The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-09-01
September LIST.
THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.


contract for an extension of the mail
service between Auckland and San
Francisco. Substantially the same
news was printed yesterday, but we
give it more in detail to-day, for the
information of our readers. The con-
templated service is one which has
been outlined for some considerable
time past, and has also been under
consideration by the Oceanic Steam
ship Company. Indeed, the special
agent of that company, Mr.. VIM.
Center, is now in New Zealand,
armed with full authority to enter
into contract for the conveyance of
the mail and passengers, as indicated
in the resolution of the House of
Representatives. 1t is rather unfOr-
tunate that he was so late in starting
for the Colony. A month earlier
might have brought about better re-
suits, so far as a subsidy is con-
cerned ; but, on the other hand,
he arrived there about the time
the question was being debated
and was fresh in the public mind,
and he is also in a position to ten
der at once instead of waiting for
reference to the Board of Directors in
San Francisco. Should that be neces-
sary, however, he is in direct tele-
graphic communication with San
Francisco from any large town in
New Zealand.
The new service will be q rapid
one, and contemplates thirty-twe
days between Auckland and London
in ordinary weather, with prompt
railroad and steamer connections in
America, and free from accidents.
This would be equivalent to thirty
seven day service between Sydney
and London, via San Francisco,
which would be certain to command
a very large share of the passenger
travel between the Colonies and Eng
land. The Oceanic Company is quite
able to undertake the main service
between San Francisco and Auck-
land, while the Union Steamship
Company of New Zealand would con-
tinue it to Sydney in a class of
steamers about equal to those on the
main line.
1t is quite reasonable to suppose,
for by other steamship companies.
Messrs. John Elder & Co., of Glasgow,
owners of the Zealandia and Aus
tralia, are in position to contract for
it, and put on the line large and rapid
Moreover, they know its
present and prospective value better |
even than their partners in the New |
Zealand mail contract--the Pacific |
Mail Company. They have fleet of
on the Orient line and
otherwise engaged in the direct Lon
don and Australian trade, any of which
may be made available. The Pacific
Mail Company also, Notwithstanding
its fast-and-loose policy regarding the
renewal of the contract, might tender,
although where it is to get suitable
1oats it is difficult to say. Certainly
t does not own any adapted for the
new service, and most certainly it is
lot in a position to buy vessels in
America. 1t might, however, charter
hips or make arrangement with
ome English firm similar to that
low in existence between it aud
Messrs. John Elder & Co. But we
hink that it's China and Central
American trade will tax it's resources
o the full for some time to come,
In the Colonies the Union Steam
hip Company of New Zealand and
he New Zealand Shipping Company
re quite able to undertake this SER
rice and perform it satisfactorily
,ut in the case of the former, it would 6
re an extension of business in new t
md untried field, and foreign to the '
,olicy of the Company heretofore
n the case of the New Zealand Ship '
ing Company, it could not put two
f it's new 5,O00-ton steamships on the
california route without weakening
Is direct line between the Colonies C
nd England Tor which these vessels s
yere butt, and in support of which a
ubssdy of 100000 year is paid n
, the New Zealand Government [
nder vote of Parliament. Neverthe- W
IS, by an arrangement with the a
line of Messrs. Shaw, III
lville & Co., the New Zealand Ship m
ng Company might be in position
tender, because there is not bust pS
ss for all the steamships now en-
ged in the frozen meat trade. These N
ssels are specially fitted up for
loon passengers, and are simply an
rfect as far as modern skill and Ii
pIiances can make them. They M
AXE the passage of thirteen thousand
d miles between London and New 70
aland, and vice versa, in from
Irty-eight and half to forty days, 1or
, home passage always being on on
, fastest time.
But the question of subsidy comes ma
The New Zealand Parliament has wa
;horized subsidy not to exceed