The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-09-04
rho Australian Vail service.

From recent correspondence which has passed
between the Chief Secretary Of Victoria INr
Francisl and Mr. Webb, we extract the follow
ing Mr.. Francis wrote:
Judging from past experience Of the Cali
fl-aia route, g 500 per annum would, it IS con-
si5ered. be a liberal estimate of the amount
likely TO be received by Victoria under the pro-
posed contract on account Of postage, so that
the yearly loss as the contract now stands, would
not be less than 100000. In arriving at this
estimate, the Government Of Victoria does not
rely on any part Of the subsidy being paid by the
Government Of Great Britain, as it can scarcely
be supposed that aid viii be given by the British
P0st-ofice TO & service which can not be expected
% suparsede the Peninsular and Oriental service
via Suez or 10 alternate with it as a regular fort
nightly service. do not wish it to be under
stood that the Government Of Victoria fails to
recognize the desirableness Of opening up and
developing trade with America and the Islands Of
tie Pacific They readily admit that it nigh:
be desirable FOR them, with that object in view,
10 grant q reasonable subsidy in aid Of a mail
service via California, and to secure for Victoria
what the present contract does not secure, viz.
the terminus Of the line 1t Will be seen from
our Australian telegrams that Mr.. Francis was
mistaken, as Great Britain has voted 100000
. subsidy towards the service.
The Hon. W. Osborne wrote 10 the Chief
Secretary Of Victoria as follows -" Colonial
Secre;ary's Office, Wellington, June p, 1872
Sir. have the honor TO inclose copy Of letter
from the Postmaster-Generl Of this Colony on
the subject Of the San Francisco contract, and TO
express the concurrence Of this Government in
the recommendations contained therein. The
Government are willing to adopt either Of the
following two courses in modification of the
present agreement: l. To accept, as was offered
iu the negotiation, the position which Victoria
would occupy under the agreement in relation to
q through boat to san Francisco, and to pay in
consideration thereof E32,5OO against S27 500
10 be uaid by Victoria. ,. Or, if the present
provisional contract be ratified, and if the Vic
toriau Government will undertake to aid New
Zealand to the utmost in obtaining contributions
from Great Britain and from other Colonies, the
New Zealand Government will guarantee, sub
fect 10 the confirmation Of the House of Repre-
seutaiives. that the cost to Victoria Of the con-
tr,ct service, after deiucting the ColOuy's pro-
portion Of contributions received, shall not exceed
an average Of .e25,OOO yearly during the contract
period Of eight wears and a-half. The reasons
for adopting the latter course are expressed in
Mr.. Togers letter This Government viii give
the guarantee, if confirmed by the House Of
may ha
sired by Victoria. Provided that, if payments
under II are made during the currency Of the
contract any sum which may, upon the average
Of the whole period, be shown TO have been over
paid, shall be recouped to New Zealand. l am
OF opinion that if the two Colonies work together
heartily in the matter the cost to Yictola Of the
contract service will average appreciaby less
than E25OOO per year, independently Of the
amount received by the Colony as pOstages.-I
have the honor to be, &c, W. GIsBoENE." The
Chief Secretary has positively declined the terms
offered in ,Ir. Gisborne's letter The decision Of
the Victorian Cabinet upon the subject is given
ST more length in Australian kilograms.
In the Legislative Assembly of July %, upon
the motion Of Mr. Watson the House went into
committee for the purpose of considering certain
resolutions submitted by him as to the desirable
ness Of establishing steam postal service via
San Francisco. The honorable member adverted
70 the efforts to establish steam communication
with san Franciscc-that Of Mr.. Hall, which
had failed, though conducted with great enter
Prise. and that Of Mr. Webb, which had not
proved reliable. He showed the importance Of
steam communication with San Francisco not
ouly in the establishment Of a postal route, but
also ia the conveyance Of produce, if an adequate
class Of steamers was employed. He advocated
the route via FIJI and Honolulu, and he did so at
the instance Of the Chamber of Commerce.
Tenders should be invited in England aud other
countries for suitable vessels for the service.
Mr.. lloyd supported the resolution, and entered
into some details as to the failure Of the several
services which had been organized hitherto for
steam postal service across the Pacific. New
Zealand was at present carrying on the service
single-handed, and great credit was due to that
Colony for its spirit aud enterprise
Mr.. Robertson considered that the resolutions
gave the Government too much power but be
should support them with an amendment, when
be moved q" That it is desirable that the Govern
meut should make arrangements for monthly
line Of steamers, and that such arrangements
should be subject to the approval of Parliament"
The motion, as amended. was carried, and was
confirmed By the House on August %, by ma
ioritv Of 70 against 9.--N z Herald, Aug TO-
S-rrNrrn nr Ci1Br,rraR.-ITnul Won set foot