The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-02-01
Australian SIcamcr,.

between San Francisco and Sydney, touch
ing at Honolulu. Itappears from the state
ments of these gentleman, that the point
which is ofmost Importance from our point
of view, that of the permanent establish
ment Of steam line, is still an unsettled
one so far as the action of the various gov
ernments are concerned which are expect
ed to subsidize the steamers
We can place our readers, ar cosrant
with the times, and the prospects of the
Australian line, only so far as the papers
that came to hand by the last mails have
noticed the subject, and must leave each
one to conjecture the results which NAV
be reached at last.
We find in the Bulletin, that Senator
Ramsey has reported TO the L. 5. Senate,
as chairman of the Committee on Post
+ Offices and Post Roads, bill authorizing
the Post Master General to contract with
Messrs. Webb and Holiday, (who are re-
ported by rumor to have joined their in
terests, by agreeing to form Joint Stock
Company for Substituting a line of Steam
ers, to connect San Francisco, with sgd
ney via Honolulu and Fiji at the rate of
I $500, 900 per annum.
This Bill, which in its main features, is
the same as that introduced at the last ses-
sion of Congress, and which, after debate.
was reduced to SSOO.OOO and finally failed
TO reach final vote, by the adjournment
of Congress, viii of course go through the
usual parliamentary forms in the Senate,
and afterwards in the House of Represen-
tatives, and may come TO its final action
al any time before the close of Congress
We should not be surprised to hear that
it had been acted upon Immediately, nor
should we be surprised to hear that it re-
manned on the table, unconsidered until
near the end of the session. In respect of
its present position, it is therefore no fur
Their along than it was at the close of the
last session. Senator Ramsey has also re-
ported Bill to connect Puget Sound with
Honolulu by steam. The amount of sub
sidy is not named in the teIegrapblc re-
ports.
In an article on Steamship subsidies the
Bulletin remarks, that there is at present
before Congress bills proposing subsidies
for four Steamship lines on the Atlantic.
at an amount of some 5000, 900 per an
nun: for an increase Of s50o,0 to the
subsidy of the China and Japan line, for
subsidy of 100000, to the Australian
line and one for Puget Sound to Homo
lulu.
The bill proposing asubsidy ofs5Oo,oOo
per annum for line between San Fran
cisco and ports in Australia, is still in the
Senate. If considered wholly on its own
merits, it could hardly fail to be enacted.
But there is danger of crowding these bills
into an omnibus and making the fate OF
the meritorious ones depend upon the dis
position of those of a doubtful character
For long time no subsidies were granted
to steamship lines. But in later years there
has been change of public sentiment, to
this extent, at least, that ii it is necessary
for the restoration OF oar commerce and
for the encouragement Of ship building,
subsidies should be granted In special
cases"
Our readers are aware that the New
Zealand Government, by virtue of the lib
eral subsidies granted by their Assembly,
entered into contract with Mr.. Nelson
for steamers between their ports and San
Francisco. The intention of this contract
was to secure New Zealand ports as the
terminal ones of the line to be established.
This contract we learn on good authority
has been disavowed on the part of Nelson's
principals, but viii probably be revised
and modified on the part of New Zealand
New Zealand has, up to the present. not
been able to induce the Australian Colo
MES to combine with her in this project,
and as far as we understand 1t, there is
no immediate prospect of such combina-
ton
We clip the following item from the
Sydney Herald of Dec. slst:
The Legislative Assembly of Queens
land have agreed to the following resolu-
ton, moved by Mr.. Palmer = That ii is
desirable thst the Government be author
ised to negotiate with any parties for a
mail and passenger service, via Fins and
San Francisco, or via sydaeF, Auckland,
snd San Francisco, to the United King
dom, at cost TO this colony not exceed
ing 10000 per aunam'"
The Assembly Of New South Wales
commenced their session on the oath Dec,
and upon their Budget has been placed
an item to connect Sydney with San
Francisco, VIA Fiji and Honolulu, with a
branch line from FIJI to Auckland, of |
f45, COO per annum-
The Melbourne papers commenting on
this. agree that as such a line viii alter
nate with the 2. & O. Steamers, and give