Steam to Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 489, 21 December 1850, Page 3

Steam to Australia and New Zealand.

In consequence of (he failure of the recent arrangements for steam navigation to Sydney, the following petition to both Houses of Parliament was, at our latest dates, in course of signature amongst the leading city firms:— '' The petition of the undersigned merchants, landholders, stockholdeis, and other persons interested in the welfare of the Australian colonies and New Zealand. •' Humbly showeth,— that your Lordships' petitioners are deeply impressed with the necessity of at once approximating the Australian colonies and New Zealand to the mother country by means of steam. ".That this powerful agent of civilization lias brought nearly every other British colony into close connexion with England ; but that Australia, although comprising the most important and promising dependencies of the Crown, remains still as remote and difficult of access sa when first discovered. " That your Lordships' petitioners submit that the rapid increase in the population and tiade of the Australian colonies now imperatively requires that they should possess those benefits of speedy and certain communication which have been extended to other coinmunitie*. " That your Lordship's petitioners have, by frequent appeal to your lion. House, as well as to her Majesty's Government, sought to obtain the abvantages of steam communication for Australia and New .Zealand, whilst the colonists themselves, by repeated petitions, aa well as by the votes of their respective legislatures, have vinced the deepest anxiety for the attainment of the same object. " That her Majesty's Government have from tiim to time entered into negociations with various public companies for the transmission of mails by steam vessels from England to Australia, but all steps laken for this purpose have hitherto proved abortive. " That your lordships' petitioners regard the fnilure of these negotiations with extreme regret, when they consider that the revenue derivable from the transmis. sion of letters between Great Britain and the colonies, if added to the sums voted by the local legislatures, is of itself more than sufficient to defray the expense of the service required, without in any way trenching upon Imperial resources, " That under these circumstances your lordships' petitions approach your lion house with feelings of much disappointment, and earnestly pray that your lordships will take into your early consideration the jury in sustained by the general interests and the commerce of the country from the tardy and imperfect communication now subsisting between the Australian colonies and England ; and tbat you will be pleased to adopt such effectual steps for their relief in the premises as to your lordship's hon. house may appear most meet."