THE PANAMA SERVICE.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 4, 4 July 1866, Page 3

THE PANAMA SERVICE.

CELEBRATION OF THE DEPARTURE OP THE KAIKOE-A. '.Writ'tred from Wellington Ao ver User.) The Kaikora (Panama mail steamer) arrived at Wellington from Sydney, after a stormy and protracted passage, on Friday, the 22nd instant ; and arrangements having been made to celebrate the commencement of the Panama Mail Service, a dinner and ball were given in the evening, in the Chambers of the Legislative Council Hall and House of Representatives, the use of which was permitted for the occasion. The customary loyal toasts having been drank, Mr. Justice Johnston proposed the health of His Excellency Sir G7eorge Grey, who, in returning thanks, remarked : — He must not be regarded as saying anything personal or giving expression to a political feeling when he said that what was about to take place — namely, that the countiy was about to be more nearly connected witli England by this new route — caused him to remember the share tbat the the late Prime Minister, Mr. Weld, hacl taken in getting that brought about. (Loud applause.) They were first of all indebted to the gentleman sitting on his left, Mr. Crosbie Ward, for the commencement of the scheme, and he had the bitter mortification of seeing it almost fail, when his first plan was taken up by Mr. Weld, and was ultimately carried out by the present Ministry. (Hear, hear.) Each had therefore participated in tie tiiumph : but what particularly struck iiim in the matter was that New Zealand had done under great difficulties what must not only redound to her own good, but to the credit of the whole world ; and thtt which would be looked on with the A-eatest wonder of all was this, that the Weld Government, in the midst of the difficulties and embarrassment brought on by the war, instead of confining their attention to the most urgent questions of the moment, ha*d the forethought snd boldness to front those difficulties, and lay a plan and devise a scheme that would hereafter prove of the greatest advantage to New Zealand. (Cheers.) Now, what he felt proud of was that a body of men, beset by perils of the kind that they had to meet, should still have the courage and g1.3 .tness of soul at the same time to look .to futurity and devise great and good plans, and their example was worthy of being copied by all mankind, and especially as a guiding star to New Zealand, if ever such difficulties should again arise. (Cheers.) He would say, that not only was a good plan matured and about to be carried out, but it was matured at a time when men had scarcely courage to encounter the difficulties that beset them day b\ r day, and yet under those difficulties did the statesmen of the Colony and and all its inhabitants look beyond them to prepare for the future. (Applause.) He had no little pleasure in taking his part in an event which would hereafter be considered not only as a great and remarkable one in itself, but as a great and remarkable event in an age which might be called the age of such events. Mr Pearce, the vice-chairman, proposed the Colonial Ministers. Mr Stafford, who was received with great applause, after expressing thanks on behalf of himself and his colleagues, said — If there ever was an achievement which it would be the pride of any Government to have been connected with, it was that which had called them together that evenii2. (Cheers.) The Governor of New .Zealand having had, as he must have had in his career as Governor, not only in New Zealand but in other countries, many causes of triumph, must feel that hereafter there would be no one subject that he would look back upon as a matter of greater pride than that which had placed him in the chair that night. (Applause.) It was a great national undertaking, a great national feat. That which the Majesty of England has not dared to do was undertaken by her youngest Colony, which was aboufc to put the circle of steam ' communication round the globe. What he was now saying he spoke from his own j knowledge. He entirely agreed as to the ! very high praise which was due to the Government; that preceded the present one, for not faltering for a moment in the work, and not dropping it when they might very well have done so. They did not deser*. c that great praise which had been bestowed upon them ; but he must call to memory, also, that he himself was the first man who broke ground in New Zealand on this subject; that in 1557, nine years ago. he had broached the subject, which was one in which he had taken so high an interest that he had accredited Mr Dillon Bell as the representative of the Government of New Zealand, to that of New South Wales, in order to try and carry, out the scheme, and it was only through the withdrawal of the West India Company that it dropped through. It was not the withdrawal of tbe Governments of New Zealand or New South Wales, but