The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-08-26

GAciNOuc VI buc VI luC AutCAloAf DoShSN
by the GAzKTTE. The bill is by no means what
loan bill should be; but it must be taken, with
oil its defects, as the best that the Legislature
was capable of devsing to meet the wants Of
Government.
The Australian and American Steam
Service.
The following article from the Sydney Morn
ing Herald of July 81, will be read with interest
at this time when the mail line is passing through
40 ordeal calculated TO test its strength, and
which we trust may result in placing it on a surer
basis than it has heretofore rested. The article
shows that its experience is simply that Of other
enterprises of the same kind and that, taking all
things into Consideration, it is dong as well as
could be expected.
A rumor appears to have obtained currency
in MelbOurne-where, perhaps, the wish was
father to the thought-that the Pacific Mail Ser
vice has been suspended. The departure of the
Mikado at the fixed date will be sufficient con-
trndicton OF this rumor, which probably originat-
ted in the fact that the Tartar has been detained
at San Francisco, in order to repair the injuries
received by her stranding on a reef. The captain
Of that vessel has been sngulary unfortunate in
showing his brother captains the way they ought
not to go but, as on both occasions Of his run
ming aground he was out of his course, bis reef
finding experiments 10 no way reflect on the
safety of the route ITSELF Not only has the Pa
ci6c mail service not been abandoned, but we
venture to say that it never will be abandoned.
We do not say that the present contractors will
necessarily carry the enterprise through success
fully. They may or may not, and the result will
depend upon the management, But this is clear,
that there exist all the elements necessary for
success and that the commercial Importance
and fruitfuIness of the route has already been
sufficiently disclosed to place il beyond the cate
CORY of mere projects. 10 speed and puuctuali-
ty the desired results have not yet been attained
and both in England and in the colonies there
have been sharp criticisms on this score. Such
criticisms are wholesome even if they are not nee
essary, and it is not at all likely that they will be
wanting if there is anything to provoke them.
Bat at the same time it is necessary to distln-
guish between shortcomings due to misadventures,
which could not be fOreseen or guarded against,
and such as are inherent in the very nature Of the
enterprise We naturally very critical, because
the service is BY the very nature Of the case
placed in sharp contrast with that by the old es-
tablished rival route. But then we ought to re-
member that the P. and O. Company have now
had many years in which 10 organize their line.
and q subsidy to pay for their experiments very
much in access of what is granted to the contract
ors for the Pacific service. Moreover in earlier
days the company was by no means free from
mishaps, and By no means gave unequivocal salts
faction. More than one of its vessel broke down
on the passage, and the dissatisfaction was such
that notice to determine the contract was con.
tempated. 1t should also be remembered that
the European and Australian Mail Company
made an entire failure. as did also the two COM
panies that attempted postal service by way of
the Cape of Good Hope and even the expert
enced West Indian Royal Mail Company. which,
for time, undertook the management of the
Suez line. and with every desire to continue in
possession Of it, failed to achieve success. 1t
is only fair to recall these circumstances, and 20
let the recollection operate in mitigation of our
present dissatisfaction Moreover, we should bear
in mind that no service of equal magnitude was
ever commenced at SO short a notice. There was
no time for preparation, and oil practical men
know that preparation is essential to certain sue
cess. 1t may be said that this excuse is practic-
ally censure on the Governments that made so
hurried an arrangement. But the Governments
we're themselves forced into a corner. The poll
cy Of this colony was to have continued the old
contract for eighteen months, during which time
ample preparation could have been made for com.
mencing a new line. But this policy the Home
Government refused to endorse, and it would
have been left without any certain mail service if
It had not improvised one. 1t. was only by the
assistance of the telegraph, and owing to the fact
hat some Of the available vessels we're in Eastern
waters, that it was possible for the service to be-
gin when it did ! and when we bear in mind that (
'ome Of the vessels, being on trading voyages, did
lot reach Sydney by the most direct route. that
others have been unlucky in touching the ground
md that none of them are adapted for the par
ocular service in which they are employed, we
nay make some allowances. Let our English |
rends also consider that this line is almost en-
irely due TO colonial enterprise. and has been
carried through in spite Of much Imperial dis.
ouragement-that it is the greatest enterprise
# the kind which British colonies have yet un-
Iertaken, and that it is sustained by only two Of
hem numbering jointly only about three-quarters
# a million of Inhabitants, and we think case
las been made out not only for lenient judgment
S to the past, but for hopeful anticipa,ions as to
be future.
Annexation of The FiiIs.