The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-02-01
From New Zealand and Australia.

BY the arrival on Saturday last Of the California,
New zealand and Australian mail steamship Ne
rddd, Captain Bletheu, we are in receipt of dates
from Auckland 10 Jan. 8, and from Sydney 10 the
latter part Of December. We clip from our ex-
changes, as follows:
Everywhere the same remark is heard-,hat al
no period Of the colonyis history has there been
such general activity In oil branches OF trade. such
satisfactory evidence Of material prosperity.
Another lnter-colonial Conference IL about 20 DO
held In Australia, most probably in Sydney, for the
purpose OF discussing postal services. reciprocal
tariffs, and other matters Of minor Importance.
New Zealand will be represented by Mr.. Vogel and
Mr.. Reynolds, and 1t is hoped that The colonies will
TO ocean postal services.
The NeUddd arrived in our waters on the 18th
alt, requiring very extensive repairs TO her ma
chinery. Forty hands were put on in day and night
shifts. Aud on Tuesday last Mr.. Stewart. Inspector
of Steam Vessels, pronounced her in a nt state 20
proceed on her ocean voyage. She will carry the
outward mails for America, Britain, and continental
Europe. The new steamship Dakota arrived hero
on the LIST inst, making a splendid passage OF %
days from San Francisco. including n detention of
"a hours at Honolulu. The passengers arriving by
her pronounce her ~sea-going capabilities as all that
can be desired in a nrst-class ocean steamship. Her
cabin accommodation is superb.
SYDNEY, Dec. pa rumor is current that Halls
tender for the California mail service Is lowest. and
the Australian Steam Navigation COMPANY next.
We quote the remarks OF the Wellington lndc.
pendent, which may be taken as expressing the
mind of the Government -
The complaints regarding the San francisco mail
service, although very often exaggerated, have good
foundation. Unpunctuality has been tho chief
cause OF grnmbling, and whatever may have occa-
stoned the delay IL Is not the less TO be protested
against. The service has not been fairly handled
since it was started. 1t has received the utmost
and most kindly consideration from the Govern
ment of the colony. Allowances have been made
In good spirit for the shortcomings that were al
most inevitable upon the initiation of a new service,
but the contractors have not done ms much as might
have been expected from them. Circum.
stances have undoubtedly initiated against the sue
cess OF the line. Steamers, like human beings, are
only capable OF q certain amount Of work, aud Il
is n fact that the two steamers hitherto chiefly en-
ployed have been worked to death. Iron will
wear out as muscle will do, and it is not a surpris-
ing thing that the constant and heavy strain to
which the boilers and machinery Of the Nevada
aud Nebraska have been subjected have resulted
in frequent break-downs. But tho contractors
should have fOTeseen these results, and used extra
diligence to supplement the line by at least ono
efficient steamer. 1t is true that they have now
done so, although the extra steamer. the Dakota,
did not take her place on the line at the appointed
time but it must be confessed that the engage
ments embodied In the contract have been very
slovenly observed, and that the contractors have
fallen far short OF the ful6lment OF their obliga-
tons. IL is most unfortunate that Just at the very
time when the character of the service should be
upheld, 1t has invariably happened that something
has occurred to give II a bad reputation.
"Anglo-Australian," writing in the European
Mail, says: 81 hear that q company, embracing
certain English steamship and American railroad
is being formed In London, for the pur-
pose of establishing a line of Hrst.class mail
steamers between San francisco, Australia, and
New Zealand. The report Is that the service shall
go into operation. by means of chartered steamers,
without delay, reliance being placed upon the Colo
NAL Governments that they will grant adequate
to the line when they find that Il Is to be
thoroughly Elective. In about six or eight msnths
the chartered vessels are to be replaced by three
new steamers, built expressly for this route, upon
the exact model, with cabins amidships. that has
proved so successful in the case of the White Star
Line from Liverpool 10 New York. These vessels
be built to steam fourteen knots per hour, and
IN average service of twelve knots will be Ruaran-
teed. One evil of the San Francisco route hitherto
has been that no one was responsible for the transit
Df mails across the American Continent. This will
be remedied by the new company. as they will be
to contract under penalties for the con-
veyance OF the mails the whole way between
and the Colonies. The route proposed
10 be followed until the determination of the Colo
nal Government is known will be from San Fran
cisco to Honolulu, thence ria Samoa, New Gale
lonia, and Moreton Island (for Queensland), TO
sydney. II the New Zealand Government desire
I, a branch steamer will connect all their ports with
to be delivered at Queensland in forty days,
sydney ~forty-two days, Melbourne f~orty-four days,
md at Auckland in thirty-eigbt days. IL Is In
ended to commence the service as quickly az the
arrangements can be made at the Differ
mt points, without waiting for the action OF the
South Wales Government in respect Of the
which they have just invited for n mail line
m the San Francisco route. am told
hat they 1.-THE promotersl not only mean business,
tut that very shortly the steamers will be seen In
Australian waters"