rd July. Their plans are pretty well matured; they have the European, , Columbian, and Oneids, each of 2300' tons, ready, and are.going to build the Australian, of 2500 tons, which will complete their | service on your side. While" the; Australian's1 I building they vriU either charter or buy the Victoria probably, which' made so good afun to Mcli bourne. Their first steamer leaves her^ on the 4th October, and is intended to call only'at St. Vincent, where she will fill up with coal, and run direct for Melbourne. The second leaves on the 4th November, and the third on the 4th December ; and your first mail is to leave Sydney on the Ist January. , Sydney is to be their head station, thanks to your i docks and coals, but rib"thanks to the" English Government, who did all it could to terminate the service at Melbourne ;" but the company stated its price would be the same to] stbp at Melbourne as if they weut on to Sydney, from the simple fact that their boats must" go to Sydney to be cleaned and coaled. The Company have made no arrangements"' yet for the service on this side. ; '' They have ordered the great ship auctioneer in Loridontb send them a list* of all -the steamers for sale, from/which they intend to select three for this side. They are in no great' hurry about this end, because they will not require a boat before February. I have inquired very carefully here into' their position, and find that, although the Company is not' known (simply from the fact that theirjsteamers have always been in the transport service) yet the members composing it are mostly men of wealthy; andsomeof them strong enough individually to perform the whole contract."— Sydney MorningHerald.