NEARER HOME.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 508, 14 April 1880, Page 2

NEARER HOME.

The Homeward route across America is now made 1000 miles shorter, by the new railway via Achison, Topeka, and Santa Fc* This will bring ns 1000 miles nearer Now York, and therefore so much nearer Home. The competitive rivalry for passengers and freights has not yet commenced ; but as the new line aims at a monopoly of Now Zealand and Australian trade, there must soon be a strong fight between the rival companies, Let them fight, so long as their competition gives increased facilities for New Zealand trade with Europe. But our belief is that the true interests of this colony are being needlessly saerified for want of direct steamship communication nitb Britain. Onr Government might secure a grand stoke of popularity by negotiating with some powerful shipping company for a direct steamship service, with a reasonable subsidy tor mails. Ibe contract with Sydney lor the ’Frisco mail service is a real impediment to the development ol our Home trade. _ Relying on that, ami wasting a subsidy, we give the less heed to the more important object of promoting steamship trade with this colony. The question of coaling for so long a voyage is capable of easy solution, by fitting ships to steam when wind fails, and to rely on sails wbm steam could be held in abeyance. The Money Wigram line of steamers has long been worked on this plan to Australia, and why not to New Zealand? Until we do adopt steam, the passenger traffic is certain to go mainly to colonics easier reached. Perhaps Mr Edison’s new electric motor tor driving ships at 20 miles an hour may place this colony on its proper level in competing for immigrants.