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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4219, 28 September 1874, Page 2

It is not probable that Mr. Thomas Russell will find it necessary to go on to Melbourne in connection with an American mail service. If he should, it would appear that he is not likely to meet with an entirely friendly reception. The Age and the Leader have never been favorably disposed to the San ITraneisco line, preferring a Cape of Good Hope route of large and powerful subsidized steamships, and still adhere to their opposition to such a line. In a late number of the latter we find the following comments on the ill-success of Mr. Hall's management : —" Direct communication by steam would not give such commercial advantages to this Colony as would compensate for the high premium we should have to pay. for making Melbourne the terminus of the line. It is doubtful if even New Zealand is not paying too dearly for its whistle in indulging the luxury of an American service. Elsewhere we publish an account of themiserablemismanagement of the Californian service, of the vessels being seized in port for debt, and the dishonor of the passengers' orders issued in Sydney for tho overland passage across the Central Pacific Railway. It may be that Sydney, for other-than economic reasons, will endeavor to keep up the line, but it has yet to be proved that it can be worked to advantage as a mail service, even with the correspondence of New Zealand and a State subsidy to boot." The latest information on the subject will not be pleasing to the Leader, since affairs are not in so hopeless a state as they were a week or two ago. The Albion, with the English Suez mails, reached tho Bluff on Saturday morning after another of her very fast runs across from Melbourne, having done the trip in four days and twelve hours. She left the Bluff in the afternoon for Port Chalmers. She may, therefore, bo looked for here on Wednesday, although her mail is not due until tho third of next month. The news brought on this occasion is of no great interest. Some surprise was occasioned when the news was lately received of

the appointment of Governor Berkeley to succeed Governor Weld in Western Australia, and it would now appear that such an appointment has not been made. The reports as to the London wool market and sales continue favorable. The Victorian tariff has been passed, as published by us a short time ago. The quarrels of the members of the Tasmanian Parliament are over for a season, the prorogation having taken place. From West Australia we learn that a Bill to amend the Constitution by the creation of a second Chamber, the members of which are to be nominated, has been read, and a dissolution has followed that there may be a reference to tho country on the matter. —.

In Hawaii, the continuance of the San Francisco and Sydney line : of steamers is considered not only a desirable thing in itself, but an enterprise that is not likely to be permitted to fall through. On her late voyage up the Mikado reached Honolulu promptly to time, and the fact was accepted as giving renewed assurance to the public that the derangements of the service are of a temporary character only. Experience has shown, writes our Honolulu contemporary, that there is a large business to be done with the islands, which had given "more trade to the line than Sydney, Auckland, and Fiji combined." It regards with favor the proposal to avoid the Fiji group, and make straight running between the Sandwich Islands and New South Wales and New Zealand alternately. A suggestion had been made that the steamers should make the run on the great circle system of sailing, but a saving of only 130 miles would be made thereby, passengers would miss the pleasure of a visit to Honolulu, and the ships would lose the intermediate passage money and freight. It would be a great pity if Honolulu were avoided.