STEAM NAVIGATION.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 599, 30 April 1851, Page 4

STEAM NAVIGATION.

[From the Towes City Article, November 28.] The delay of the Government in establishing steam communication with Australia is loudly complained of. A fresh memorial has consequently been presented to Lord John Russell by the committee of the association foimed in London to promote a speedy decision. In this document reference is made to the general expressions of public opinion on the subject which have been called forth during the past three years, as well as to the discussions in both Houses of Parliament, and to the frequent avowals on the part of the Government that the time had arrived when the measure could be no longer postponed. The fact that notwithstanding all this the various tenders sent in a year ago for the performance of the service have met with no response is then pointed out, and the regret of the committee is strongly stated at their having learned that the postponement, which appears to be indefinite, is the result of a difference upon a point, in no way connected with Australia, between the Government and thj East India Company, The committee, however, feel that his Lordship will regard it as unjust that such a circumstance should be permitted io form any ground whatever for denying to the Australian people a measure now conceded to every other possession of the Crown, and to the adoption of which the Executive long ago pledged themselves;” and they therefore solicit his intervention as head of the Ministry “ for the removal of those delays which other departments of the State are interposing to its accomplishment” It is probable that the question is at this time receiving the earnest attention of the Government, and that past delays may even be found to have led to the advantage that it will now be looked at in a broader light than would have been the case two years back. Should this anticipation prove incorrect, there is, at all events, a certainty that upon the reassembling of Parliament the subject will become a prominent one. The declared value of our exportations to the Australian group ■last year amounted to £2,080,364, those to the West Indies being £1,821,146, yet the latter colonies have enjoyed the advantage of steam communication for nine years under a Government contract at £240,000 per annum, while, although it is believed it would be more than covered by the ,postage receipts, coupled with a contribution they' are themselves willing to make, £48,000 is denied to procure the same advantages for the former.

This £48,000 is the amount proposed in the tender of the Pacific Steam-packet Company for a monthly mail via Panama—a shorter route, it is alleged, than the Eastern one by 18 days to Australia, and by 22 days to New Zealand. It is true that the Government, until they -were met by obstructions from the India‘House, hoped to establish the passage by way of Singapore free of all expense—‘that ds to ‘say, -a .reduction could hare been effected in the cost, of that portion of the India mail service; at present performed by the steamers of the India Company sufficient to defray the extra charge of putting on steamers from Singapore to Sydney. But’any saving that it iua ’ fie possible to effect in the i existing India route can;have nothing ihtrin-i with tLoi jT C ww ««av 4&VU 'AI the saving can be made,.fit‘icanjast'aswell.'be regarded as a set off against the cost of steam—ers fiom Panama to Sydney as from Singapore to Sydney.' 'Underthese circumstances any delay-or temporary half measures on the score of waiting the expiry of the IndiaUompany’s charter, when the desired concessions can be enforced from that body, would appearl wholly irrational. If the mercantile public were left to themselves, as regards the payment for letters, to patronize the route which they I found most expeditious and economical, there; can be no doubt that a line would be esta-i blished from Panama ‘forthwith, while as re-‘ gards the conveyance of the better class of; emigrants, and ' the consequent advancement of the colonies, it would offer advantages that could scarcely be over-estimated. If, on the > contrary, through the artificial interference <of* the Government, the longer and, ! as regards; passengers, almost prohibitory route I Should be adopted, we may ‘See before many years,' or, months even, a rival American line run-J ning on the Pacific, anticipating our mails, and eventually forcing cur Ministers 'io grant : a contract on that side such as is now applied for, and with the additional* - mortification of; .paying higher terms in consequencef>of the

competition that will then have to be encountered.