The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-02-24

the agents and captains of the line to receive no
mails for New Zealand or Australia unless this
government paid the subsidy.
Leaving out OF the question the policy of this
government paying any money subsidies to for
eign steamers, upon which We have spoken on a
previous occasion) an unbiased consideration Of
the whole subject leads to the inevitable c~onclu-
sion that this government has not, in its dealings
with Mr.. Webb, acted 10 say the least, in an in
genuous, straightforward manner. Moreover
that the name Of the Privy Council with all re-
spec, be i, said, to that body is apparently used
by the Ministers a. a m~ake-weight, as occasion
may require to suit their purposes.
One fact Is evident. and being unexplained,
must weigh with a damaging effect against the
Ministers that i. that the Hall line, having
never complied with the terms as laid down in the
Ministers letter of January 28th, have never
theless been given all they asked for IN the shape
Of accommodations, and been paid a subsidy for
seven mOnths-a part of it eI post facto-at a
time when it's continuance was very problemat-
icaI-wbile the Webb line, fully performing
the service stipulated, is fed with fair words for q
time only, to be at last confronted with the
mysterious bugbear of the Privy Councils un-
manageableness. Why this difference IN the
treatment by this Government Of the two lines?
1t is customary on all lines of mil steamers to
caution, by printed plaeards, the passengers and
employees against carrying letters outside the
mail, under penalty. The Gazette says placards
of this nature were posted : in conspicuous places
about town. We know that such was not the
fact. They were to be seen only on board the
steamers and at the office of the agents of the line.
Neither have we been able to ascertain the fact,
as stated by the Gazette, that - passengers who
had come up on the Nebraska were not permitted
to send letters back to their families or business
partners"
Since the establishment of Mr.. Webb's line we
have always looked upon the accommodation
granted by government for the landing and ship
ping of cargo as insufficient, and We have in a
former issue expressed the opinion that the
agents must have lacked in their duty to the pub
lie in not taking measures to have the wharf
covered by a shed to protect valuable goods from
the rain and sun. We learn, however, that some
correspondence took place on this subject before
the setting in of the late December storm, and we
shall endeavor to procure copies and lay them be-
fore the public.
Now, to sum up, was not Mr.. Hall treated with
all Difference and accommodation, receiving at the
hands of a prejudiced Ministry illegal advantages,
given without authority or the knowledge of the
people? While, on the other hand, Mr.. Webb
offered all the advantages and accommodation that
the government asked or desired, but was simply
treated like a school-boy,-i fact triied with at
his own expense. In view of all this, we ask, can
he be blamed for r~esenting the unworthy course
pursued by this government, and asserting his
right to be treated fairly?