THE STANDARD. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 113, 13 December 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1873.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

The mail to hand by the Paterson on Wednesday last brought some further intelligence relative to the action recently taken by the Auckland merchants with a view to prevent the trade of Poverty Bay from slipping out of their hands into a Southern channel. The Colony had already been advised by telegram of a deputation having waited on the Hon. Hr. O’BoRKEto ascertain his views on the subject of granting a subsidy so as to extend the steam service at present existing between Wellington and this port, —or, what would suit the Auckland people much better, to establish another and an independent Service with a terminus at their port and Napier' respectively, giving Poverty Bay the benefit of the run of the steamers each way. Now we have the sequel to all this in the prompt action taken by the Auckland Steam Packet Company, whose Prospectus appears in this morning’s issue; and it is both our pleasure and our duty to see how far it is likely that the proposals of the Company will be advantageous to the settlers of this district. . We pronounce emphatically in favor of these proposals. Aucklandhas hitherto, it is true, shown both a commercial and an administrative callousness towards the East Coast trade and politics. The people and the Government are now recognizing the growing wealth of the several shipping ports along this seaboard, and have taken alarm at the possibility of outside competition being too keen and too successful for them ; they must not, however, be suiyrised if the long and sadly neglected district of Poverty Bay does not assume a coy indifference to this sudden ardour of its wooers. Hawke’s Bay is still hankering

after the political flesh pots. Ahabs to the back bone, they covet this beautiful vineyard, and are eager to possess it at any cost, while Auckland, seeing the cream of its inheritance likely to slip from its authority, is setting vigorously to work to make present reparation for past neglect. The proposals now before us should be viewed by a light which is not borrowed from this or that aspect of political affairs. Neither contingency—annexation to Hawke’s Bay, which is improbable, nor geographical separation from Auckland, which, after the fate of the County of Westland is impossible, —should have weight with those who wish to promote the interests of this Port by means most calculated to do so independently of every other consideration than that of inherent merit. Hawke’s Bay made a fatal blunder years ago,—and one which retarded its shipping trade to a great ex-tent,-when it parted with its locally-owned steamer, and wound up its own Company. That port should now be in a position to supply this Coast with Steam accommodation ; it ought to command the trade with Poverty Bay, and effectually shut Auckland out from an opportunity she once let pass. But Hawke’s Bay is no further advanced in the possession of means to this end than when she sold the “ Ahuriri.” A private firm in Napier is bringing a large steamer from London, so as to pick up the trade lost by the “Star of the South” leaving the Coast, but that is not likely to benefit Poverty Bay to the extent offered by the Auckland Company, inasmuch as the latter, having shareholders in Gisborne, must respect our claim to be heard to a certain extent in the organisation of a steam service.

The introduction of this subject is not new by any means. Last February the co-operation of this district was invited by the A.S.P. Co., but nothing practical came of it, partly from jealousy and partly because it was considered advisable rather to have a steamer of our own, than to play into the hands of the Auckland people, more for their profit than ours. Both these objections have now, we believe, been overcome; and, although we may yet have a steamer hailing from this port, we cannot expect it to be such an one as will embrace the traffic comprised in the prospectus now before us. It is proposed to run through boats from Auckland to Napier, calling each way at Poverty Bay. This, together with the “ Star of the South ” filling up her spare time by running down the Coast, would give us almost weekly communication ; while the Company guarantees to have one boat at least of sufficient draught to enter the Turanganui river. It is also proposed to open up a trade direct from either Auckland, Poverty Bay, or Napier if necessary, with New Caledonia ; with Samoa and other islands of the Fiji Group ; and the success attending the service initiated by the “ Star of the South” should hold out inducements for some of the Fiji trade being diverted from Auckland to Poverty Bay and Napier. The prospects of the A.S.P. Company are both cheering and satisfactory. The nett profits since it started 18 months ago, admitted of an interim 10 per cent, dividend being paid on the last half year’s transactions. The balance in hand amounting to £5,864 6s 6d is proposed to be augmented by offering the remaining unallotted shares to the public at ten shillings premium on the already paid up capital, so as to enable the company to purchase additional boats; and Mr. Lodder, the manager, who is en route by the Paterson, hopes to place at least 500 shares between this port and Napier. A deposit of 20s is required on application, 20s on allotment, and the remaining 50s in April next. Considering the many disadvantages under which the A.S.P. Company has worked through depressed times and with unsuitable boats, and, until lately, with nothing better to depend on than a promiscuous river trade, we can easily perceive how justified the Directors are in endeavoring to extend their ocean traffic which has been so successfully inaugurated. That the past management has been successful is fully borne out by the fact that with a limited capital and insufficient carrying capacity, the following satisfactory items appear on the credit side of the last half year’s balance sheet. They stand thus : —“ Nett earnings “ Star of the South,” 5 months, £1,593 Is ; “ Comerang,” 6 months, £970 Is Id ; “Golden Crown,” 6months, £l7l 18s6d; “ Royal Alfred,” 6 months, £lB4 15s 5d,” than which nothing could be a more practical demonstration of the wisdom of the course now being pursued, namely, to extend the ocean-carrying trade as much as possible; and to do which Poverty Bay is solicited to share in the undertakes- _____