The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-02-19

this port. It would lead to the establishment. in
all probability, OF an English line, the earnings
OF which in the passage-mOaey and ireig Il
charges. would be collected by The foreign com
pany The decline in American shipping dur
Ing and since the war. has lost 10 this country a
vast amount Of wealth in the matter OF freight
money The earnings Of the feet which has and
is to carry away the surplus grain OF this State,
IS and will be the aggregate sum of the freight
on probably 22O ships, which goes into the hands
OF foreign owners
The China and Australian steam lines are both
owned by Americans, aud are two important
lines on the Pacific Ocean, The subsidy asked
for the Australian line would secure its coatinu-
ance for ten years. during which time trade
would be developed to make it self-sustaning.
a passenger-travel per month, Of five hundred
people TO and from Australia. passing through
this city and crossing the continent. would leave
10 paSsage-money. hotel bills purchases, etc. at
least $3.50 each. Five hundred times one hun
dred and fifty is seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. or nine million dollars per annum. Peo-
PIE who are well Informed in regard to the travel
between Great Britain and the Colonies. are con-
fident that first-class line Of ships would carry
Lot less than i've hundred passengers each month.
The advantages of this route are superior TO that
now used. The weather alone is sufficient to
induce travel this way as the Suez route lays
nearly the whole distance under the Equator
The diversity Of tie overland travel and the
splendid Atlantic steamers 10 cross from New
York to England would make the route by the
American Australian line. preferred by all first
class travellers. Mr.. Webb has carried on this
line alone for nearly two years. and at heavy pc
cuniary loss. He is entitled to this subsidy, as
he will have first-class vessels and run the line
on liberal basis,-Ahd, FEB. 3.
TEE WEBB STEAN-LISE SUBSIDY Bill KILLED.
The Webb Steam-Line Subsidy bill was yester-
day finally defeated in the Senate by a close vote
in a full house. We believe this to be the most
desirable result that could have been arrived at.
To have voted so large a subsidy to Webb would
have had the effect Of choking off an effective
line, and would have tied US up for period of
years to the use Of class of vessels utterly IN
equal to the necessities of the Australian route.
The route Is now clear for the Burnside-ScOtt or
ganZatiOn. IL is understood that nothing now
stands in the way Of the new line being put into
operation but the receipt of a telegram annOunc-
ing the ratification Of the contract by the Paria-
ment at Sydney. This is expected in about three
or four weeks from this date Ii is not aniicipa-
ted that there will be the slightest difficulty in
obtaining that raufcation. because the Legisla-
ture by an almost unanimous vote, some time ago
authorized the making OF a contract. Moreover
the colonial form of government. Ministers
are bound to carry their measures or resign.
Bonds have been given in the sum of $500
as guarantee that the first steamer of the line
shall arrive at the Australian end within six
months Of the receipt OF the telegram just al
uded TO. The steamers intended for the service
will leave England aud proceed to Australia via
the Cape OF Good Hope. and will take up their
place on the route from that end. Within seven
months the first steomer may be expected 10 our
bay. A twelve-knot service Is guaranteed, and
the company hold themselves responsible for the
passage Of the mails over our continent and
across the Atlantic
In the meantime. it is feared that the probable
withdrawal Of the Webb Line will cause an aWk-
ward interreguum in our communication with the
Colonies. IL has been known Tor some time that
Webb's boats are sold to the Pacific Mal Com
pany conditional on the failure of the subsidy
bill to pass. On the LIST of May next the com.
pany is bound to commence its bi-monthly SER
wee to China and Webbs boats are necessary
to enable that to be done. 1t is to be hoped that
in the interests Of good faith u reasonable amount
of nsideratiOn will be shown for New Zealand
ere the withdrawal Of the present line is deter
mined upon. New Zealand, having a contract I
with Webb to run the line for ten years. cut her
self off from all connection with the Suez route
Ii this contract Is now to be abandoned reason
able notice ought TO be given to the Government
Of that Colony, to enable 1t TO make other ar
-angementS The sudden stoppage Of their only {
mail line, ineffective though it has been would
be little short of business calamity To the mer
chants of New Iealand-S f. Chronicle.