STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 10 November 1855, Page 3

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA.

In the House of Commons on the 18th of July,

Sir J. Pakington wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he had received a copy of the circular despatch from Governor-General Sir William Denison to the Governors of other Australian colonies, submitting heads of plan for establishment of monthly line of steam-packets to England, estimating the amount to be paid to a company or companies for that accomodation at £100,000 per annum., and proposing that three-fifths of the required amount should be borne by the home G-ovanunent, and twofifths by the colonies ? Whether he had received a copy of an address presented by the Legislative Council of Victoria to the Governor of that colony, expressing surprise and regret that the Home Government had suffered frequent and quick communication with England by steam; to cease, and expressing their readiness to bear then" fair share of the cost of renewing it, to an amount not exceeding £50,000 per annum? And whether her Majesty's Government had given their attention to this subject, and how far they can hold out a prospect of the early re-establish-ment of steam communication with Australia ?

Lord J. Kussell said he had received a despatch on the 2nd of thia month with respect to steam communication with Australia ; and it was to the effect which the honourable baronet had named. But SirW. Denison said the project which had been brought forward had not received the assent of the other colonies, and he thought that no company would engage hi such a large undertaking without being assured that something more than a mere resolution would be passed. With respect to the colonies of New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand, no answer had been received ; but with respect to Victoria, there was a despatch expressing that, owing to the great pressure for steam transports for conveying troops to the Crimea, the steam communication with the colonies had been interrupted, and the colonists stated they were ready to propose an expenditure of £50,000 a year for this purpose. The despatch had only been a short time since received. It had occupied the attention of the Government, and he was engaged with other departments in consideration of the subject.

A similar question was asked in the Lords, on the same day, by Lord Hardwick, and replied to by Lord Canning, who expressed the anxiety of the Government to meet the wishes of the Australian colonists as early as possible.

Instance of American Recklessness. — On the evening preceding -my departure from Cincinnati, 1 went to the cemetery. But the trip was well nigh terminating my travels, and making me a subject for permanent residence among the tombs. Acting on the instructions I received from the landlord of tbe Burnet House, I took an omnibus to a place sbout a mile from Spring Grove, where buggies were waiting to convey parties to the cemetery. " Here Tom," said the driver at whose side I was seated, " take this man to the cemetery, and bring him back at seven for the last 'bus." These words were addressed to a youth in charge of a buggy, who replied by nodding assent, and discharging a cataract of brown saliva among a lot of bens. As there was no time to lose, I was soon en route, " Tom " urging his horse at the top of hit speed, lam not a nervous man, so, although we went at a break-neck rate, careering over stones and through deep ruts, I made no remonstrance, having faith in the springs. But on turning a corner, we came suddenly in sight of a board, with the well-known notice, " Look out for the locomotive when the bell rings," which was made more impressive by hearing the signal, and seeing the line of steam announcing the proximity of a train, I was somewhat anxious, as my driver did not manifest the slightest disposition to stop. An usual, the road and railway crossed on the same level, which did not leesen'my anxiety. " Hold hard ; Btop, stop! " I cried, and and as these words received no attention, I rose from my seat and grasped the driver's arm, for the purpose of arresting our progress ; but in vain. Lashing the horse with redoubled energy, he replied to my entreaties to stop, by the assurance that he would go ahead of the en-gine; and to my horror, on we went, buggy and* train approximating rapidly at Tight angles ; the locomotive's bell meanwhile ringing furiously what seemed to be my death-knell. Finding all my efforts to avert an anticipated collision were futile, I resumed my seat, and resigned myself to my fate. What I did or said during the next few moments I know not; but I remember a feeling of sickness came over me as we dashed across the line, and I beheld the iron horse rushing onwards, and almost felt the hot blasts of its steam-jets. " There, I told you I'd clear the darn'd thing," said my driver, chuckling over the achievement : " but 'twas a close shave." — Weld's Vacation Tour in the United States and Canada.