MAIL SERVICE VIA CALIFORNIA.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 823, 10 June 1871, Page 2

MAIL SERVICE VIA CALIFORNIA.

On Monday last Mr Parkes addressed tlio committee of the Chamber of Com* merce, Melbourne, on the subject of Mr Hall's Californian, New Zealand, and Australian main line of steam packets, Mr Parkes appeared as Mr Hall's representative, having received from him full powers to act in his name in entering into contracts for the mail service. He stated that Mr Hall proposed to run a line line of steamers from the port of Sydney direct to Fiji, thence to Honolulu, and from that port to San Fran* cisco. He (Mr Parkes) had instructions to go to South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland, to negotiate-' with the Governments of those colonies for the support of the line. He was also to apply to Fiji, the Sandwich Islands, and the California State Government, for contributions to the scheme, and to go to the Federal Government and see if the United States would contribute a subsidy. He was then to apply to the British Government for aid. The Victorian Government, it was supposed, would grant £IO,OOO, that of New South Wales £25,000, Queensland £IO,OOO, the Sandwich Islands £SOOO. Then they expected the British Government to contribute £SOOO, South Australia £3OOO, and Tasmania £2000) and they hoped to get £17,000 from the United States and the Islands. If this expectation should be realised, the service will be continued. Mr Hall had already completed 12 services on this line, and intends henceforth to start his steamers every twenty-eight days, S3 as to make thirteen voyages in the year, io alternate regularly with the P. and 0. Company's ships, so as to give us fortnightly mails from England. If New Zealand is included, it will be by branch steamers, as it is too much out of the direct lino between Sydney and Fiji for the main steamers. Mr Hall will undertake to deliver the mail in San Francisco in thirty days from Sydney, and thirty-three from Melbourne; in New York in thirty-aix days from

Sydney and thirty-nine from Melbourne; in Liverpool in forty-five days from sydney.and forty-eight from Melbourne. Mr Parkes enlarged on the commercia l an d social advantages to be expected from ''establishment of this line. Eeferring to the population of 63,000 in the kingdom of the Sandwich Islands, 130000 in San Francisco, 'IOO,OOO in Chicago, *' about the most wonderful development of rapid settlement which Imr ever appeared i» the world in any 7 b •" and 1,400,000 in New York, he B fid'' " There is no other line possible which w° u!d brin S tiither * e l>ost or into contact with such large 4nd flourishing cities of British origin. T think this line is certain to become one ■of the greatest highways for traffic on the face of the globe." The chairman, iu the name of the committee, said the matter should receive every consideration at their hands'; and this day was fixed for the discussion of the matteT. — „ Sydney Evening News,' 1 May 2.