The Nelson Evening Mail. ERIDAY, JULY 5, 1872.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 195, 5 July 1872, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. ERIDAY, JULY 5, 1872.

We yesterday published a condensed report of a lively debate that took place in the United States Senate on the question of subsidising the Webb line of steamers, from which it' will be seen that these boats are not viewed with a very favorable eye by the shrewd Americans before whom the matter was brought. Indeed, it would appear that our Colonial Treasurer, however well able to cope with a Victorian Prime Minister, was no match for the cute Yankee shipowner who succeeded in passing off upon him, as fast mail steamers, a lot of "rotteu old hulks that are not fit to run upon any piece of water and pay a profit." Even as Mr. Duffy was out-Vogeled by our Ministerial factotum, so has Mr. Yogel apparently been out-Webbed by the proprietor of a fleet of steamers, which one of the Senators who took part in the debate described as being only calculated to bring discredit upon American commerce. It is clear that the Webb-Vogel contract is doomed, and that its days are numbered. America on the one side, and Australia on the other, refuse to have anything to say to it, and it is absurd to suppose tbat New Zealand, even if it were desirable that she should do so, cau maintain it single-handed.- It is possible, however, tbat, ere long, we may have a line of steamers on this route that will be capable of performing their work satisfactorily, and that arrangements may be , made by which, if we are content to occupy a more bumble position than that aimed at by the ambitious Mr. Yogel, we may receive our mails via San Francisco with a degree of regularity to which, since entering upon this miserable contract, we have been entire strangers. The Sydney papers are decidedly in favor of communication with Europe by the transPacific route, of which tbe Morning Herald says: — "As a postal, a passenger, and a traffic line, it bas capabilities that cannot be ignored, ior the American trans-continental railway has practically altered the relative distance between Australia and the great seats of industry in America. It is clear that the relations between our wool-producers and the American, consumers are destined to grow much closer." On the other hand it is unreasonable to suppose that Victoria will be prepared to throw over the P. and O.lioe by which all her wants are so fully supplied^ until some reliable service cau be substituted for it. The past experience of the Webb contract has not been such as to warrant the giving up of a line with which its own performances contrast so unfavorably. A well-informed Melbourne correspondent of the journal above quoted gives the following figures, in the face of which itis scarcely to be expected that any very great enthusiasm would prevail in Victoria in favor of a change in their mail services :— -" The quickest of the P. and 0. Company's mail deliveries, via Brindisi; was 45 days, ahd the longest 48; the average bf the>ix months being 46J days; and by way of Southampton the time has varied from 51 to 56 days, giving an average of 53 \ days, while tbe six homeward mails, via Saa Francisco, during the same period, have been delivered in from 61 to 84 days, giving an average of 68

days. The outward voyages for nine months, omitting on the one hand the Rangoon's mail, and on the other the mail which arrived in Sydney yesterday, and assuming that the English mail of January had reached us in the ordinary course (though it did not), tho relative times have been as follows: — The quickest *oails via Brindisi have been delivered iv 43^ days, and the longest in 49|- days. The average bas been 46^. By way of Southampton they have varied from 51 to 56 days, the average being 53. The Californian mails have been delivered in from 55 to 69 days, or an average of 63." The same correspondent concludes his letter on this subject with the following words : — " The people of this colony are likely to cling to the shortest and quickest route for their letters (which tho Suez route must ever be), whatever they may be disposed to do io the way of encouraging fresh openiDgs in other directions for commercial purposes." From ibis it would appear that if an efficient and reliable service is to be established via California, it is from New South Wales that the chief support roust be looked for, New Zealand paying her fair share, arid Victoria contributing towards it, not so much for postal as for commercial purposes. That such a line will be opened and will reoeive the assistance ot America, we believe will be the caso eventually, although some little time may probably elapse before arrangements such as will suit the views of all parties can be effected. In the meantime, the sooner we have done with the present wretched apology ior a mail service the better, both for Mr. Webb and the colony, of the verdancy of which he must have carried back such pleasing recollectious to hia native country.

Parish Meeting. — The annual meeting of the parishioners of Christ Church will be held at the Bishop's Schoolroom this evening at 7 o'clock. Road Boards. — At .Motueka, Messrs. J. Staples senior, J. Wilkie, T. Greenwood, S. Carter, and R. Wallis have beerelected members of the Board for the ensuing year. The Suburban North election resulted in the return of Messrs. Batchelor, Burn, W. Frost, W. Northam, J. Mackay (treasurer), and W. Wastney (secretary). Edwards and Kerr v. Monro. — The Resident Magistrate, in delivering judgment tbis morning, said that he Bhouhl overrule the point of law raised by Mr. Pitt and that on reviewing the evidence he had found that 35 additional sheep ought to be allowed to the plaintiffs in addition to the number ascertained yesterday, os there had been no second delivery. — Mr. Pitt, for the defendant, contended that something should be allowed for " more or less," but his Worship said that, no eridence of any v.sage relative thereto bad been adduced. He then gave judgment for 315 sheep at 3s. 6d., £55 2s. 6d., and costs £6 Bs.

Sailed. — Briton, Camillp, and Hero, for Wellington, Amherst for Napier, Antipodes, and Magellan Cloud. ADELAIDE. The Speaker has ruled that the transAustralian Railway Bill is a private measure, and cannot be proceeded with. Wheat ss. 9d.

One Thousand Lives Lost. — A despatch received in New York contains information of a terrible cal « mily which has befallen the iown of Vellore in Madras, British India. During a hurricane which extended for miles along the eastern shores of the Indian Ocean, the waters rose io an immense height, aud For remainder of news see fourth page.