The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-15 00:00:00

SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY NIGHT.
With a view of celebrating the commencement of the
newly arranged mail service between Great Britain and
our important colonies in the South Pacific, which is to
be carried out in virtue of the postal contract, conceded
not long since by the Lords of the Treasury to the Euro-
pean and Australian Steam Navigation Company, the
directors of that association have this afternoon given a
sort of impromptu entertainment on board their magni-
ficent and noble steam-ship Oneida, now fitting out in
the Southampton Docks for her first voyage to Mel-
bourne and Sydney, for which ports she is to sail on
Sunday next with the regular mails and a large number
of passengers, among whom are Sir Henry Barkly and
suite. It was at first intended that the Oneida should
this morning have proceeded on a trial trip, with a view
of officially testing her speed in the usual form at
Stokes Bay. This, however, was found impossible, ow- i
ing to the coaling of the vessel not having been com-
pleted. In truth, a trial of this sort would be a mere
form, as the qualities of the ship have been quite suffi-
ciently exhibited during the late ran from Glasgow to
Southampton. The Oneida will be the pioneer of the
company's operations in Australia, and, after her arrival
at Melbourne, will be employed between that port and
Suez, running in correspondence with other steam-ships
on this side of the isthmus, between Alexandria and
Southampton. The Oneida is to be followed, on the
12th of Nov., by the Simla, which vessel is one of the
finest in the service of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Company, and has just been chartered for a
term of two years by the European and Australian Com-
pany. The European and the Columbian, two other ships
belonging to this company, are now fitting out in the
Clyde, and will take respectively the mails of the 12th of
December and 12th of January. Besides these fine ships
the company are no w building at Glasgow the Australasian
of 2,800 tons, 700 horsepower, the Tasmanian and Asian,
of 2,300 tons and 500 horse power, and the African, of
1,000 tons and 330 horse power ; but these vessels it is
not expected can be got ready for their stations before
August or September next year. The regular mail ser-
vice to and from England and Australia, via Suez, will
not commence till February next, when the first home-
ward mail may be expected at Southampton. The com-
pany, as is well known, are bound by enormous penalties
for the due and proper fulfilment of their contract with
the Government, and great interest naturally attaches to
the progress of their operations, the establishment of a
rapid and efficient postal communication with Australia
being one of the most important social and commercial
necessities of the day. The company, since its success
in obtaining tie Government subsidy, has shown the
most commendable vigour and energy in preparing and
equipping these ships, and it is to be hoped, not alone in
the interest of the public, and of the enormous mercan-
tile considerations connected with the question, that
success will follow their efforts. Although the Peninsular
and Oriental Company were the uasuccessful competitors
for this contract, we have great satisfaction in noticing
that, on being applied to, the managers at mica placed at
the disposition of their more fortunate rivals me of their
most celebrated ships—namely, the Simla—which vessel
is to succeed the Oneida. We understand further that
the European and Australian Company will be much
indebted to the Peninsular and Oriental Company for
facilities which will be afforded to them at their several
coaling stations in Australia and in the Red Sea,—all
these arrangements having been made and perfected long
sinco by the older company, which formerly had steamers
on the station, and which kept up establishments at
those places in anticipation of being entrusted by the
Government with the new contract.
Thus it will be seen that the European and Australian
Canspany enters upon its career with every promise of
WICC.SS, to be derived not exc'usively from its own
efforts, but generously aided by the experience and
resources of the largest and most successful
steamship undertaking in the world. No jea-
lousy ought to interpose to disturb the good
feeling which seems to exist between these two power-
ful associations, and the public interest, as well as the
prosperity of both, would seem to be advanced by the
most cordial co-operation.
About 3 o'clock a party of gentlemen, numbering
nearly 100, consisting. of the directors and managers of
the company, many gentlemen connected with steam
navigation, and the principal offi,ials of the port of
Southampton, eat down to a dejeuner of a most re-
cherche description, which was prepared in the main
saloon of the Oneida. Among the company present were
Mr. J. Orr ENing, Chairman, and Mr. J. Galbraith,
Manager of the Company, Mr. R. Aedrews, Meyer of
Southampton, Mr. W. S. Lindsay, M P., Mr. Mackay,
of the firm of J. Baines ;.;and Co., ct Liverpool, Mr. B. •
Major Campbell, Capt. M'llouoal, RN., Admi-
ralty Superintendents of Packets, C:pt. Eogledue, Su-
perintendent of the Peninsular and Oriental Company,
Capt. Stewart, Superintendent of the Australian Mail
Company, &e.
After the dejeuner the CHAIRMAN proposed the usual
loyal toasts, which were followed by " the health of his
Imperial Majesty the Pasha of Egypt," in introducing.
which the Cnairaial stated that the Pasha's great exer- •
tions in favour of, and the interest he takes per-
sonally in, the progres4 of steam navigation and improv-
ing the transit of the isthmus were the reason for men-
tioning his name in connexion with the Australian en-
t Tprise.

