STEAM SERVICE WITH ENGLAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 823, 3 December 1878, Page 2

STEAM SERVICE WITH ENGLAND.

[PHI: PJtKSS AGENCY.] Wellington, Dec. 2. Referring to the direct steam service with Great Britain, tlie Chronicle says the Government have arranged for a contract for the conveyance of immigrants by sailing vessels in such way that it can be determined at four months, should a steam line be adopted. On this point Mr. Macandrew wrote to the Agent-General on April 5 : —Looking at the whole circumstances of the case, the Government is prepared to accept the tender of the Albion Company from Glasgow to Otago, and that of the New Zealand Shipping Company from the other ports of the United Kingdom to Now Zealand, provided tenderers will consent to contracts being determined in case arrangements can be made for a steam line for the conveyance of immigrants to New Zealand, four months' notice at least of such determination to be given on behalf of the Government. The latest correspondence to hand shows that this plan was carried out, and Sir Julius Vogel has been making efforts in every direction to get a direct steam service established. It. appears by latest letters received by the present mail from the Agent-General, dated 10th September, that he opened negotiations with Messrs. Galbraith and Denny, of Glasgow, who are largely interested in the Albion Shipping Company. These gentlemen sketched out a preliminary plan for carrying out a direct steam service, the main features of which are :—l. That a sufficient number of steamers of from 4000 to 5000 tons each be specially built for the service. 2. That sis voyages a year should be made. 3. That the Government should gaurantee a certain number of immigrants to go by each vessel ; and 4. That a subsidy be paid annually towards the service. The subsidy asked for was L 60,000. Ministers expect to be shortly in possession of full information as to the cost of a direct steam service from Home.