The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-04-13
The Australian Line.

The steamer from New Zealand on Tuesday
morning last brought news of an eminently salts
factory nature, to the effect that the Government
of the important Australian Colony of Victoria,
has in conjunction with that of New Zealand,
signed the preliminaries of a contract to perma-
nently subsidize the present line of mail steamers
to San Francisco. We say the news is of an
eminently satisfactory nature, because it ensures
the continuance of the line, and that fact once
established, the rapid growth of an immense
commerce between America and the Colonies of
the Southern Hemisphere is sure to follow. This
result Mr.. Webb (who arrived on the Nebraska
after his protracted visit to New Zealand and
Australia) has always had in view, in his nego-
~tiatiOns for the establishment Of his line, and
now that his arduous endeavors are assured of a
successful result, he will undoubtedly be entitled
to and receive the gratitude of both nations. 1t
required just such a man of enlarged views,
keen foresight, calm persistency and ~indomitable
energy, to overcome the obstacles, tide over the
v~exatious delays, and reconcile the opposing in
tercsts of rival communities, that were to be met
with in this undertaking. But the grand object
in view, to open up the commerce of the Pacific,
and to direct its rich stream through the Golden
Gate across the American Continent, was GER
tainly an inspiring one.
New Zealand, represented in the person of the
leading man of it's ministry, Mr.. Vogel, has APP
preciated from the first the vast Importance of
the California route. and to that colony belongs
the credit of having by its liberal course greatly
assisted and influenced the establishment of the
line. The enterprising citizens of the magnificent
city of Melbourne, eagerly hailed the project of
steam communications with California, and the
Government, in the person of the Prime Minister
Mr.. Duffy, is firmly pledged to carry the contract
through Parliament. The precise terms of the
contract are, by the request of the Victorian
Government, to remain a secret until after the
Parliament meets, but they were understood to
be such that there was little doubt of New South
Wales and Queensland coming into the arrange
ment. South and West Australia must i'll time
follow.
From the East, our latest kilograms informed
us that in both Houses Of the American Congress,
n bill was to be reported, granting n subsidy to
the Australian line of $500, 900 per annum, and
there was no doubt entertained as to its passage.
Thus from al quarters the evidences are cumu-
latiye that the San Francisco. New Zealand and
Australian line is a fixed fact. and that through
its means n new and prosperous era is approach
ing for the development of the commerce and the
industrial pursuits of the two hemispheres-the
North and the South.
But what OF these Islands The course pursued
heretofore by this government in relation to the
line in question, has been So calculated to belittle
us in the eyes Of our colonial friends beyond even
our natural insignifeance, that we really feel
ashamed to approach the subject. We have
heretofore expressed our views quite fully on the
crooked and disingenuous policy pursued by our
Ministry in their negotiations with Mr.. Webb
and his agents, and it is unnecessary to repeat
them. 1t was stated moreover quite recently,
that the sentiments of the government had under
gone somewhat of n change in regard to the
paying of the subsidy rs provided by law, to Mr..
Webb's line, and that they had made propositions
having in view the making of that payment. For
the purpose of considering such propositions, we
understand that Mr.. Webb had an interview with
the Cabinet on Wednesday last.
As soon as we receive definite information as
to the conclusions arrived at by the contracting
parties, we shall lay the particulars before our
readers.
We are informed that two additional f~rst-class
boats Will be put on the line at once, making
in all, which will run through to the south
ern terminus, without breaking cargo or trans
Icrring passengers at this port as at present.