The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-11-24
THIS EVENINGS n0lNCS.
PACIFIC STEAMSHIP COMPETITION.

The surprising news came by the
steamship City of Sydney, that ar
rived from the Australian colonies
last night, that the arrangement for
carrying the mails between Austria
liza and America, by way of New
Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands.
had been broken up. Mr.. John
Pearce, of John Elder 4 Co., Glas-
gov, owners of the steamships
Zealandia and Australia. who had
engaged to have those vessels par
ticipate in the new contract initiated
and promoted to a conclusion by
the New Zealand Government, has
withdrawn from the contract with
his two steamships and announced
his intention of starting an opposi-
ton line from Sydney to San Fran
cisco, calling at Fiji and Honolulu
but leaving Auckland out. There
is no very definite cause assigned
for Mr.. Pearce's withdrawal, but one
or two evident facts throw some light
upon his action. During the con-
tract of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, New Zealand is con-
sidered in Sydney to have system
atically subordinated the interests
of New South Wales to her own, in
dealing with the service. This sell
fish policy is alleged to have been
at the bottom of New Zealand's
single-handed efforts to have a new
contract negotiated as that with the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company
was approaching its end. We have
not space, at this writing, to particu-
larize, but the foregoing is the gist
of public opinion as reflected in
the Sydney press. Then the new
arrangements, involving tranship-
ment at Honolulu, have proved ex-
ceedingly unpopular in commercial
circles of Sydney. An agitation
has gained great strength there, in
consequence of the disaffection re-
ferred to. in favor of direct SER
vice. A meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce, and another of inhuen-
tial gentlemen representing the com
mercial and shipping interests Of
Sydney, have both strongly pro-
tested against the break in the route
at Honolulu. In reply to dele
cation from the Chamber conveying
their views aforementioned, Mr..
See, the new Postmaster-Gen
(there has just been a change of
Government in New South Wales),
defended the new arrangement and
slgnified his opinion that he should
have to carry out the engagement,
in connection herewith, entered
into by Mr.. Norton, his predecessor.
The contract has been ratified by
the New Zealand Legislature, but
has yet to be submitted to that
of New South Wales. So far
as the latter colony is con-
cerned, therefore, in view of the
strong feeling against the composite,
and in favor of direct service, the
contract is in critical position. In
the meantime Mr.. Pearce has insti.
tuted direct service, MS heretofore
stated, between Sydney, Honolulu
and San Francisco. Doubtless h,
is confident of obtaining II subsidy
from New South Wales, withou
which it is scarcely probable that th'
direct line can be maintained. |
may here be stated Chat the firm o
John Elder & Co. has never ap
proved of the agreement made be
tween the Pacific Mail Company ant
the Oceanic Company, during thu
late contract, by which the latter
bought from the former monopoly
of the freight and passenger traffic
between Honolulu and San Fran,
cisco. Their two steamers being
now independent deserve liberal
share of the Honolulu trade and the
patronage of the travelling public.