PORT OF RIVERTON

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 274, 5 June 1866, Page 2

PORT OF RIVERTON

El-JTEBED DTWABDS. May 9 — Lady Grey, from Paihi, in baUast. May 11 — Warhawk, from Paihi, in baUast. May 12 — Kate, 45 tons, , from .Bluff, with ; goods transhipped, ex Auckland, from Melbourne. May 18 — Warhawk, from Paihij in ballast." May 18 — Lady Grey, from Paihi,' in baUast. May 18 — Fly, from Paihi, in ballast. May 22 — Lady Grey, from Paihi, in ballast. May 22 — Warhawk, from Paihi, in baUast. May 23— Why Noti 24 tons, ' from Bluff, with goods transhipped, ex Auckland and South Australian, from Melbourne. EXTEBED OTTTWABD3. ■ May 7 — Scotia, 4 tons, for Paihi, with stores. May 7— 7Flr, 3 tons, for Paihi, with stores, May 11— Why Not, 24 tons, for Bluff, with sundry packages, freehand duty paid. May 14 — Scotia, 4 tons, for Paihi. with stores. May 14 — Warhawk, 3 tons, for Paihi, with stores. May. 17 — Kate, 45 tons, for Bluff, 9 bags oats. May 23 — Why Not, 24 tons, for InvercargiU. May 28— - Warhawk, 3 tons, for Paihi, .with stores.'

The N Z.S.N. Company s steamer Rangatira SaUed from the wharf for Otago and Northern Ports at 3 p.m. on Saturday, the 2nd inst. The s.s. Alhambra, Captain M'Lean, from Melbourne, is due here on Wednesday, the 6th inst. This vessel has hitherto been very punctual in her arrivals and saUing. We may expect to see her on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. We gather the foUowing particulars as to the steam- subsidies for the next six months from the correspondent of the Otago Tunes, a gentleman who, from his position, is evidently thoroughly acquainted with such matters :— The steam subsidies for the next six months wiU be very- small, there having been some close tendering by the two companies. It wiU be re-c-oUec-ted that the N.Z.S.N. Company's contracts feU in a few months ago, but that on a representation being made of the injury that must ere long inevitably ensue to the revenue, if the P.N.Z. Company were aUowed to obtain a monopoly otherwise than by fair competition, the subsidies of the two companies were arranged to be mutually paid up to June; in the meanwhile, each would have the opportunity of compering on equal terms for the next year's services. As Friday, the 27th of AprU, drew near, (the day fixed for receiving tenders), there we confident rumors that the N.Z. Company would find themselves nowhere, unless they tendered at an absurdly low figure. The P.N.Z. Company had tendered absurdly low, and the N.Z. Company were wise enough to do so also. As a consequence, the four inter-provin-cial services which we are to have instead of six, as at present, have been equally divided between the two companies ; while the Sydney and Auckland faUs to the P.N.Z. Company, and the Melbourne contract to the Otago S.N. Company: The foUowing are the extraordinarly low rates of acceptance, viz : — P.N.Z. Co. ■ Total, £12,480 per annum, Auckland to Sydney ... ... £5,280 per annum Do. tr? Port Chalmers 3,600 do. Manukau to Bluii 3,600 do. N.Z.S.N. Co. Total, £7,200 par annum. Auckland to Port Chalmers £3,600 per annum. Manukau to Bluff £3,600 do. Otago S.N. Co. Total, £4,800 per annum. Melbourne to Port Chalmers £4,800 per annum, (two boats). The result is that we are to have four interprovincial boats running for £14.400, the hitherto six boat service costing, say £35,000, The two inter-colonial services being also proportionately reduced from what they were costing enly a very little whUe ago. What their exact cost used to be, I have not the figures at hand precisely to say. Of course, it cannot be expected that the comprnies "wiU attempt to cut one another's throats many times ; they wiU eventually come to some mutual understanding by which a fair subsidy may be had by both of them. It wUI be satisfactory to know that the trade that wiU havo to be made by the steamers thrown out of" subsidy is (so far as the N.Z. Co. is concerned; almost ready-jto^hand;- meanwhile the money- saving which wiU accrue to the Colonial revenue from the Government having dealt justly to the NrZ:S."Nr Company during the - past few months wiU, I suppose, be duly made a card of. The loss of the Wonga at the Grey is a serious one, because it was a profitable trade, otherwise the insurance of £3,000 wUI, in a great measure cover the value of the boat. The Company were offered four or five thousand pounds for her last year.