THE NEW MAIL ROUTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 126, 31 May 1870, Page 3

THE NEW MAIL ROUTE.

We are indebted to the General Government for the following telegraphic report of a meeting on the subject of the San Francisco mail route held in Wellington yesterday : — Wellington, May 30. A very large deputation waited on the Postmaster- General to ascertain the views of the Government on the resolutions passed at a public meeting about the Californian Mail Service. Mr. Pearce presented the resolutions and other papers, and made a few remarks, the substance of which was that the deputation were not hostile to the Government, nor were they mixed up with those who condemned tbe Government for entering into the contract with Mr. Hall, nor pledged to support any company. The Postmaster-General, in reply, said he was glad of an opportunity of explaining the subject, about which there had been much misrepresentation. The contract with Mr. Hall would cost little or nothing, if the reduced cost _ of the Suez service were taken into account. He was anxious to enter into the contract, because he had reason to suppose that otherwise the line would go by way of the Fijis, and that New Zealand would be only a branch. The contract at any rate could not be a loss. The first service was a success, and it was not his fault that the vessel was crowded. Mr. Collie had called on him at Auckland, and he understood that in San Francisco there was a fight going on between Mr. Webb and Mr. Hall's friends, Messrs. Haliiday, Bremner & Co. ; and that Mr. Webb wanted to dispose of the vessels, which the Pacific Railway had put out of employment. From Honolulu, Mr. Hall wrote favorably. It was quite possible he had already arranged with Mr. Webb or Mr. Haliiday, subject to the approval of the Government. Mr. Hail's contract was so stringent that he could do nothing without the consent of the Government. The Postmaster-General did not wish to be too sanguine, and would say no more than that it was quite possible that satisfactory arrangements had been made. He congratulated the deputation on their public spirit, but was not sure that the action taken was not injurious. First, it was a pity that the Colony should be mixed up with the local jealousies of Melbourne and Sydney; secondly, Mr. Collie had been led to expect that his large demand was reasonable, whilst the Postmaster-General had assured Mr. Collie that he could not expect such an amount, even if Mr. Hall's contract broke dowD. Touching the opinion of the Government, they looked on securing a direct route as the most important matter. The port of call was a matter of secondary consideration. At present they were quite content with Mr. Hall's contract, but would, if allowed, like to see the steamers, after touching at Auckland, proceed to Wellington, Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, with branch steamers from Manukau to Melbourne and Sydney. One thing to remember was that the Port Chalmers dock would soon be completed. This would be thoroughly a Colonial service. The Government were determined to have nothing to do with any service which did not place New Zealand in the direct route. If the route were to he by Fiji, let some other Colony arrange it. He tried at Sydney to persuade the contractor to proceed from Auckland to Wellington, Lyttelton, and Otago. He was sure that that was the best route. He presumed that Wellington would not object to vessels going on to Lyttelton instead of to Melbourne. The Government would not agree with the resolutiou that it was of the highest importance that the route should be to Melbourne. He believed the United States would stipulate for Fiji, but the New Zealand Government would adhere to the direct route. Mr. Pearce thanked the PostmasterGeneral for the information given. He was not authorised to speak for the whole deputation, but he thought he might confidently say that they would be highly pleased with steamers calling first at Auckland and then at other New Zealand ports. They were not bound to Mr. Collie, and were prepared to insist on a direct route.

What should a temperance lecturer never do ? Speak in a whining way. The Element least Addicted to Cekemony. — The sea, because it waves all distinctions.

Monument to Luther. — The intention is entertained of erecting a suitable monument to Luther at Eisleben, the town where he was born. It is hoped it will be completed before November 10, 1883, the 400 th anniversary of his birth.

The Largest Organ in the World. — The largest organ in the world will be the organ now building by Willis, for the Hall of Arts and Sciences, South KensingtoD. It will have 111 sounding stops, independent of 14 couplers. " The Grecian Bend." A good story comes from Cambridge. It is said that when the Greek Archbishop of Syros and Tenos antended the other day in the Senate House, for the purpose of receiving his honorary degree of L.L.D., he dropped his pocket handkerchief, and on stooping down to recover it, one of the undergraduates in the gallery exclaimed, " Hurrah, for the Grecian bend !" The effect was, of course, so intensely ludicrous, that the whole assemblage was convulsed with laughter.

Horrible Tragedy at Smythesdale. — An old resident of this place, Darned Donald Cameron, living near the tollgate, arose this morning about 7 o'clock, and with scarcely any preliminary words cut his wife's throat with a kuife that he had sharpened some days since and kept in his possession. The fatal deed was instantaneously done, and the unfortunate woman rushed out of the house in the direction of the toll-gate, where Mr. Daly, the toll-gate-keeper, came at once to the scene, and assisting the woman, sent off at once for medical help. Before this arrived, however, the woman was dead, the medical gentleman who attended stating that even had he been earlier on the spot it would have been too late to save the woman's life, as all the main arteries had been divided. Cameron suffered some months since from brain fever, since which time he has not been considered in his right mind, the woman having frequently expressed au opinion that he would do her an injury. On Mr. Daly asking him the reason for the rash act, he replied, " that it was another bright star ia heaven, and would be for the benefit of the Almighty." — Ballarat Evening Mail.