FORTNIGHTLY STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH MELBOURNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 60, 24 January 1862, Page 2

FORTNIGHTLY STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH MELBOURNE.

The following petition is now in course of signature. It lies at present at our office, where it may be seen "by persons desirous of affixing their signatures :—

To His Honor the Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

The undersigned merchants, bankers, professional men, tradesmen, and others, residing in, and interested in, the city of Dunedin, beg to memorialise your Honor as follows :—

That a large amount of business is transacted between Dunediii and Melbourne. That on the latter place, for some time to come, Otngo must be dependent for the bulk of its supplies, and for a market, or for the route of transit of its chief export gold. That it is therefore highly important to secure the constant and exclusive service of at least two steamers between Dunedin and Melbourne. That it is very much for the interests of the people of Otago to be within as rapid communication with England as possible. That it is equally important to return letters home at the latest date as to receive them at the earliest date. Timt from being the first port of arrival and last 'of departure of the English mails of all New Zealm:l, Dunedin would derive great advantages. That these conditions could only be realised by contract steam communication twice a month between Melbourne and Dunedin.

Now, therefore, your memorialists pray, that you will canse a contract to bs entered into with as little delay as possible for two monthly steamers bctwean Melbourne and Dunedin, one to leave Melbourne immediately on arrival of English mail, and coins on direct to Dunediu ; the other to leave Dunedin within the shortest possible limit of the tinia it could be calculated on to catch the English return mail.

Your memorialists would also wish to point out that sufficient penalties should be stipulated for to ensure the due carrying out of the contract.

(Here follow the signatures.)