The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-08-27
The Australian steam Line.

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The subsidy question is by no means settled.
adjourned without passing the DILL
which had been fully discussed, and met with
singular unanimity but when the vote was called
for, it was found there was not a quorum present.
and the whole matter went over to the next
when it will probably be among the
first business taken up and acted on. The
amount is $500, 900 per annum.
By our Colonial papers, we observe that the
subsidy question there is unequally unsettled.
New Zealand voted and is regularly paying
her quota ETA 900 per annum. But the
New South Wales Government, from some cause,
declines to ratify it's contract with Mr.. Hall, and
that gentleman ON his return to Sydney, finding
no subsidy appropriated, wrote a letter to the
Colonial authorities, threatening to make Mel
bourne the terminus of his line, if the subsidy
was not voted. Thereupon the Sydney Chamber
of Commerce met again, and passed resolutions
urging its Government to vote q subsidy OF from
ten to twenty thousand pounds. Much dissatls-
faction was expressed because the promises OF
quick time to England via America had not been
fulfilled. Thus the matter rested July Both.
The Queensland Colony had declined to pay
the subsidy for similar reasons.
Melbourne wants the line to make that port
the terminus, and will then be ready to act.
Mr.. Webb's agent, Mr.. Collie, had met no
better success there, if we may rely on the Colo
NAL papers, his demands being altogether too
high" They all agree, however, that with the
steamers once laid on and running, there would be
no doubt about his obtaining a reasonable SUBJ
sidy. as large at least, as that offered by the
American Government.
From the San Francisco Bulktin, however. we
learn that a private despatch from Sydney, con-
yeys the intelligence that Mr.. Collie " had sue
ceeded in negotiating a subsidy for WI. Webot
proposed steamship line upon the following basis
The Governments of Australia and New Lealanc
70 pay an annual subsidy OF EoO 900, providing
that the United States would pay a subsidy to-
ward the same line for five years, or the contract
ors assume the responsibility to insure the sue
~cessful working of the line for a term of years
The above is more than the Colonial Govern
ments will give, and probably EGO, 900 is tn
highest figure which Webb or any other partie
can secure. This, with a similar amount fror
the American Government, and f5 900 from tn
Hawaiian Government, is all that can be expecte
making in all ELS 900 or 1925 900 per annum
This ought to be sufficient to start the line.
From all we can gather from our files, tn
question stands thus: The Colonies are not sal
isfed with Mr.. Halls line, so far, at least ); an
none will help him but New Zealand, which cor
tracted for six months only. The through time
too long, so to Sc days. If Mr.. Webb's steamer
are placed on the route, and make the promise
time, As or 46 days from London to Sydney, the
will be sustained.
The Hawaiian subsidy of $25, 600 a year, wa
voted to any line which may perform the serVic
monthly and in a satisfactory manner. No pre-
erence will be given to either it being taken IL
granted hat but one line will eventually contr'
the rOnte-