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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1340, 9 August 1883, Page 2

An offer on the part of the New Zealand Shipping Company to run a direct dne of steamers between New Zealand and London has been accepted, for one year, by the Government, subject to the approval of Parliament. Considering, that this Company has laid down three fine large steamers, the first to be launched this month, purely on the chance of obtaining employment by our Government tends to show the large spirit of enterprise which actuates them. They guarantee to run a steamer once a calendar month each way, the voyage not to exceed fifty days, each vessel to visit at least two of the following ports:— Auckland, Wellington, Port Chalmers, or Lyttelton, the selection of which to be left to the Company. They are to commence on the Ist of November. In consideration of the enterprise shown by this Shipping Company, Government have granted them the privilege of conveyance of all immigrants from England to New Zealand, and providing the steamers are unable to convey the whole of the same, the Company are to be allowed to carry the remainder per sailing ships. They are also to have the monopoly of carrying all Government cargo at the same rates as those paid at present, and to receive a rate of one penny on each letter carried. The rates at whicn immigrants will be carried under this contract is as follows ; — Per steamer, adults £IG; children over twelve months and under twelve years of age, £9 J Os ; by sailing vessels—adults, £l4 7* (id; children, aged as above, £8 .7s 6d. The advantages of this direct communication with our ports cannot be over-estimated, and must certainly tend greatly to develope colonial resources, and give a great impetus to trade in these colonies,