(Signed) M'MECKAN, BLACKWOOD, & Co.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 147, 6 May 1862, Page 5

(Signed) M'MECKAN, BLACKWOOD, & Co.

(Copy.) Melbourne, 16 April, ISO 3, To Messis. M'MeeWvi, Blackwoml,'& Co. Gentlemen,—On In-half of the N\ Z. Government, I hereby accept yoiiv lender of tlii-s il.Ue for the conveyance <>f the X Z. mails from Port Clmlmeis to Hobsc.n's Hay. 1 am,'&c, Ckosbie Ward. Poslmaster-Gcneral, IVevv Zealand. Mr WALKEft ■ said he had the ■honor, at the curlier part of evening, of laying on the table of the House, a petition from the merchants, tradssrnen, and others, in Duncdin, in connection with steam postal service, and hu - would now move that the petition be read. . - The Cleric of the Council then read aloud the petition accordingly. Mr. WALKER, expressed an opinion that it would bo bejst that no specific sum should be attached to the item of steam communication ; but that the House should leave the subject entirely in the hands of the Provincial Executive. Mu. DICK, was glad to see a petition from the inhabitants of Dunedin, in connection with this subject. The necessity of steam communication was now admitted by all; and the necessity of rapid steam communication was also recognized. Tho Government were equally anxious witli the petitioners, that some arrangement should be made to secure to O.tago the co.itrol of the mails between this and Melbourne. The Superintendent appeared to think that the Postmaster General had scarcely done justice to the Province,and that the fact of-the Postmaster General baing in Victoria, at'the time that the contracts ought to have been opened.hadan influence on the result. Whether this were the case or not, the local Government still adhered to the desire of retaining the control of the mail service. Uuloss steps were taken immediately in this direction, it whs very evident that the.intention of the.l'ustniiister-Genexal was. to throw;the contract of the service between Dunedin and Melbourne into the hands of the Gcner.il Government; and. in the Assembly it was quite probable that the General Government would propose to take the entire control of the mails. It was indispensable therefore that the House should at once act with; decision and promptitude. The course that seemed most advisable was this : that tlie Provincial- Government should, without delay, make contracts to carry on the mnil service from the time the contract at present existing, made by Mr Cro<"bie Ward; terminated. Let the House arrange, if possible, that Otago shall make a contract for conveying the Mails between this und Melbourne. If that were done, the General Government would not be likely to carry on another m;iil service between Dunedin and Melbourne. The Provincial Executive would, therefore ask the Council not to place any sum on the Estimates, if it could be avoided. It' a small sum were placed on the Estimates, it might possibly not meet the requirements of the case ; and the local Government considered it would be better, as recommended by the hon. member for the Western district, that the question should be left to their discretion to'carry out the contract to the be-t interests of Otagol lie would read the resolutions arrived at by the Government on this question ; although the Executive were n-rt in a position to state what sum would be required for the various services. The navigation of the Taicri by steamboats had been- under consideration on a. former occasion, and a sum had been placed on the Estimates last session, but steamboats were not procurable. The Government felt, however, that, the sum placed on the Estimates lost scs-ion might not bo sufficient for effectually prosecuting future operations. The river Clutha was a rapid river, and it was quite possible that the parties tendering to proceed up the Cluthu, might,require a larger bonus than tlu House would be disposed to appropriate. It was considered expedient, therefore, that the House should ieave the Government at liberty to carry out this arrangement also. On these grounds the Government were prepared .to submit to the committee a general resolution on the subject, leaving to the Government the power to carry out the views of.the Council;' The hon. member conclude 1 by moving the following resolutions:— " lierolved that it be left to the Government to make the best arrangements they can for the conveyance of monthly mails to Melbourne for England, a:rl of the English mails from Melbourne to Otago taking care to secure the mails from^Otago being brought at tho earliest dates, provided that no exorbitant demand is mado for these services. "Kesolved to leave it with the Government to make such arrangements m they consider reasonable and just for inland steam navigation' on "the rivers Taiciri and Clutha.' "Kesolved that it be left to the Government to make what arrangements they can for coastal steam communication, and that it be a. recommendation to tiie Government to run steamers to the southward as weii as to the northward of Dunedin. "Resolved that tho Council pledge itself to | indemnify the Government for any expenditure i necessary to carry out these 'resolutions." Mr. CARGIIiL was quite prepared tp support the motion of the hon. member of the Government, to leave the management of this important matter to be dealt with by the local Government at their discretion, but he was sorry to say he could not agree as to the means of carrying but that arrangement. He differed with most of his mercantile friends as to the position which this province ought to assume in the mattw, and lie was not prepared to blame the late Government for any steps, they had'taken. The hon. member believed that they acted with perfect propriety, nor was he prepared to censure the Government now in office lor the views they entertained, but he did not thing tlie proposal made by the hon. gentleman who had just spoken'"was very judicious, or should be approved of by this House. The house had seen that the Postmaster-General had made a temporary contract for the service, and that the", whole question of the postal service had been' dealt with by the General Assembly. He thought for this Council, to adopt a course preventing tlie subject being dealt .with by the superior Legislature, would not be prudent or judicious. He wa,s aware that he stood in the position of differing with most of his friends outside on this point, and also with many members of this House as to the way in which this whole service shouldba carried.

out He cm td<n I that tli ar iiuemcnt shonli bu un Is-fr thr Glluhil (jh\t?iiun-*nf, and under the (ontrol of the Postm i-tc-'icneral Jfr. CUr riA T disugrcy J« ah Hit' 1 ist «ppnker a iicfl'iulv hchoel Uur t it; Province of Otag i Inl now u.ta'ned a pos tion to be aMe to'id, herself The Province icqin 3(1 <i ni'il serwee and wisin ii position to piy for it, md if th. lionet. de>> led to ste it eswbiishe 1, they should boldly a&iumu tho inj.'i.ijjeiuunt Aftei a few lcm irks from Mr lIOWOR HI, Mr ]\rviU'lN said he h.ul no futn iv tht G<.n<Jr.il Govc>iiinent, ail lumoull impress oi the PioMiuial GovenuiKiiit the absolute expedi tncj of taking^ unnipdiite steps for CArr>ni<r out whatever arrangement they might consider netessai} Tne quGsUon \i is then pat and carua 1 At ten o'clock tha House rost>, standing adjourned to four o'clock to-morrow (this day.)