Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 607, 1 September 1858, Page 4

Colonial.

NEW SOUTH WALES. STEAM COMMUNICATION. It will be seen by the following intelligence tthat Australia has taken the initiative in our ilat« suggestions of securing some more efficient means of mail transit from England than the bungling arrangements hitherto existing. In the New South Wales Legislature, on the •43th ult., Mr. Parkes in a long, illustrative and able speech, moved— "1. That the experience hitherto gained of -steam communication between Australia and England, via India, has led to general dissapointxnent and dissatisfaction in this colony. 2. That -any new arangement for the performance of the mail service by the India route, though it -ensured the postal regularity and speed, would -confer no other considerable benefits on New South Wales, while it must necessarily place this community, as the bast point of intercourse da the Australian system, at a permanent disadvantage in relation to the Southern Colonies. -3. That it is in the highest degree necessary that immediate steps should be taken to prevent the public inconvenience and injury which would result from a total stoppage in the Mail service with which the colonies are at present threatened and that the interests of New South Wales would be best promoted in this emergency by opening communication with America and Eu- - rope, via the Isthmus of Panama. 4. That there -are reasonable grounds for believing that a line of steamers of the requsite power aud capacity, running between Sydney and Panama, in ad•dition to the advantages of regular postal commmunication, would induce a spontaneous and valuable passenger traffic to these shores, from the large numbers of persons constantly arriving on the Isthmus from the United states, British North America, and the West Indies, as well sis from the countries of Europe, and from the -communites of Anglo-American origin on the •Pacific. -5. That in coming to a right determination on this subject, the question of cost is not the first for consideration, but that the efficiency of the service to be performed should be secured beyond probability of failure, and that especial regard should be had to those social and commercial consequences Avhich would tend most to the progress and prosperity of the colony of New South Wales. 6, That an address, embodying the foregoing resolutions, be presented to the Governor-General, praying that his Excellency will be pleased to bring the subject under the early consideration of the Executive Government." The proposer contended that it Avould be economical in the end to secure certain and regular communication even at a sacrifice of half-a million of money, and strongly dwelt on the importance of thereby becoming more closely allied with New Zealand. The" following are some of his remarks on the latter subject. " Then opening up steam communication between .Sydney and Panama, would give them securely and continuously the valuable trade of the colony of New Zealand; for in every sense, the colony of New Zealand had always looked •towards this colony with the most friendly feelings. A large proportion of our trade was derived from thence, and there was a greater degree of commercial friendliness subsisting between this and New Zealand, than between any two other colonies. With New Zealand, in the course of time, we should no doubt connect Avith the innumerable and fertile : islands in the Pacific lying to the north of us, and which were destined to yield to the wave of JEuro-peaucivilization."

As the speeches on the motion were mostly of a general character, we quote only the following as giving a more distinct idea of the projected scheme.— Mr. Smith supported the proposition in favour of the Panama route, and was of opinion that if the resolutions just moved were adopted in time for the departure of the mail, a beneficial effect would be the result. He believed that not-onty should we derive advantage from an increased number of emigrants by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In the tender of £50,000 made by Mr. Wetton for establishing steam communication via Panama h-o Avere enabled to form some idea of the cost of postal transmission by that route. Allowing even that £60,000 would be required, we might calculate that New Zealand would contribute at least £20,000 towards the subsidy. It would be recollected that when the -question of the Panama Toute was in agitation before, she had volunteered £15,000, and from the great interest she had exhibited in the matter since, there was no doubt she would give £30,000. This would leave only £40,000 of which we might fairly expect the Southern colonies to centribute £10,000 for the conveyance of their mails. The amount would thus be reduced to £30,000, a sum which he did not think would be an extravagant or improper outlay; but one which would eventually return a hundredfold interest. It would never do to depend upon the Suez route. That line would never be available for the conveyance of a large number of passengers to our shores. It would never be sufficiently economical, nor would it ever suit our views as a means of postal communication. For the expenses of that route it must always be considered that the other colonies would contribute the largest share, and in the event of any delay in the arrival of the mail they would never be willing to allow us a sufficient number of days to enable fes to answer our letters by the same mail. In a commercial point of view the Suez route offered little or no advantage. In a social point of view, it would not benefit us by bringing to this country any great accession of population. The greater number of persons who came by that route would stay in the other colonies instead of coming on to Sydney. The reverse would be the case, if tbe Panama line were established, as the larger portion of the passengers would go through to Sydney. He was surprised to hear an honorable member say that Melbourne would be the terminus for the steamers engaged on that line. It was evident that the large steamers would come from New Zealand to that port where they would have the advantage of the best engineering and docking establishments, and where the best and cheapest coaling was to be procured. He considered it advisable that we should affirm the following principle, that Sydney and New Zealand should bear the whole coast of the line as far as Panama, and the Home Government complete the remainder of the route; that Melbourne and the other colonies should bear the expense of steam communication as far as Suez, and the Home Government the remainder of that route. It would be a grand thing to look forward to a scheme of steam communication which would embrace the whole world, and be believed that if we took a firm stand in the matter, the scheme might be carried out. He would never consent to place in the hands of the Home Government the absolute power of negotiating for us. He was aware that the voyage to Suez was an extremely difficult one for vessels to perform with any certainty. This Avas not only from the length of the voyage, but from the great speed Avhich it was necessary for them to keep up in order to perform their contract. Now, in negotiating for the route via Panama, we ought to look rather to certainty than to speed. The slight difference in time would be felt the less when the, telegraph communication was complete which would shortly be established betAveen Panama and the mother-country. If these resolutions were carried, he thought it would be the duty of this Government to communicate with the Imperial Government, as well as the Governments of the other colonies, and to make known to them our firm determination on the subject. The motion, after being put to a division, was carried by a majority of eighteen. The Panama route has thus been determined by New South Wales to become the future course of their English Mails, and it remains to be seen how far New Zealand will co-operate in a measure that cannot* fail to secure to her all the important advantages attendant on a priority of ah the Australasian group in Euro pean aud American communication.