The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-01-11
The Australian steam Line.

WE published last week all the cores
pondence which had taken place between
this Government, Mr. w. Nelson and
others, on the subject of the line of Mail
Steamers between San Francisco and the
New Zealand and Australian Colonies.
We did so from the fact that Mr. Nelson
had. as we understood, thought fit to pub
Esh in the Adcey7iser of the week previ-
Gus a portion of the correspondence in
question, apparently with the view of
demonstrating to the public that this
Government had shown a most remarka-
bic apathy in grasping the advantages to
tins country, which he in his character as
Agent Of a Steam Ship Company in
San Francisco, most graciously offered
II. We are entitled to express this
opinion inasmuch as he bitterly de
nounced the Government in a public
room Of this city, a few hours after
his arrival here on his return from
New Zealand We say in his capacity
as Agent of Steam Ship Company in San
Francisco with some little hesitation and
misgiying, although we must believe that
be showed some authority to Mr. Vogel,
the Postmaster General of New Zealand,
or 1t Is not probable that that gentleman
would have negotiated the contract which
he undoubtedly did with Mr.. Nelson, as
agent for Messrs Holiday & Brennan,
for the establishment of steam route
between San Francisco and. New Yea
land. Still it is somewhat remarkable
that although Mr. Nelson, in his
letter Of October oath, represents that
he is acting in the interest of the
North Pacific Transportation Company
and Wm. H. Webb, which are consoli-
dated and that Mr. Vogel says in his
communication of November 22d, that he
has made an agreement on the part of
the Government of New Zealand, with
Mr. Nelson, acting as agent of Mr.. Webb
of New York, and Messrs. Holiday, Bren-
ham & Co. of San Francisco" yet Mr.
Nelson signed the contract only g for and
on behalf and in the name of Holiday q
Brenham." To say the least, there is con-
siderable inconsistency in this state of
things; but then the gentleman appears
TO have considered himself the embodi-
ment Of the Company-President, Board
Of Directors, Manager and Agent, in fact,
sole owner of all the steamers now occu-
pied on the various routes of the Company,
as well as those belonging to Mr.. Webb,
now in the harbor of San Francisco. His
style of negotiation was remarkably osten-
tatious indeed, so far as this Government
is concerned, negotiation is hardly the
proper term; a demand for tribute would
be a better way of expressing his mode of
procedure.
1t is not, however, important at present
TO ascertain and define Mr. Ms exact re-
lanons to the Company (or Companies) in
question; he may own the "whole con-
cern." or the Company may have dele
gated to him full authority to regulate
steam navigation in the Pacific Ocean to
suit himself, as the case may be. 1t is
rather cur intention at present TO call the
attention of our readers TO the correspond
ence in question, and point out as clearly
As possible the real position of affairs, and
70 demonstrate that no one here has left
anything undone, which should have been
done 10 secure the advantages which are
sure to follow the permanent establish
ment Of line of steamers between San
Francisco and the Colonies, which shall
stop here sufficient length of time to take
and discharge freight both ways. With
out this latter condition we fail to see the
incalculable advantages which would flow
IN upon us from the establishment of such
a hne Of steamers.
The Kings Ministers asked the last
Legislative Assembly to place at the dis
posal Of the Executive sum of fifty thou
sand dollars for the subsidizing of line