DIRECT STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH EUROPE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1882, 8 May 1878, Page 4

DIRECT STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH EUROPE.

We tire indebted to the Hon. Minister for Immigration (says tho ♦•New ZoaInmlor") for copies of the following lettors, to tho subject matter of which we have on previous occasions roforrod :—: — Immigration Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 16th April, 1878. Sir,— Kovorting to tho subject of tho passago ol emigrants from Europe to Now Zealand by steam, I .now desire to di aw your special attention to this question w ith a view to your taking whatever notion may bo deemed most likely to inlhienco those who may fool disposed to embark in buoli an enterprise I feel porsuaded that a payablo unbrokon steam lino between the mother country and this Colony can bo established, and that such lino would do jnovo towards attracting a steady strewn of suitable immigrants to New Zealand than aught besides. When it is considered that tho voyago would be accomplished in loss than half tho time now occupied by sailing vessels, I do riot think that the conveyance of immigrants need cost much, if any, more than it has hitherto done. It is, in my opinion, to bo rogrottod that after tho Colonial Immigration Policy was iuitiatcd, advantage thereof was not taken towards tho establishment of a direct atom lino. Even a portion of tho money which tho Colony has oxponded on immigration would havo gono a long May tow ards subsidising such a servico ; indeed, it is not clear to mo that wo ought not to havo applied tho large sum now paid annually tow aids the Colifornian line to tho subsidising of a direct lino of steamers of sulHcient power ami capacity to have combined both a postal and emigration son-ice. It seems very doubtful if Now Zealand is rcceh ing anything like an adequate quid pro quo in viwpeot of the CaUfortmn sulmidy. It Is useless, howexer, now, to regret tho omissions and blunders of tho p.ibt, and I fool convinced, that if gone about with earnestness and determination, this may bo redeemed in respool of tho future Tho trade of Now Zealand is increasing at an enormous rato ; tho production of grain ahfllo is oven now assuming a mngmtudo whie.li when tho railway in completed, and the available country occupied, will sink into comparative iusiguilio.inco. There can, I think, bo little doubt, that in tho course of a \ci> few years, this Colony, in addition to its othor production?, will supply tho market of the world with food to an extent unequalled bj any other country of smiil.u- area and population. Tho production of co reals tins ye ir, in Canterbmy and Otago alone, is o\or 2<it),ooo tons ; tho popuUtiou of' both Province* being a more handful. No doubt thcao fact 1 * aro nlrcaily patent to yonv mind. I alludo to them as affording one of tho elements which tiny fairly bo taken into account in considering tho question as to whether or not a direct steam sen ice will pay. With ste-un vessels so constructed as to carry grain in bulk, I «co nothing to prevent our competing in tho European market \\ ith any othor country, to the extent of hundreds of thousands of tons annually. In estimating the prospects of a bteam lino h. New Zealand, it is not so much the tun vhik of cargo that may be reckoned upon a^ that of passengers, a \ evy largo proporMon of whom would be of what may bo termed tho "paying class." You may rely upon it, that ho surely as Now Zealand is brought within 40 days sail of England by means of floating hotels, tho attiaotion of tho Hot Springs in the North, and the grandeur of tho sconery in tho Middle Island, will lend to an enormous passenger traflio to and from Europe ; in point of fact, Now Zealand must ine\ itahly bicoiiic an essential portion pf the "grand tolll." In writing thus, I may perhaps bo rcgirdcd as stepping somow hat outside of the 0 nventionalism of official correspondence. Tho conviction on my mind, how over, is so strong ai to tho magnitude of the results w hi'-h must needs accrue from a thoroughly efficient direct steam sorvico between New Z. aland and tho Mother Country, that I cannot refrain from thus freely expressing tnv thoughts on tho subicot. I m ght my a great deal more in favor of such an undertaking wore it not that I feel assured that, you aro as fully alive to its importance a? myself, and that you will leave no stoiu unturned to get it carried into eHoet. I may i cmark that this is no now idea in :is far a^ I am concerned, and that sevoral years ago a correspondence took placo on tho subject between tho Albion Shipping Company and the Superintendent of Otago. The former wore inclined to. dispose of their .splendid fleet of sailing vobsolb and to replace them by suitable steamers, provided the Pr<i\ineo would havo entered into an immigration contract upon certain terms. At the time, however, the aspect of Colonial policy wan such that the Provincial (lovornnient wan paralysed in its action, and hence the negotiations fell to the ground, much to the detriment of Now Zealand. I do not know how lav the Albion Company might bo induced to entuitain ft simi'ar piojMxal now ; but as I undeiHtand the Company still comprises some of tho most u\tun»i\u and eminent .steamship builders on tho ( 'lydo, it might bo well for you to communicate with tliom on the aubjoot. I will now alludo to anothor viow, or plku.o, of the question. Of course if a steam Jni" be established, it is supposed to havo its terminus at some port in Now Zealand, and here it is to bo feared arises a difficulty. It is a difficulty, however, which I would fain hope may bo found to bo moro apparent than real should the matter bo brought to tt practical issue. It is Hupposcd that thero is so much jealousy towards one anothor on tho part of tho leading communities throughout tho Colony, that rathor than let any ono port have the advantage of boing the terminus of a steam lino, tho Colony would forego the beneilt of such a servioo altogether. While there may be some amongst us who are influenced by buoli narrow-minded and impractioable viows, I venture to hope that such opinions aro not entertained by many. Now that wo havo taken a fresh startingpoint, upon tho basis of a national life, it is to be hopod that all part* of the Colony will fco ahko to all. A« it is, I should fool disposed to leave tho question of terminus, or ports of call, \ cry much to tho judgment of tho contractor. It would bo for him to select such a port on would best enable him to carry on tho sorvico on tho lowest terms to tho Colony. I have only further to express an earnest hope that yon may bo able to succeed in at once breaking ground in this important matter, and that proposals may spring up ■uMiuiontly tangible- to enable them to be dealt with by tho Legislature at the ensuing session.— l am, &0., J. M.ujandhkw. Agent-General for New Zealand, London. Immigration Office, Wellington, Now Zealnnd, 26th April, 1878. Silt, —There to ono very important fact which I omitted to , notice in my letter to you relative to a direct steam lino to Now Zealand, which in that the Colony is now l>ciiig circumnavigated with the utmost regularity and safety by a number ol firstclass steam vessels, ao that tra voile in visiting Now Zealand have no difficulty in mo\ ing about from ono part of tho Colony to mother by sea. There arp al»o regular steamers between Now Zealand, and the Australian Colonies. ThcHo n re considerations which should havo ■ome weight with those who may fi el dispose I to entertain tho proposal of a <lucct pteam lirie from Europe.— l have, fto., J. M MM M>(" W The Agent-( 'cnoral for New Zealand, London.

Mi: ' MTWiili AAUN. — The " N» . i lander" hwiis thftt the veteran i><t ' •, fdr Smyihi^H, has demanded of tin* » > m><«n>nt an iiuniiiy, int<? the conduct . «i Ju lgoH in Tciiition . to » j)erjury «.!■•' V hiaiil nt mmodiii. The (JoM-rnnx i ■aid to li^yo replied that Mr Sm\t' j,ri jut courto, if no htti a griovaii' i i t)w Ju<lgc«, t4 to petition Parliamont.