The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-17
Rt~ai Mail R,stss 20 Australia.


meeting Of the members Of the Australian As
ociation and other gentlemen connected with the
Australian colonies was held On the 10th az the Lon
don Tavern. to take into consideration the best
means Of providing effective mail service, whether
by a double line-viz the Suez on the one hand aud
Panama on the other-or by the Suez line only
Mr. Young was voted to the chair. aud explained
bat. at the general meeting OF tue association held
the 30th Of june last. series Of resolutions whc1
had beeA agreed 20 by the passengers on board the
April Australian steamer (the ViCtoria) were sub
mitted. aud, in accordance with the views thee ex
PRESSED. the present meeting had been called spe'
cslly TO take those resolutions into consideration.
That expressing the dissatisfaction felt in tue
colonies was carried Amos, without discussion; but
the pext, in favor Of the Panama route, created
spirited debate.
Mr.. DE- SAILS supported the resolution. ca &C.
oouat OF the importance OF that route to New
South Wales and tue rising colony OF Nes
Zealand, and also Of the trade with the west
coast OF America He explained 10 the meeting
that their support was not asked for 20 the Panama
route "a a main line but as subsidiary one. TO
the objection which has been privately urgec,
that the adoption Of the Panama route would
TO tend 10 Ameroanize the colonies Mr. ID.
sails replied that be was surprised To hear such
an argument ia the middle Of the nineteenth
century and tina. Australia eoulc no more be
isolated from American than London trom Paris.
or Liverpool from New York. As TO the question OF
expense, the southern colonies were asked TO con
tribute 10 the Panama route. New South Wales
had offered hbeta subsidy. and New Zsaiani ALAG:
/
colonies were seen % lie Ia favor CT IT,
III IULE proposed, as al amendment. that no
sfcord route should he sought to be established IN
al the COMMUNICATION viz Sue was completed He
maiaianed tha, thi. Tie vas 1888 mites shorter
than the Panama route. and that il had only failed
through the undness OF The vessels eglpo Dyed; a15
That even sydney was nearer by lli0 miles BY this
route than by the Perama route.
NJ. DE SAILS said there could be no object in
comparing the two routes, since i not proposed
= supersede the present ine by the Panama route
boy 70 establish III monthly Communication, the
mails going alternately via Suez and via Panama
Mr. luTs asked how the eoveE1ment could rea
sonahly be asked for q second route when they had
no, YET been able 10 establish the Suez line on an
Sal. be adopted letters by both mails would arrive
at Melbourne and Adelaide simultaneously; and II
would require al the support Of the colonies TO main
tain a sufficient communication via Suez. The Pa
! Dan-a route. be coniended would bring New York
nearer than London ~ Sydney. aRd would thereby
give q large share q our Australian trade to the
Ualttd states. which. Notwithstanding ell that had
been said by Nj. De Sails, he thought undesirable.
Captain IowHS supported the resolution, showing
| that The present route was Injurious 10 New South
| Wales ana ai.ogethefed ienoted New zealand. The
Qutstion. he maintained, was not one OF distances.
though considered the calculations OF Mr. Yule
quite iailaClcus; the service via Panama could lie
performed much more economically than by the pre-
sent route Il Il was regarded only as a
| postal route a. be oontonded II should be.
/ Passenger traffic would always follow Il II could
! sidefed as a subordinate service when they were
ooking tor the best postal route. He thought u
! oftnichily communication was ADOPTED Wouiu
| be very unfair to,va,ds New South Wales aud New
| Zealand It both mails were carried over the Suez
,oute and he dwelt upon the ADVANTAGES which the
| Panama route offers to the trade WITH south Alie'
4 RIGA. 49, . -
/ Captaiu parft. Mr. Wilson. Nr. Furlong and NJ.
Archer spoke successiveiy 10 support OF The amend
ment coneudng that the Suez route being: the best
ami moreover capable OF improvement. il should he
/ maintained as the only route whether the communi.
cations be monthly or iortnightly. Some discussion
/ took place a. to whether the meeting should avoid
| All reference 10 Panama ia recommending bi-
| monthly mail. leaving the question an open one for
the government a. suggested by Mr. Wilson.
resolution 20 this effect was lost the votes being
eight against nine the majority OF the meeting 40.
| staining from voting.
Mr. Yules amendment was then put, and carried
| by sixteen votes against six.
| The remainder OF The resolutions agreed n on
beard the Victoria were affirmed without discussion,
| ana the meeting separated.