THE MAIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 2

THE MAIL SERVICE.

[Ltttelton Times.] There is one very noteworthy fact about the hostile criticism, which a few of the New Zealand papers have indulged in with regard to the contract for the conveyance of mails by the Pacifiic route. Everything which Mr Hezekiah Hall says about his prospects of establishing a rival line of steamers is received with a child-like faith and delight, every promise that he makes is accepted without the slightest question. But when the Postmaster-General has to be dealt with, all that he does, says and promiaes is scrutinised with the closest sceptism, occasionally varied by an insinuation of the basest possible motives. We have no particular objection to Mr H. Hall, and are quite ready to admit that he has fulfilled his engagements with the colony as well as could have been expected . under the circumstances. The steamers he put on the line have never performed the service in contract time, but no one who knew their capabilities they expected that they would, and they were perhaps the best that could be obtained for the subsidy which the colony paid. But why the papers we have referred to should be so ready to aecept all Mr Hall's utterances as gospel, and why they should persist in prophesying the success of his efforts with such joyful alacrtiy we are really at a loss to understand. We are loth to believe that any New Zealand journal which professes to have the interests of the colony at heart would rejoice in the failure of a scheme calculated to advance these interests, simply because it has emanated from and been matured by a political opponent. This, however, seems to be the only conclusion which it is possible to arrive at styss whq deUghfto #nc] with.

the Pacific mail service arranged by the Postmaster-General appear tp,derive an immense deal of satisfaction, from the thought that theie has been than three contracts," or four, if the contract with Mr H. Hall is included. That Mr Neilson should have exceeded his powers, or rather that Mr Vogel should have allowed himself to be, as they call it, hoodwinked by an unscrupulous agent, is absolutely delicious; but that he should again, as they allege, fall into the same blunder with another agent is the very acme of bliss. Nothing could possibly go beyond that, except the complete failure of Messrs Webb and Holladay to fulfil the terms of the. engagement they have now definitely and indubitably entered into with the colony, or the refusal of English capitalists to lend the. colony a single penny for carrying on public works and immigration while Mr Vogel continues to hold the office of Treasurer. If that consummation, so frequently foretold, so devoutly hoped for, could only be arrived at, some of our contemporaries would receive*the announcement as A thought of joy that rises in the mind, Where sadness hath been sitting many an hour! A thought of joy that comes with sudden power, When least the welcome guest we look'd to End. In the meantime, as the postal contract has been duly signed, sealed, and delivered, the public will probably look for some information about its provisions. It may be briefly and fairly described as in nearly every respect identical with the contract entered into with Mr. J. B. M. Stewart at San Francisco, and recently published in our columns. Mr. Stewart, it will be remembered, is the representative of Messrs. Webb and Holladay, and partner of the Mr, Collie who paid a visit to the Australasian colonies some months ago on business connected with the establishment of the Pacific, mail route. How far he " exceeded his powers" may be seen by a comparison of the contract agreed on between him and the PostmasterGeneral, and that finally signed by Messrs Webb and Holladay. The difference is trifling, and certainly not more than might have been expected. And if we compare the arrangement now made with the sketch of line No. 2. under the Neilson contract, as given by the Postmaster-General in his memorandum of November last, we shall find that there is a close resemblance between them.

Line No. 2, as those who had the opportunity of reading the principal New Zealand journals will admit, was almost unanimously accepted as very advantageous for the colony. That being the case, as has been aptiy remarked by the " Wellington Independent," Mr Vogel was justified in coming to the conclusion that the nearer he could apyroach to this line in his final arrangements with Messrs Webb and Hollady, the more completely would he carry out the wishes of the public.