THE CAPE ROUTE,—IMPORTANT PROPOSALS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 270, 3 April 1873, Page 5

THE CAPE ROUTE,— IMPORTANT PROPOSALS.

Wellington, March 31. Gibbs, Bright and Co., of Liverpool, have, through their Dunedin agent, and in association with others, made proposals to the Government to form a company for the conveyance of immigrants by a line of first-class full-power steamers. They propose to build six steamers of 5,000 tons each, fitted with all the latest improvements, and capable of doing the run from Liverpool to Melbourne in forty or forty-two days. One steamer per month to leave Liverpool for Hobson's Bay, where Bhe would be met by branch steamers for New Zealand. They offer to carry New Zealand immigrants at a low rate for the through passage, and to charge nothing for any emigrants who remained in Australia. They say the advantages of the line would be to remove all prejudices regarding a long sea-voyage ; and the Government would be saved the expense of doctors, matrons, &c, as the ship will provide every convenience. They say that such ships could not find profitable employment in the New Zealand trade alone, and hope their stopping at Hobson's Bay will not be regarded as an insuperable objection, if their other proposals are satisfactory. The Government is considering the proposal. Greymouth, March 27. At an adjourned meeting last night it was resolved to form the Greymouth Coal Mining Company i Limited), with a capital of L 40.000, in 8,000 shares of L 5 each, one shilling to be paid on application ; four on allotment, aad the balance in calls not ex

ceeding five shillings a month. The objects of the Company are to lease and work coal seams ; lease a railway, and purchase or charter colliers. A number of shares have been applied for, and a considerable amount of stock is promised to be taken in Melbourne. Auckland, March 27. The National Bank opens here on Wednesday. A rich gold-bearing district is reported to have been found about seventeen miles from Whangarei, but the report needs confirmation. The Auckland Iron Company is to be wound up, owing to an insufficient number of shares having been applied for. Smelting will, however, shortly be commenced under different auspices. The Horticultural Show, yesterday, was highly successful. The weather is very unsettled. Wanganui, March 27. A meeting of shareholders in the Wanganui Steam Navigation Company is to be held next Wednesday, to consider the advisability of voluntarily winding up the Company. Nelson, March 27. A deputation proceeds to Wellington to see the Government relative to the concessions required for the West Coast Railway. Half the shares will be reserved for the West Coast inhabitants, who are cordially invited to assist such an important Provincial undertaking.