The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-08-28

tralia is to give US the go-by-at all events. by
the terms Of the contract We are omitted from the
route. Bat it would seem that IL the interim at
least before the Inauguration Of the regular
service, we arc to have a fortnightly line, as
stated IN the following, which W. find in the
Commercial Herald Of San Francisco, of Augusta;
eve have authority from headquarters TO state
that the Pacific Mail Steamship Company will dis
patch their first steamer TO Australia in September,
the second in October, the regular service to CON-
mence from the ends Of the route November llth.
From this it will appear that for the next three
months We are 20 have two steamers per month 10
the Colonies, both lines undoubtedly stopping at
Honolulu We learn from authentic sources that
arrangements are going On with q view Of establish
ing an opposition line Of steamers 10 Honolulu by
GoOdall, Nelson s. Perkins, they having spare
steamers for the purpose. 1t is said the treaty is
favorable, and no doubt enough business win be
done for two lines"
The Daily Examine Of August 9Th, has the
following in corroboration of the above
The Australian contract with the Pacific Mail
Company will be inaugurated on September 18th, by
the dispatch Of the Colima for Sydney. This steamer
IS one Of the fastest that the Company owns. She
viii carry freight enough for present requirements,
and has fuller and better accommodations for pas
sengers than any steamer run by the Company
except the Granada. If put on the line regularly
she VIII undoubtedly prove q favorite. Perhaps it
HOuiu nave DteN well 10 aStOQlSl the AuStrGil1nS
with the CITY Of Toxic, but the Coii7aa is 4 good
substitute, and will accommodate a large passenger
list"
And in the San Francisco dallies of the 10th
instant, the Pacific Mail Company advertise the
Vosoo de Cana to leave October 9th, 81 carrying
Her Britannia Majesty's Mails, for Honolulu, 5.
L., Auckland and Sydney, taking passengers and
freight for Honolulu, &c Thus it will appear,
that we are TO have a surfeit Of steamships for
two months, and then, perhaps none at all.
If it were definitely settled beyond question
that the Australian line rs run by the Pacific
Mail Company is not to touch at Honolulu, the
proposed independent line referred to above by
the Commercial Herald, would not be an 80 oppo-
%sition,'' Except to sailing vessels) and-as sug-
gested by us in our issue of the 18th of June
last, under the head of % Steam Communication
with San Francisco might be made to pay, if
properly managed. Our freight and passenger
traffic, now divided between the boats of the
Australian line and sailing vessels, amounts to
over 100000 per annum. To repeat a portion
of our article above referred To- The total
amount of freight outward from this port to San
Francisco in 1874 was about IL 900 tons, and
the inward freight amounted TO nearly as much
say 90, 900 tons in all. This at six dollars per
ton is $3.50, 900 paid for freights. The total of
passengers arriving and departing for the year
was (adults) 847, which at fifty dollars each would
make S42,350 more, or a grand total for our
freight and passenger traffic of $162,350 per
annum at present,-with all the probabilities Of
a large increase in the future"
But we do not feel at all concerned at the pos
sibility, which is seemingly threatened, that the
cFao Of tho Arctro1ion line will E.
touch here. We have failed to perceive any
great advantage that has accrued to us in the
past from our having been a port of call for these
steamers, either in the way of passengers or
freight. Our Government has expended a good
deal of money in providing accommodations for
them in the shape of wharves, tramways, a shed,
and storehouses, which are given free, and which .
together with water, harbor dues, &C., remittedl
in their favor, amounts to about 100000 per
annum-a very handsome bonus for q poor
country like this. To quote again from our
previous article:
What, IN reality, are we getting in return for
all the favors bestowed on these steamers? Does
it not seem, when We come to look at it, as though
: all the meat was in their dish and all the bones
in ours?' For as to the boasted benefits which
HCIC " dSSIuC = uS lOm tIC IdonCuSSIS III lLdLI-
situ-aside from an hours ride in our environs,
the purchase of q few curios, and fruit, and per-
haps q meal at our hotel-they benefit US moth
ing, for they have not the time. The ships carry
Goals and stores to last them through, and in that
line they literally want nothing of us in fact it
would seem as though the steamer people actually
feel that the honor of their brief visits is a full
return for all the facilities and privileges We grant
them. The fact is that the granting of all those
privileges has had a tendency to the detriment of
our working classes, by the saving of labor in
lading and unlading cargo, and has almost
destroyed the business of our draymen. Thus, to
benefit the steamers which benefit us so question
ably, we have worked an injury to a class of our
own people who, equally with the wealthy, have
borne their share of the burthen of taxation"
Ocean steamship lines are run on principles of
financial prudence, based on experience;
and of one thing we may be assured, which is
that if there shall exist n sufficient business
inducement to attract hither the boats of the p.
NJ. Co, (or those of any other line) they will
come, otherwise not. The fact of our Govern
ment giving or withholding Il nominal subsidy
(for it could be nothing more) would have very
little to do with deciding. the question.
A Card.-The undersigned takes this method of returning
sncere thanks to those who, in Honolulu and at Hawaii,