The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-04-28

the Red Sea route. he lands at Plymouth about
u hours By rail from London, and practically
two days from leading cities in Scotland and Ire
land and as to Ireland, the American route
would reach it on the 42d day instead OF the 56th
II passengers to America are cut off from the
Pacific route they would, wa the Red Sea, reach
the cities IN the Eastern States in about st DAYS,
and San Francisco IN about II days, in place OF
dong 80 In 50 and 26 days, as Al present.
And ms to the probable future of the San Fran
cisco route as a means us "a pid communication il
may b. pointed out that the steamers DOW run
ming acrUss the Pacific have made their passage
in about % days. The mails across America
have been conyeyed in an experimental trip in "a
days-bui pnf it at i've days. The Atlantic is
now crossed in seven days by the Alaska and
Arizona, sister ships OF the Austral, making q
through time OF 81 days, which may be accom-
plished by proper connection, and certainly will
be within a short period, for America is not wont
to be slow in her progress when the object in
view Justifes the means being used.
On her October trip the Zealandia delivered her
letters in New York on the Both day, and had
she been timed to catch the Alaska or Arizona,
her letters would have been in London on the
3Sth day but it happened the mails reached
New York on Saturday evening, and they lay in
the Post Office until Monday, on which day they
were placed on board a North German steamer
and made a passage of Is days, thus neutralizing
the rapid transit to New York but an adjust
ment of dates 10 catch the fast steamers would
remedy this, aud ensure delivery III 81 to 40 days.
Evidence of the growing desire OF America for
free ommerc and all that tends towards it. and
particularly OF her desire to cultivate commercial
relations with the Australasian colonies, may be
found in tie fact that the United States have
modified their protective tariff in favor of the col
onies by reducing the duty on wool by Is per
cent.-a modification that must especially, il n
exclusively, benefit the colonies.
uIn traAa yr,tl Ano-,o - .t;II -, =, ,E,,,,
but, az the colonies increase in population and
ommerce increases, ii may become possible Il
run steamers across the Pacific, as they now dc
by the Red Sea, on a purely commercial basis
but at present it is not possible to do this, and n
is for the colonies to consider whether the advan.
tages of the Pacific route warrant the cOntInu
ance ola moderate subsidy until the appearance
OF a second non-subsIdized line of steamers OF
the Pacific, as has appeared ON the Eastern route
shows that as regards that particular line OF rOut,
the days of subsidy are over.
These remarks are not made In any spirit o
hostility to the Postal Union, but to show TIN
necessity for New South Wales and New ZealanC
retaining a line of their own, secured to them b.
contract for a fixed period, 50 that they shout,
not enter on the conference for postal union a
a disadvantage, as countries that have lat
down their arms but retaining their own ma
line they will treat on equal terms and retain fb
all the colonies the benefits of the Western ma
route, not the least of which may prove to be it
value as an alternative route in the event of
European war closing the Red Sea for mails an
passengers conveyed under a neutral flag or i
. the possible contingency Of the withdrawal of tn
Messageries Maritimes or the Orient lines.
IF New South Wales and New Zealand find
to their advantage to enter the Postal, then tn
other will fairly share the cost of the Pacific route
=, if New South Wales and New Zealand share tn
cost of the Red Sea and by the maintenance {
! the former route they will avoid practically ado
ing one-third OF the circumference Of the globe t
, the distance betwixt these colonies and fifty mi
= lions of their own race in America .-Sydne
= = Morning Herald.