The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4936, 4 November 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1884.

In dealing with the question of direct steam communication between the Home country and this colony, it is apparent that a variety of considerations have to be very seriously borne in mind. While entering fully into the matter of our own interests from a purely colonial point of view, it would be as well to point out a few of the dangers likely to arise from internecine strife. Provincial jealousies are certain to arouse feelings which cannot possibly tend to usefulness or good. Animosity is, we fear, likely to be engendered in connection with the question of a terminus for any line of steamers, and this may prevent the settlement of the whole subject. There can be no doubt that if practicable the first port of call in the colony should be that one nearest to the point of departure from Home, thus allowing the shortest passage between England and here to be made, but when all the circumstances are considered, it would appear unwise to select any particular port as a terminus. The respective geographical positions of the various centres of population in the colony tend to preclude the possibility of advantageously fixing upon one of them as a regular terminus of any line, at least until the" Panama Canal is completed ; then, of course, Auckland is, beyond question, that port which should be chosen. The various claims madeby different ports should in the meantime be allowed to rest, as general interests will be conserved by permitting the trade to be done by the steamers engaged in a direct service, to regulate itself, and this it will undoubtedly do, as the company or companies engaged will look at the matter of terminus from a commercial point of view, and doubtless every port of importance in the colony will receive its share of favors according to its desserts. The subsidy to be paid by Government to any line is not at all likely to reach a sum adequate to enabling any colonial dictation in the matter referred to, and it is just possible that those engaged in the undertaking will study all the bearings of the question and decide upon that course dictated by a business consideration of it. Auckland people are naturally wroth at a hinted notion of leaving it en* tirely out of the list of ports of call, and we certainly think that any company or steamer proprietary proposing to do such a thing would be adopting a very suicidal policy. The importance of this portion of the colony claims for it some recognition at the hands of*such people, and its Easiness, as shown by customs returns, demands £hat its claims should not be ignored. Should they be, the Auckland district is, we think, able to apply the remedy which lies in its bands, vi«.:

adopting the suggestion made to support some other method of direct service ; one that will pay some attention to its requirements, even if a local company has to be established.