THE PANAMA ROUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 636, 11 December 1858, Page 4

THE PANAMA ROUTE.

-' On Monday, August 30, a deputation repre- • anting- a largo number-df bankers, merchants, - sad other persons interested in the welfare of -■ the colonies of New South Wales,' Moretoh Bay, and New Zealand, waited by appointment upon - SirE Buhver Lytton, at sthe'Colonial Office, '•for the purpose of presenting - a memorial in ' favour of the establishment of a new postal - communication via' Panama. The deputation consisted of the Hon. Sir Henry-Watson Parker, late Colonial' Secretary of New-South Wales; the Hon. Robert-Johnson and the Hon. R. J. Want, members "of the-Legislative Council of New South Wales ;-G.-A.7Lloyd, Esq., agent for the Government of-New-South. Wales; John Al«-er, Esq., Donal Larnach', Esq., aiid William Walker, Esq., New South Wales; J. E. Fitz Gerald, Esq., late member of-the Executive Council of New Zealand ; W. S. -Graham.' Esq., and Edmund Blackett, Esq.,-Auckland; Thos. - Day, Esq., emigration agent, late of Melbourne; . and R. Moore, Esq., of Paris. The Hon. Mr. Parker said he had the honor " to present a memorial from the Australian - colonies and New Zealand, urging upon her Majesty's Government the importance of establishing" a steam mail communication,- by way of Panama, between England and the Austra- ! lian colonies and New Zealand. The memorial was signed by about 400 of the most influential gentlemen in the metropolis and in the colonies, and was couched in the following terms: — - " To tha Right Hon. Sir E. Bulwer Lyttori. Bart.", M.P.,

Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c, &c

"Tho memorial of the undersigned bankers, merchants, and others, inhabitants of or otherwise interested in the welfare of the colonies of Few South Wales, Moreton Bay, and New Zealand, Sheweth—l. That your memorialists have suffered great inconvenience, and, in some instances, considerable loss in consequence of the delays and irregularities which have hitherto attended the performance of the po-tai service

between this country and the Australian colonies. --- "2. That, even with the present insufficient communicatiouj the mails are rapidly increasing in bulk and importance, whilst an amount of traffic is springing up which demonstrates the profitable results that would arise from a ■postal service conducted with regularity and despatch. "3. That the increasing wealth and importance of the

' Australian colonies, and the rapid development of their re- - uonrces, demand a more frequent postal communication ■ than has hitherto been maintained with 'this couutry ; and . that for such purpose a fortnightly mail ought to be estab- . lUhed.

.«« 4. That whilst, in deference to the wishes of the southern and western colonies of the Australian group, thj route by way of Suez should be maintained, the interests of the

northern and eastern colonies demand that a new route by

- way of Panama should be established, the- mails being con *■ veyed alternately by-cither route, so that either portion of ; the whole group may share equally the great advantage " derived from being made the point of Erst arrival and of > last departure of the mails. "5.' That the insufficiency of the postal service via Suez r- to the wants of the northern and eastern colonies U such,

that twice only in the time during which it has been in use

have replies been received from Sydney by return of post; -it is comparatively--of little use to the district of Moreton Bay (about shortly to be erected into a separate colony). - which would receive its mails via Panama, sis soon as Melbourne; and New Zealand, although willing to share the -'■■ axpeose, can derive but little advantage from the service. " 6. That the feeling- of tbe colonists of-New South ' Wales and New Zealand has already been clearly mani. fes:ed, the Governments of / both-those colonies having - unanimously voted a large sum to esatblish a mail service by the Panama route—the former J?35,000 a year, the latter _?15,000. And this feeling has again been strongly • expressed-by the Legislature of New South Wales, as appears in recent accounts received from that colony. "7. That whilst your memorialists believe that the Suez : route ought to be maintained as having the incidental ad-

vantage of keeping open the intercourse between Australia

and the British dependencies in the East, the Panama route presents ftill more important incidental advantages

as opening tint communication with the British colonies ia North America, the -West Inoia Islands, and the newly dis-

covered gold fields on the .north west coast, as well as with the United States and with the coasts of South America,

bntween which and the A ustraiian ' colonies commercial relations of great importance already exist.

"8. That the importance of Cue Panam* route is immensely enhanced by the completion of telegraphic communication with America, by which intelligence may be conveyed between the Australian colonies aud England in about SO days.

"9. That upon every consideration, whether of commercial or political convenience, the maintenance of a double line of postal service is of the highest importance as a provision against those contingencies to which a single line will always be more or less exposed.

'-'And your memorialists earnestly hope that their petition may be taken into the favourable cousideration of Her Majesty's Government."

Sir E. Bulwer Lytton— You are aware that the establishment of any route of postal communication must rest with the Treasury. It is not a matter for the Colonial Office, although undoubtedly the recommendation of the Colonial Minister will have its due weight and influence. A great number of^applications have been received on the subject, and they will have every consideration from the Government. I think it probable that we may ultimately be able to establish a fortnightly communication with the Australian colonies by way of Panama, the • more so in consequence of the formation of the colony of British Columbia. But :tbe question is to a great extent one of expense. The Hon. Mr. Parker referred -to the great inconvenience that had arisen "from the irregularity of the mails, as was pointed out in the 'memorial. The colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand had offered to contribute 'liberally towards the establishment of the proposed route—New Zealand had offered to give a -subsidy of £15,000, and New South Wales a subsidy of £3b,000 a-year. Sir E. Bulwer Lytton asked for some estimate of the proportional expense.of the Panama route. The Hon. Mr. Parker—Twelve months ago the company which now has communication with' New South Wales would have been satisfied with the colonial subsidies, independent of the Imperial Government altogether, but the line 'broke down somewhere on this side of Panama. Sir E. Bulwer Lytton—Was that an Australian or, an-English Company?

The Hon. Mr. Parker—The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, and they could have taken the mail the whole way, but their consideration was :ihat they hall an establishment between Panama ;jind England.

Sir E. Bulwer Lytton—But they could have :takcn. the rest for .£50,000 a-year.

The Hon. Mr. Parker—They would. The contract now in existence by way of Suez was not only most inefficient, but most expensive. He had been informed by a gentleman of great mercantile experience that if the old contracts were annulled the two might be taken and effectually carried out for the £50,000 additional. Both as regarded the Imperial Government and the colony it was most desirable that there should be a second route.

Sir E. Bulwer Lytton—So far as principle is concerned I very much agree with the memorialists, and so far as the expression of my opinion goes I am in favour of the establishment of a double route—very much so indeed. A great number of reasons have lately arisen to render that double route necessary, and I shall be exceedingly glad to do what I can to promote it. That is-all. I can say, aud perhaps you would think it desirable to see the Treasury on the subject.

The deputation then withdrew,