The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-08-03
THE PACIFIC
Commercial 90bettiser,
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3.
The Webb Line.

1t has happened that within the last three
months. the line of steamers forming an impor
tant link in what we may appropriately call til,
trans continental route between England and tn,
colonies of Australia and New Zealand has me
with many drawbacks, some of them in n great
measure inseparable from the initiation of such
an enterprise, and others tat may be termed I'M
expected as well as unavoidable.
We cannot call the placing of steamers by llr.
Webb on the route between here and the colonies
Al experiment, for to Mr.. Hall belongs the credit
Of being the pioneer, and before his boats were
withdrawn, experience had shown that this route
was one that was %imperatively demanded by the
travelling public, as we'll as merchants and ship
persJ But notwithstanding tine evident necessity
thar exists for the keeping open of the trans
continental route, the fact that the steamers en-
ployed in the service must have the termini o
their route controlled by two rival nations
rival, but not antagonistic either in peace or war
let Us ~hope-whose sympathies are naturally
with the vessels which carry their respective
flags, will always operate to It's prejudice.
Hence, with the Hall line in operation, we
expect to hear the notes of complaint sounded
by Americans if rs is now the case Mr.. Webb's
vessels bring passengers TO and fro. it is the Eng
lish who grumble. All this is perfectly natural
and legitimate, as are the truthful representations
made by newspapers on either side to predispOse in
favor of or disparagc either line. 1t is only
when fair criticism degencrates into mIsrepre-
se%ntatiOn, that we can feel called upon to seriously
rebut the charges brought in such a spirit.
We have had lately to listen to n good deal 0.
abuse Of the Webb line, and We think that like
almost all abuse it has been q little too sweeping
and groundless. Take the case Of the MOhongO
as an instance she was a death trap n
sieve her bottom was said to be in danger oil
falling out with every roll, and, in short, accord
ing to the story Of some whose knowledge of the
vessel was CLEANED from what they saw of her while
here the first time, it was willful and cold -bloodcd
tempting of a long suffering Providence to go to
sea in her. And why? Because when first ont
from san Francisco she met with an accident
cracking her steam chest that is likely to hap
pen to any steamer that ever left a seaport.
After that, on her passage down, she met with
heavy gales, shipping considerable water, much
to the discomfort of those who never were on
board of the diving bells" that run down the
New Zealand coast.
Her voyage up, as well as the next round trip,
was not marked with any incident or accident be-
yond those usual to any sea voyage, and the most
that can be said against the vessel is that she has
not capacity enough to meet the requirements Of
this line.
But what Is Mr.. Raymond, the Sun Francisco
agent, to do? With the North Pacific TransPOr-
tatiou Company charterinS all the steamers they
can get hold of and laying them mp to keep n
Of the business ON the eoast-route, with
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company demanding
i the larger boats, he, as Mr.. Webb's represen-
tative, is Obliged TO put on such vessels rs he can
secure. pending the arrival Of the Dakota and
OF her class.
Aside from this, the line has 10 try to accommo-
date itself to the conflicting interests of the colo
Of New Zealand and Australia. There, mcr-
camille jcalOusies run - high as to cripple all neg
that may be set on foot by any one to Sc
cure a fair subsidy from both. To be sure, Mr..
Webb did succeed in arranging with the parties
in power at the time of his visit to Melbourne for
a provisional subsidy, and we are Of the opinion
that ne did 50 or the basis of n plan that was not
dep. adent for its success ON the action o. the u.
:. Senate in granting him a reasonable assistance