New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-22
THE NEW AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

A PROJECTED LINE BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND
SAN FRANCIsCo-PRovIsIoNs OF THE CONTRACT
THE GAIN IN TIME.
Australian and New-Zealand newspapers give
some important information concerning the projected
mail service between Sydney, Newsouth Wales and San
Francisco with such branch other route to NewZeal
and rs may be agreed upon. The Home Government
has withdrawn the proposal for the proongation OF the
sueg mail line and now offers to convey the. outward
Colonial mails to Point de Gale, Singapore, and San
Francisco, free of cost. Upon the receipt of this
offer the New South Wales Government telegraphed its
acceptance, and made arrangements for an alternate
mail by way of San Francisco. This arrangement is
provisional contract for six years for mail service
every four between Sydney and San Francisco by
way of Kandavu Zone of the Fiji Isands and Honolulu,
with the option of branch line between certain desiG-
mated ports OF wZealand and Kandavu This service
is TO be performed in rsclass vessels at guaranteed
speed of 10 knots per hour. The subsidy is a4s0Do
(s24OOO year for the main service and $4,000 100000
addition for the NewZealand branch should 1t be re-
qured. Provision is also made for a 12-knot service
should the Government demand it, when the subsdyis to
be increased to $4,000 OOO including the branch line
The agreement is made with H. II. Hall Of Sydney, the
commercial agent of the United States in New-South
Wales but the contract says The Melbourne Leader is
so drawn as to enable the Sydney Government TO easily
avoid it, and the whole arrangements such as TO lead
TO the opinion that it merely concession for specua-
tive purposes be sold at profit If possible, OF else
thrown up" The Colonial Government of NewZealand,
at the time Of the departure Of the mails had under
consideration o proposal 10 join the New South
Wales Government in this contract upon the payment
of $4,000 year its quota toward the main line and
for the branch for its exclusive use between kandavu
and the ports Of New-Zealand No decision had been
arrived at there also project under considera-
ton for arrangements with Victoria whereby New
Zealand might also have the advantage of an alternate
service by way OF Suez. If New-Zeaand should
not iOin New South Wales for branch service, there
will possibly be two lines of steamers making
san Francisco the terminal point The prospects of
manency would however, seem TO be better served FOR
the present, by only one line under arrangement with
all the Australian Colonies, tor trade and commerce
have not yet sufficiently developed to justify two lines
OF competing steamers. With 10knOt service, such
has been proposed, calculations have been made that
with no delays at intervening ports the mails be de
livered at Auckland. NewZealand, % DAYS from San
Francisco and allowing l6 or II days from London TO
san Francisco, will make total OF about 40 days alto
gether the most distant points. The quickest time
for London mails TO reach NewZealand by the Suez
route between so and 60 days. The time between Lon
don and Sydney by the projected service will be about
IS 46 days. thus equang III speed the Penlnsuar and
Oriental COmpany's route via SueZ, and aflOrdng to
New-sOuth Wales in addition postal connection with
the islands Of the Pacific and with the entire North
American continent.