Tide toast was responded to by Mr. Galloway, entel-
neer to his Highness.
"Toe army and navy" next followed, Major Camp-
bell's name being c.,uple,l with it.
" Her gat esty'e tete eerement," con pled with the neer e
of Mr R. Hill, was the next 'mast proposed hy toe
CHAT:DIAN, ce:apiiinented Me. P. Hid upon ehe
great ad vaetagee which the commercial and social worid
had received by hie develepelete; of the penny postage
system.
Mr. 1-Z3VIL.IND MIL spike to the tract, and stated
that the Govererneet, in entering into this contract for
the conveyance of melte to Australia, desired to consult
only the best interests of the peop:e of this ceunfrer and
the colonies. Their only wish was to obtain the speediest
and most regular transmission of the mails between the
two countries. Soinethine had been lately said to him
about the establishment of the ocean penny peetage, the
idea of which emanated from a friend of his, Elihu fur-
ritt ; and some remarks had been made on the fact that
an ocean penny postage bad been already established
between the United States and Australia. But the fact
was teat, although only a penny was paid for the trate,
mission of a letter by sea, it was still suljset to an in7and
rate of lii. in the United Stetes and another of 41. in
the colonies, making bid. for the entire transmission ;
whereas by the mail now about to Le established from this
country the whole charge would he only 63. per letter, so
that we in this country had in reality approaehed nearer
to an ocean penny postage than the United States.
"The Mayor and Coreoratmn of Southampton," re-
plied to by Mr. ANDREWS, and some other toasts having
been honoured, the toast of the day, "Success to the
European and Australian Stearn Navigation Company,"
next followed, and was responded to by
Mr. J. PeemEe, of Manchester, one of the directors
of the company, who brelle deelate:d that vas the de-
termination of the company not only to merit the confi-
dence of their friends on both 811101 of the globe by dE-
votine all their euergies to the prompt and effectual
carrying nut of the meheme in ifs entirety, but so to
blend the interests of the colonists trite those of the
mother country in the tlctails and werking of the aft hire
of the company as to afford perfect satisfaeeiou to both
in respect to the gieantie mercantile, financial, and ex-
change transactions which now pass between England
and be southern dependencies.
Mr. ROWLtND thet, gave, " Success to the Australian Celoniee," saying that to him the best test of the pros-
perity of a colony was the numher of letters which it
produced, and ire that respect Victeria, which only 20
years ago was visited for the first time by a European
settler, stood praminent among the colonies ! The
Australian colonies did not want assistance from the
Government of this country; but no better mode of unit-
ing the sympathies of the colonies and the mother coun-
try could be devised than the speedy conveyance of let-
ters between then, and that was preposal to be done b
the Government in the present contract. He could
also
Sir
say that, having
from
fitted for for the bpos oy,
wh
wa
he knew tb d
hat ad
forwhich eba been selected than be was. Thist toaet s acknow-
:edged by Mr. Youl, of Tasmania, the secretary
to the General Pastel Association of the Australian
Colonies, who expressed his gratification at what
had been done by the Government for the con-
veyance of the mails to the colonies ; the route chorea,
he believed, was the right one, being ten days shorter '
than any other. As a proof of the necessity of a rapid
interchange of letters between this country and Anstra-
tia, be stated that there were between 1,500 and 2,090
Australian children in Europe for the purpose of educe-
lion,
and how important it was that there should be an
easy intercommunication between those children and
calculated tea facilities of cone. •
their parente, and hew.
' +ion between the two countries were to venerate
raunlea.. f entre and habits which would din those childrenfeelings
Independently, therefore,ra ofw
hem closer to England.
frequent and speedy postal corn.
its eeminerelal benefit,
thusproductive of social and political
rannication was
results which every colonist and every Englishman must
desire to promote.
Mr. YULE returned thanks, and concluded by giving
the health of "Mr. Ewing, the chairman of the new
company," and advocated the merits of the route to Aus-
tralia by way of Southampton, Alexandria, , b
er and Suez,
ten Suez,
Which, he contended, was practically quicker
days than thkt by way of Panama or by the Cape of
Good Hope,
A variety of other toasts were then given, among
which was that of "the "Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany," acknowledged by Captain Engleduet and the pro-
ceedings of the afternoon were breueht to a close.
The directors of the Australian Company are to be
entertained y
dinner on Fribdathe y evg-
-Meninayor of Southampton at a public
. next.

RECEIVING A. CRIMEAN' •REDAL IN PLEDGE —T. Devi',
a jobbing jeweller, residi
chapel, was charged at !fie Thames nackeiwrch•lane, White-
mThames Police-court with
advancing ss. on a Crime; In
in the Grenadier Guards, natre.ecalal belonging to a private
the man merely left it for repa;r IlisYlias.
and be lent hire 53. at
Davis sad
the time. The magistrate told Davie
determined to put a ti;,) t,, the
.10,5 the authorities bad
pa vu brokers advanc:n7., 0 toney on CrimeanY3tem of unlicensed
onol_tc,r.id.
penalty in every case tha ; might occur after medals. The ;
woul, I be strictly enf
a fine of 201 )the present
MASKED AND ARMED -BURGLARS.—
list the house of Mr. Earr ison, a magistrate olfdasr night
shire, was entered by mass ; ed and armed hurvia-taff"rd-
Harrison vrEs frozn home at the time, but i'her! Mr.
were tied to t h3ir b1,.(1.4 le the hou,e was robbednlmTates
only succeeded in carrying off about 18/. A reward'hey ,
100&, has been offered for ,the capture of the thieves. "1