WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 15 July 1857, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

We have a broken file of Wellington papers to the 4th instant. The latest dates have been furnished to us by the kindness of the master of the Phoebe.. The mail, from some unexplained cause, contained no copies of the Wellington journals for the week previous to departure. The papers received contain copious summaries of English intelligence, and Aye are indebted to them for some of the news we have already given. The local items are not many. Local Steamer.—The most important item that we have had for some time to chronicle in our Commercial Record is the formation of a Local Steam Navigation Company, for the purpose of purchasing and running the WougaWonga, recently arrived here from Auckland. In our last two issues we have reported the proceedings of the Public Meetings held for this object, and we are happy in announcing the Company as formed, and the boat purchased. The necessary legal documents were signed by Mr. Daldv, the agent for the late proprietors, on Monday afternoon, and in about five or six weeks we may expect to see the vessel in our port ready to commence her I new engagements. The price to be paid is £3,800, one-half-cash and the remainder in J three and six months' bills, delivery to be taken at Auckland on completion of her return trip from Manakau to that port. This price we consider a very reasonable one. We believe an energy will be thrown into the Company, by means of which the Wonga Wonga will be kept in constant and, as far as possible, remunerative employment. The Provincial Government have agreed to give a bonus at the rate of £2,500 per annum, and at the end of the first six months to recommend a larger one, if the expenses of working should unfortunately require it. In our leading article of Saturday, we expressed our belief in the willingness of the* Government to act liberally, but we were not prepared for the grant of so large a subsidy. The projectors of the company propose running the steamer one trip a month to the Ahuriri, Wanganui, Canterbury, and Nelson, and in the interval to the Wairau, and any other short distances that might offer an inducement; and for such service, being only partly.'provincial and partly inter-provincial, we thought a subsidy of £1,500 a year would be deemed liberal. The Government have however promised to recommend to the Council a much larger sum rather than the enterprise should fall through, but we still think, if the expenses of working the Wonga Wonga are to exceed her earnings by £2,000 or £3,000, so large a sum of money ought rather to be sunk in opening up a commerce with the various trading points on our coast, instead of interfering with any of the smart little vessels now running between the provinces. We would rather that the vessel k had been kept constantly running

between Napier and Wanganui, calling at as many intermediate points as possible; as it is, the monthly trip will be 'of little service ; not sufficient to absorb the trade, but just enough to straighten the vessels regularly employed between Wellington and those poits; inconvenient to passengers, who cannot have more than forty-eight hours to remain, without they wait the month; and at too great an interval to prevent the expense of overland postal service. We trust, however, that as the plans of the company are merely in embryo, they will not fail to make provision for rendering to the province as large a return for the subsidy so liberally granted as circumstances will allow, —the more obvious the return, the more readily will the necessary subsidy be continued. We indulge the hope that the caution that has characterised our merchants, while those of other provinces have been taking steps to establish Local Steam Companies, will prove not to have been the result of any well-grounded fear as to the means for the profitable employment of a suitable vessel, but that the little Wonga Wonga will ultimately compel the Wellington Steam Navigation Company to mc.ease its capital, and run an additional and larger boat under its management. — Independent, July 4. The steamer Tasmanian Maid arrived this morning from Nelsonvia Wairau, having left the former place on Wednesday last, and the latter yesterday morning. She brings no news of importance. A few return diggers are passengers by her, and report the yield of gold to be increasing ; but that the inclemency of the weather had very much impeded digging operations. The Wonga Wonga, hence, had arrived at Nelson, and was laid on for Taranaki, via the Aoreie Gold Fields. The Tasmanian Maid sails to-morrow for Wairau, the Aorere Gold Diggings, and Nelson.— Ibid.