The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-26

THURSDAY -: November 26th
THE OCEAN STEAMER SERVICE.


The Bulletin" appears to be exhiler-
ated at the thought that the Oceanic and
Union Companies will be successfully
opposed. by Mr.. Pearce's steamships on
the Australian line, and it congratulates
the country upon It's prospective escape
from monopoly" II is further stated
that Mr.. Pearce will run two of his large
unemployed steamers in addition to the
Zealandia and Australia. But it is not
stated Whist these vessels, which would
provide fortnightly service between
Sydney and San Francisco, viii get to
do. 1t is an open secret that 700. tons of
cargo have been guaranteed to them every
four weeks from this port; and our saga
cious friends who detest monopoly"
imagine that hard-headed Scotchmpn
like Mr. Pearce will run a steamship fort
nightly between Sydney and San Fran
cisco, distance Of 1000 odd miles, and
back again, on the certainty of getting 700
tons of sugar every second trip from
Honolulu, and all to rescue them from
the grinding monopoly of the Oceanic
Steamship Company. sia
This idea is ridiculous Mr. Pearce is.
an eminently practical man, and sym
pathizes all the time with monopoly;
but he finds himself in the unfortunate
position of a good many other British
Bhipbuilders just now, OF having a fleet of
Unavailable steamships thrown upon-his
hands, without any prospect of employ
ment for them, and he is trying his best
to force two of these upon the contractors
for the Australian mail service on his
own terms or else compel them to buy
him OFF. He will succeed in neither en-
terprise, but he may succeed in placing
this community in a very false position
regarding the Treaty and the commercial
relations of the Hawaiian Kingdom
towards the United States. This is
point which the Opposition press and
the enemies of Colonel Spreckels have
forgotten, but it is one which the Ameri-
can press and people will not forget.
Let it once be understood in the
United States that a combination has
been formed here to encourage an Eng
lish steamship line and break down an
American line of steamers between this
port and San Francisco, which offers
great facilities for traffic, and has re-
duced freight to the lowest paying basis,
and there will soon be an end of the
Treaty. The United States did not know,
and does not know, Mr.. Pearce in the
Australian mail service. He was not
the contractor, but he was the guarantor
or surety for the Pacific Mail Company
In the contract with the Colonies, and a
silent partner in the enterprise. Now,
If his principals, the Pacific Mail Com
pany, sold the good will of the Honolulu
trade to the Oceanic Company without
consulting him, which they had per-
feet right to do, is that any argument in
his favor and against the Oceanic Com
pany? In what way did the planters
and shippers in this Kingdom suffer by
the transaction? Were they not better
served than ever before and at reasonable
charges? But whether or not, is that
reason why the Oceanic Company should
be opposed by any one in Honolulu?
Let us consider this point for mo-
lnens. The Oceanic Company has conzy
cluded an arrangement with the Union
Company of New Zealand, with the con-
sent Of the New Zealand Government
and the United States Post Office Depart
ment. which makes Honolulu the head
quarters and terminus of the through
service. Sydney merchants object to the
selection of Honolula fos this purpose
and encourage Mr.. Pearce to start an ops
position line of steanlers. which wi enlyss
touch at Honolulu in passing, as The 'I'sss
cific Mail steamers did, making San
Francisco the northern terminus of the
line. The Oceanic Company's arrange
ment would circulate money and. build !
up the trade and commerce of Honolulu +;
the project of the Sydney merchants and
Mr.. Pearce world simply take as much /
money as possible for freight and passen-
gers from Honolulu and spend as little as
could be avoided. The one would build
no the interisland trade; the other would .
destroy it yet Honolulu newspapers CON
graduate the public that it is to be freed I
from the money-spending, business-pro- :
noting monopoly OF the Oceanic Com