The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-03-10


Correspondence from Sydney, to the I'd
ultimo, confirms previous reports Of the in
solvency OF the Panama and New Zealand
Steamship Company, and renders Il probable
that steam service between Australia and the
Isthmus would soon be abandoned, unless
the line should fall into other hands, II ls
even stated that the Rdkaia, which left sgd
rey December I'd, might be the last steamer
| to make the trip, as she was the first Of the
line; and In this event that the home gov
ernment would terminate the contract, A
petition for the sequestration Of the COM
| pany's property had been received In England,
| and one Of the steamers Of the Hue, the Nd-
taura, had been taken possession Of BY cred
itors ofthe company, and was TO proceed d.
rectly 10 London, with cargo and passengers.
| by the way Of the Straits OF Magellan. The
failure Of the company results from insult
Client capital to carry Il through the dlficui-
ties incident to a new enterprise, end not
| from positive lack Of business on the route
selected. A change Of steamers at St.
Thomas operated prejuGiclally TO the through
business, and has only lately been abolished.
II the company had possessed sufficient capt.
tai without borrowing, aud had run their
boats to San Francisco instead of Panama,
they would have created large traffic at az
early day.
There has been considerable discussion In
| the Australian papers relative TO the adran-
tages Of the route via San Francisco. II is
shown to be shorter, the difference Of 40 de-
grees in longitude in favor Of this city over
balancing the difference Of 80 degrees In lati-
tude, by nearly 800 miles. Then there are
growing trade connections between this
coast and Australasia-especlnlly between
San francisco and the Australian cities
which already promise larger traffic for
well managed steam line than can be secured
by running solely to the lsihmus- Mel
bourne is as large as San Francisco; Sydney
Is nearly as large, and there are several other
considerable ports in Australia and New zea-
land which are coming into more intimate
relations to this coast, aud must ultimately
be to San Francisco as the great port in Eng
land, France and Germany are 70 New York.
Panama Is but little more than depot or
way station, comparatively speaking. San
francisco Is the centre of heavy direct trade
and leading point OF monetary exchange.
The Australians perceive the advantages Of
direct aud frequent communication with fne
Northern Pacific coast, and many Of them
anticipate that with the completion Of the Pa
cihc Railroad such communication will be-
come a necessity. The suggestion has even
been thrown out that If the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company would occupy this inyit-
ing field, they would find the Australian line
an important adjunct Of the China line, and
become formidable opponent to the PENN
sula and Oriental Company. The carriage Of
the mails from England TO San Francisco ria
New York and the Pacific Railroad, which
will undoubtedly be arranged for between
the English and American governments,
might be secured for the new line, and 4
Sydney correspondent Of the Star and Herald
says II would certainly engross the bulk Of
the passenger traffic, at least Of the weather
class Of travellers, "who would avoid the dis
comforts Of the Red Sea route, have q fne
weather passage on the ocean. enjoy a pleas
urable trip across the United States, and save
ten days in point of time" The mercantile
classes in Australia all look with favor upon
the California route, as likely 10 open up
trade with the islands. The same writer
says:
The Feejeean group already sends in large
quantities of cotton, and we expect coffee
and sugar also. Tahiti has already sent US
sugar Of a superior quality, and why should
not Hawaiian sugar find as good 4 market
here as that which we receive from Mauri-
tiusy Or to put the case In another way,
suppose that the manufacture ol Australian
sugar becomes as profitable and extensive as
it promises to be, should we not find custom
ers for it at San Fmnciscog One thing Is
quite certain, and that Is that many Of our
leading politicians are fully cogniznnt Of the
"signs Of the times" as leading to the iDev-
liable conclusion that the Pacific Railway Is
certain to influence 10 marked degree the
future of the Australasian group, and pro-
mote more intimate business relations with
the United States. The Legislature Of New
Zealand has already initiated what may be
termed the first step In new order Of things
Reciprocity Treaty with Brother Jonathan.
They have declared their willingness to enter
into such an arrangement, and have sugges-
ted to the governments of these colonies the
advisabiIity Of holding colonial conference
at Melbourne on an early day TO consider the
question. 1t Is impossible 10 say what
course the Victoria government will take In
the matter, and upon the decision Of that
government depends the issue. The large
section OF Victoria colonists who hold pro-
tectionist views may deter the Ministry from
entering into any negotiation Of the kind,
but against their influence viii be that Of all
who are interested liz mercantile and pastoral
pursuits. To the latter class especially the
matter Is one Of vital importance. Our
fine woods, now practically excluded from
the American market by the existing tariff,
would find a market rendering US, to some
extent, independent Of " the state Of trade in
England "-tallow, hides and mineral ores
would go in the same direction. California
would find us enabled to consume more Of
her breadstuffs, and the Eastern States In
crease their trade IN manufactured goods.
There Is much Significance 10 the above re-
marks. Whatever may be thought Of the po-
licy Of reciprocal free trade IN the present
condition of American finances, all intelli-
gent Californians will perceive the import
aDce Of cultivating closer relations with Aus
tralia and the islands midway and 10 the
south Of that dourishing country. Without
a reciprocity treaty, great advantages would
accrue to this State from the enlarged direct
trade that would follow regular steam ser
vice to Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland.
Whether the present Inducements are sufi-
cient to warrant American capitalists In es-
tablishing such service "a for therunelres fo
determine.