that ofthe Company, through theii* agent, which prevented the line being then established. Subsequently, in 1859, he had occasion to eo-opevate with the agent of the New South Wales Government in London. He found then that the Government of New South Wales was persistent in its endeavors to open up the Panama service, and it had for the moment gone beyond New Zealand, and had placed a large amount upon the estimates, as a contribution for its maintenance, and the G-overnment of Mr Cowper, despatched a (special agent to England, to endeavor to persuade tbe English Government to fall in with the scheme. The Earl of Derby was thou in office, and hacl he remained so but six weeks longer, they •would have seen the communication by way of Panama carried out long ago, and would not have had to wait for its accomflishment until now, Nothing could aye been more liberal than the conduct of Lord Derby's Government j which had Agreed to pay hall the expense } but, utifprtunately, after aix tendc-rn h&d bee*-* gg£t in fpj the perfunneoceof tlie -service, I#?4 P&% wt 9un of pf.-^. w£

whole question had to be re-opened at a time when the great steam contracts, and especially that between Galway and America, were under discussion. Ever since that day the Imperial -Government had i altered, aud hesitated in taking part in endeavoring to achieve what would prove to be one of the greatest triumphs of scienco and mechanism in the world. (Cheers.) The credit given by his Excellency to Sir Weld was entirely deserved, for he (Mr Stafford) had himself doubted and faltered in hia belief at the time when those steps were inititiated, for he thought tliat the colony was not in a position to go into the undertaking. It was most creditable to Mr Ward, the Weld Government, and the people of New Zealand that they should have persevered in the scheme, and that they now saw the first Panama steamer in Wellington harbor. Science had overcome nature in a manner which many had said was im possible, and amongst them some of those friends wbo were sitting with him then, and who had said that it was impossible to connect by steam Wellington and Panama. We, the youngest sous of Britain, had a right to be proud even unto boasting that we have solved a problem that had daunted the greatest Empire in the world. (Loud cheers.) He was proud himself that he had had the opportunity at the eleventh hour of turning the key in the door which a previous Ministry had closed. He had done no more than carry out what he had found passed into law by the Legislature, the result of which was, that ir. spite of every obstacle, bit by bit had been forged the chain of steam communication round the globe. (Loud cheers.) Mr Stokes having proposed the healths of the Hon Charles Cowper, late Prime Minister of New South Wales, Mr Cr. sbie Ward, and his Honor the Superintendent of this Province, Mr Cowper rose, aud said it was quite true that the people of New Zealand had entered into this scheme, which the G-o---vernment of New South Wales had first endeavored to carry out. The Government had, many years ago, despatched Mr Merriweather, as their agent to London, who had labored hard with other gentlemen in London, but they were unsuccessful, because the Government of New South Wales had limited the amount to be appropriated to the undertaking. He (Mr Cowper) faltered, if he might use the phraseology of the Colonial Secretary, when he found tliat Mr Ward had been so audacious as to carry out this scheme, in spite of instructions and difficulties ; but he had been successful, and had his reward that evening. (Loud Cheers.) The object he had accomplished was not only one of great importance to New Zealand, as regarded its great results — it was not only placing them in communication with other parts of the world, but itwould also join these colonies more nearly together, and if hereafter, under any circumstances, they should require more especial co-operation, they would have additional confidence amongst themselves. (Hear, hear.) New Zealand was not considered as one of the Australian colonies, but they could hardly throw her out of the catalogue, and he had no doubt that in a few years, by labor and exertion she would become one of the brightest field for colonization under the British rule. (Cheers.) Mr Crosbie Ward was received with most vociferous cheers on rising, and it was some little time before he could speak. He said — Tour Excellency and Gentlemen — I have thought it would be with a great deal of pride and self-congratula-tion that I should have met you on an occasion like this, when we were celebrating the approaching departure of the first steamer for Panama ; but I cau assure you that there is a great deal of pain and embarrassment which I cannot help feeling in being placed in the position I now occupy. I know how my name has become connected with this Panama service, but I know, also, how many others