Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-07 00:00:00

chances. The letters and papers which our
Colonists sent forward to their correspondents
on this side of the world, were for a time des-
patched in a manner that could not ensure either
regularity or certainty.
At length, when the Black Ball Line, the
White Star Line, and the Australian Steam Navi-
gation Company had made passages astonishingly
quick, the Post-office authorities here were put
upon their mettle. They felt that something
must be done, and for the best of all possible
reasons, that the mercantile interests, not only of
this country but the people of New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia. Tasmania, and even
New Zealand, began to know that they were an
important section of the trades community of the
world—that their commercial progress was for the
advantage of the Mother Country, and that their
advancement and prosperity depended upon a
rapid, and a certain postal communication with
England. We, then, had the postal arrangement
of the Black Ball and White Star Lines. This
led to the new contract. Up to the present time
it has failed to fulfil its contract. According to
the latest files of Australian papers, which have
reached us, we know that all the Colonists are
dissatisfied with the contract as it now stands,
The reasons that they have advanced are ligiti-
mate, and we, therefore, join in the cry raised by
our Colonial cotemporaries that another route
will probably solve the question. What is the
most expeditious route from and to Australia ?
In the papers received by the last Australian
mail, we see that the Panama route has again been
advocated. We rejoice at this. It is a con-
firmation of the opinions we have promulgated
in his journal for years past.
Taking the character of the Australian settle-
ments into account, the prolific nature of the
soil, and the link, social and commercial,
which binds us to the people located therein,
we must give them the quickest and cheapest
of postal communication with the Mother
Country. Is this via the Cape or Panama ?
The people of the Australian Colonies, who have
considered the subject, will declare in favour of
the latter. We are glad of this, because it con-
firms all that we have written in advocacy of
this route.

We are more than ever confirmed in the
opinion that the quickest and most expeditious
and satisfactory mail route from Australia to
England is via Panama. We are glad to see
that there has been an amalgamation of the
West India and Australian ai I lines to carry
out the Panama route. We, however, think
this is not requisite. The Cunard Company
that has conducted the American Mail service
with such benefit to all parties concerned,
are able, and, if proper encouragement is
afforded, we hope willing, to undertake the duty.
It could not be entrusted to abler or better
hands. We ask the: Post-office and Adm
rality Authorities to give the matter their best
and earnest consideration.

DICITII OF BISIIR BLOMFIELD deeply regret to
state that the Right Rev. Dr. Blomaeld, who retired from
the bishopric of London towards the Gloss of last year,
died at Fulham at ten minnes past fire o'clock on Wed-
nesday night from the effects of an epileptic attack. His
lordship's family assambled at Fulham, and remained
there during the day, with; several of the bishop's most
ir.timate friends.