STEAM TO NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 582, 12 November 1851, Page 3

STEAM TO NEW ZEALAND.

[From the " New Zealand Journal," June 7,"] Loud Jocelyn's Committee have decided by a majority of eleven to five, in favour of the route round the Cape of Good Hope, for the ocetn steam inaiU to the southern colonies. This, as we have remarked on former occasions, will make the space gone over and the time consumed in uansmitting letters to New Zealand, much longer than they would be by the Panama route. But the question with us in the present, as in most cases, is not what would be most desirable or would suit us best, but what it is possible to get under existing circumstances. Ultimately the Panama route must be the route for mails, passengers, and even goods to New Zealand. And as matters now stand, it does not appear to us that any very exorbitant number of years need elapse before it actually becomes the route. Bui there are hinderanccs in the way of its adoption, and till they me overcome, it is the interest of all settleis in New Zealand, and of all who take an active part in the development of its resources in this country, to exert themselves to have that colony hooked on to the ?xtiemiiy of the chain of ocean steam communication, we have no doubt will soon bo established to the Australian colonies. The resolution of Lord Jocelyn's Committee, if sanctioned by Parliament, will have the good effect of relieving the question of ocean steam communication with the southern colonies, from all the irrelevant matter which has been mixed up with it, in consequence of its having been placed on the footing of a mere extension of the Indian and Singapore line. That rout*

being abandoned, in so far as the southern colonies are concerned, the gieat monopoly of the East India Company, and the comparatively little monopoly of the Peninsular and Oiiental Company, may be left to carry on their intrigues and stiuggles again&t each other and the public in geneifll, without any detriment to Australia or New Zealand. They can no longer serve Sir Chailes Wood as an excuse for standing looking on at their fights, with his hands in his pochets, instead of exerting himself to lemove obstacles out of the way of the establishment of steam communication 10 Australia. The Australian interests in Britain and tho colonies are •ufliciently stiong to realise the immediate establishment of ocean steam mails to the southern colonies, if thpy will but bestir themselves in e.irnest. The importance of the Austialian colonies, as the source whence the woollen manufacturers of this country derive so large a propoition of their raw material, enables tlum to command efficient support in Parliament. The awkward condition of the convict transportation system, and the incipient commotions in Australia that are arising out of it, render quick and regular mail conveyance at this moment an absolute necessity to government. A brief but vigoious action upon public and Parliamentary opinion will compel government to establish steam maib to Australia without delay. And if the various bodies repiesenting, or interested in New Zealand here at home, take .in earnest and effective part in the agitation, they can command the extension of the line of steamers to New Zealand. The very least that can be conceded to them will he brnnch steameis for the carnage of mails from Sydney to some port in New Zealand. That obtained, a couple of steamers of less tonnage, to connect Otago and Canterbury, the Straits' Settlements, and the nearest point on the west coast of the Northern Island to Auckland, will suffice for the inter-colonial New Zealand mail distribution* It would be iolly to exaggerate to ourselves the amount of benefit which would accrue to the colony from such an anangement. It would be limited to the more speedy and regular receipt of intelligence fiom the colony, and dispatch of intelligence from it. And though the regularity might be made as great under such a system as under any other, the practical maximum of speed would not be attained. The necessity of carrying on themnils to Sydney, and having them there transferred to another boat, would lengthen the course of post. It would so much increase the expense and delay of passenger tramit as to leave sailing-vessels proceeding dnect to New Zealand still the most eligible means of conveyance for passengers. And the necessity of breaking bulk, the limited accommodation, and the delay, would render the steamers ineligible as the means of merchandise conveyance. Still the communication between this country and New Zealand by letters and journals might be much accelerated, and rendered perfectly regular; and that alone would be immense gain, especially in the present unsatisfactory state of the relations of the colony to the mother country, and of its internal administrative arrangements. While, therefore, we earnestly urge upon all friends of New Zealund and nil having " a stake' 1 in the colony, to spare no efforts to have it booked on to the tail of the Australian Ocean steam communication the great and paramount object of a direct and independent ocean steam communication between this country and New Zealand, ought not for a moment to be lost sight of. The Royal Mail Steam Company, and the Pacific Steam Company, are both anxious to co-operate in the establishment of regular ocean steam navigation to New Zealand via Panama. Their terras may not be such as it may suit the colony to embrace, but measures ought to be taken immediately to learn what the best terms are they are prepared to offer. And care should be taken, that in any arrangements adopted respecting steam mails to Australia, no conditions should bo granted to any Company that may debar New Zealand irom availing herself of any other agency.