there are whose names are not in this toast, and have not been mentioned, who deserve as full and as kindly a remembrance as any one of us who are here this evening. I know how many long years ago, before there was apparently any prospect of carrying this service to its completion, there were some who devoted their energies to it, foresaw its success, and almost accomplished it. (Hear, hear.) I know how our sister Colony of New South Wales led the van years before we found ourselves Competent to emulate her efforts. (Cheers.) I know how the present Premier of New Zealand, who was then also Premier, devoted himself to the work ; how these gentlemen, in London, besider Mr Haaiilton and Mr Merriweather. exerted themselves; how Captain Town.-* and many other leading merchant's of Sydney did their utmost to achieve -that success. 1 know also when the Government of New Zealand took the first practical step in the matter by granting money towards the undertaking, how she depended upon the co-operation of New South Wales; and how it was tendered to us most liberally by Mr Cowper. (Hear, hear). I remember when his representatives at home gave me the right hand of friendship, and how, with greater experience than I had. They gave themselves to the work that I was professing to do; how we tried to get the co-operation of the Imperial Government, but which we did not succeed in obtaining. If I can claim one single merit for myself, it is this, that I recognised the fact that if this Panama service was ever to be accomplished, it must be by our Colony and our Government carrying it out, in the perfect certainty that the others must, in their full time, come into it. It has heen called audacity on my part to undertake so much for New Zealand. It may have been audacity 3 but I think it waß a happy audacity. (Cheers and laughter.) lii I have in any over stepped the "written words of tny instructions, I say that it is ;..n Unworthy thing of any public sarVH-nt v, obey the letter of his instructions if he pan give &v$ yeaapt. why a depwture from* im m#& - will mmi m}mh W to »

following of the spirit. (Cheers.) And I would remind you, gentlemen, that at that time New Zealand was not embarrassed with those enormous difficulties which haye since attacked her. We had just developed extensive goldfields, and we had au annual income that gave us every reason to suppose that it would enable us to expein". as much as £50,000 or £100,000 a year in improviug and hastening our communication with England. And, gentlemen, in spite of that terrible pressure that h*?s been spoken of — I have not seen my hon. friend's estimates yet — (laughter) — I do not think that New Zealand is in such au embarrassed state as to deny herseli a sum of £50,000 a year for the Panama service. (Cheers.) But I have not done with those who ought to be here to-night to take a part iv the . celebration of this great Panama service ; I have a word still to say about them. I have been anticipated by his Excellency in speaking of Mr Weld and his Grovernment, who took up " the - broken contract almost at the last moment that it could have been resuscitated, ami made it a living contract, and carried it out to a success that would have been perfect if the Legislature had not preferred one Minister to another. However, the absence of Mr Weld was but the presence of Mr Stafford, who hod perfected the work that Mr Weld had begun. (Hear, hear.) And yet I do assure, you, gentlemen, that I feel more than all the political work that has been in this matter, that the thanks of the colony aud of us all are especially due to those gentlemen in England, those earnest and upright men, who, having accepted from the Colony an apparent contract for the work, performed this task and stood by it, wright or wrong. (Cheers.) Greutlemen who have borne the heat and toil of the day, and in comparison to vrhose undertaking, that of any political man is thrown into the shade. I allude to those gentlemen who conducted that which was the Inter- Colonial Steam Navigation to what it is now, the Panama New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company. In the performance of my duties I have frequently seen those gentlemen, and I know them to be no speculators or a mere trading company, but a society of gentlemen in the truest acceptance of the term, who have added immensely to that- mime of the British merchant, which is reputable all over the world — men of integrity and men of enterprise, and the-ie two together form the ouly character to which we dare entrust this, so great an enterprise, as that of connecting ourselves by Panama with England. (Cheers.) They have conducted themselves in this matter in tlie most perfect manner, as I know perhaps better than any one else can, and I stand here to-night to express what great thanks are due to them by the whole Colony for their persistency in carrying on the work, the •constancy they