STEAM COMMUNICATION ON THE WEST COAST.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 2, 1 February 1855, Page 6

STEAM COMMUNICATION ON THE WEST COAST.

Wiremu Te Awaitaia and several other influential Waikato Chiefs have been warmly discussing the important topic noticed under the above heading, The decision come to on the part of the natives, we have not yet been able to learn : but it will be seen that the European portion of the population have turned their attention to the same subject. We quote the following from one of the Auckland newspapers:— "We have much pleasure in directing attention to the Notice, in our advertising columns, of a Public Meeting to be held, at Onehunga, on Monday next, of those interested in procuring a steam vessel to trade between Kawhia, Wliangaroa, New Plymouth, and Manukau. "It is by means of steam alone that these harbours can be rendered safe and available for commerce ; experience having, but too truly, proved that sailing vessels are quite unsafe upon such a shore, and with nothing but bar harbours under their lee.

"This meeting happens most opportunely, as we have now a steamer here, the 'Neptune,' one of those which our Harbour Engineer, Mr. Simpson, made proposals to purchase in Melbourne. "The Neptune is a fine iron built vessel, possessing admirable sailing qualities, under canvas, for her size ; and of good steam capacity, capable of performing easily 7 knots per hour, and altogether, we should imagine, the very vessel for the proposed trade. We only hope that a small but sufficient number of persons interested may agree among themselves to raise the necessary funds for the purpose permitting and encouraging the Natives to take shares along with them, as being at once an excellent investment for their money, and an admirable means of civilising them and uniting them still more intimately with the Europeans. This is the proper mode of stopping all fighting amongst themselves, and of preventing bad feeling between the races. It would be good policy to assist in the undertaking upon this ground alone, independent of other advantages which are too obvious to require pointing out. Ever since the sale of the William Denny, when several shares were taken up by the Natives, there has been gradually growing up amongst them a desire to obtain more steam vessels, and this desire should meet with every encouragement."