Direct Steam Service.

Patea Mail, 18 January 1882, Page 3

Direct Steam Service.

It is important to know that the AgentGeneral in London is obtaining definite proposals from one or more shipping firms as to terms for running a line of direct steamers to this colony. It is hinted that other interests besides those of this colony are included in the project; aud we presume that Tasmania and the Cape Governments are invited to join. There ought to be a strong inducement for the Cape to share in a quicker service, which would be secured by running a fleet of large ocean steamers to New Zealand. Tasmania is too doubtful to rely on, though lying in the direct line, and thereby avoiding transhipping of frozen meat at Melbourne, The mail contract with the Pacific Company to carry by way of ’Frisco is terminable at short notice. It is manifestly too v H^T-«wMeTTonr Europe, and there is a horror of the frequent changes of baggage at Liverpool, at New York, at San Francisco, and again at Auckland. These conditions of travel make it impossible that families can emigrate to this colony by such a route, whereas a large and increasing passenger traffic would certainly be attracted by a direct service of big fast steamers calling at the principal ports in this colony. The main sources of revenue for such a service are (I) mail subsidy transferred from existing route, (2) passenger traffic, (3) frozen meat export, and (4) quick parcels service with some urgent general cargo. A conference of those interested is to be held, and the Agent-General hopes to get the matter sufficiently completed to send definite proposals of agreement by next mail.