hare shown, and the good faith they have kept to the Colony generally, and to myself in particular, throughout the whole of the negotiation. (Hear, hear.) If it were not for the magnitude of that undertaking, we should not perhaps see those gentlemenround the board to-night who aie connected with those other interests, and I feel sure that the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company seed that its success in business is enhanced by the success of this other cpmpany. I have had but a small share in this matter compared with that part which others have taken in it. (Hear, hear.) I acted in the matter as the representative of the whole of the Colony, and not cue single part, when I chose the port of Wellington as the point of arrival and departure of the Panama steamers ; and 1 beg to assure you, gentlemen, that nounderhand or selfish feeling actuated me or others in this. And if it was a departure from my instructions to do so, I answer that I left the matter to the Company, and the Company aud I together willingly named this port, and that was not being guilty of departing from my instructions. I venture to say that, apart from this, we have abundance of evidence to show that no Postmaster- General would have chosen any other port. (Applause.) And whatever faul I may have committed in the matter has been amply atoned for by the fact that full permission was given to the G-overnment and the Colony to alter the name of Wellington to anywhere, else,- but they had not done it. (Hear, hear.) When it was left to New South Wales to agree in the contract or not, they might have raised the point about Auckland being the port of call instead of Wellington, but they did not do so, and from that time to this no one has ventured to suggest any port as that of arrival or departure but Wellington. (Cheers.) If that be so I have not erred, and I will say more ; although there may be a state of society found here by the division of this colony into Provinces — a state of society which our guest from New South Wales will scarcely understand, and which leads to a stricter devotion to the interests of each particular Province than to those of any other part of the Colony — and this a feeling shared in by all alike, and no less by the good people of Wellington than elsewhere — it is a patriotism ot the bestkind, for that feeling is best grown in small patches, that it iray afterwards be planted out and lead to the general good. Although I belong to another portion of the Colony, I most sincerely trust that the Panama service is hut the beginning of a large and enterprising fereign trade, of which Wellington will be the centre. (Loud cheers.) Dr X'eatherston also briefly returned thanks; and Captain Benson responded to. the toast 5 "Success to the Panama ■ Service and Captain John Vine Hall." The Ball which followed wm well attended. On Saturday afternoon, a number of ladies and gc'YJomejj. attcndcvl at, lunch ! on bon I'd the ...vaikora. by invitation from i Captai.o Bcukou and Captain Maehin. j Tne lun(']., why!) ■vya's most amply pro- | vided, wjis pi' Ue HM>i.i' rcolwcJiQ p| i&r** ' ftetgtf . '.

After ths lunch had been" done ample justice to His Honor Mr Justice Johnstone rose and proposed the " Health of Captain Maehin, and the Officers ofthe Kaikora," and wishing them a speedy and prosperous voyage. (Cheers.) The toast was drank with three times three, and one one cheer more. Captain Maehin briefly replied. The company then left the table, and proceeded to inspect the various parts of the ship. The service between the shore and the Kaikora was performed on Saturday under circumstances of peculiar difficulty and danger, by the St Kilda and Storm Bird. On the latter day a south-east gale was blowing, so as to render it hazardous to bring the small steamers alongside the larger one without great risk. Such was the violence of the gale that on one occasion the Storm Bird drifted away with such force as to carry away the stanhcion to which the hawser was fastened, and thereby lost a considerable quantity of her bulwarks. This last circumstance was the only accident that marred the pleasure of the day's excursion, and was one in which Captain Grleadow and his officers were entirely blameless. THE DEPARTURE. The Kaikora left Wellington on her long voyage on Sunday, June 24th, at - half-past twelve o'clock. The St. Kilda had taken a good many visitors on board during the mornng, and at noon made a final trip taking off Captain Maehin. Steam was up in the big steamer, and the auchor v/as soon a-weigh, when the visitors were transhipped to the St. Kilda, aud the two steamers went down the haruor together. As soon as they had started loud cheers were given from the hulk and the tender, and the Kaikora fired two guns. Off Cow Point a final salute was fired from both vessels, and the first Panama steamer disappeared from sight as she steamed away to the Pacific.