The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-05
t H Z
THURSDAY
THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.

The Australian mail service has be-
come so closely identified with Hawaiian
affairs that any facts bearing directly
upon it must be matter OF general public
interest And the most gratifying and
satisfactory fact OF all is, that as at pres
ent conducted by the Oceanic and
Union Steamship Companies it is sue
cess. This is made abundantly evident
by the report of the Post Office Depart
ment of New Zealand for the year 1885,
presented to the Legislature during the
present session.
This report sets out by stating that
the San Francisco mail service has been
renewed for period of three years, I'M
der very favorable terms for the con-
tracing Colonies of New Zealand and
New South Wales An acceleratiOn OF
time had been secured-a saving OF
twenty-five hours on the ocean route
for subsidy considerably less than had
been paid the Pacific Mail Company for
the previous service. In other words,
the Colonies get shorter time for less
money A highly satisfactory feature OF
the new service is the fact that the
United States Post Office contributes di-
rectly towards it's cost.
Referring to the details IN the report
in question we find a concise statement
of the negotiations which resulted in the
present contract and joint service by the
Oceanic and Union Companies. Mr..
VIM. Pearce offered to perform twenty
day service between San Francisco and
Auckland for the sum of 100000 (&40,-
OOO), or between Sydney and San Fran
cisco, calling at Auckland for $150,00O
(e30 ,O0O), provided that he was allowed
to draw the entire subsidy to be OBJ
tanned from the Sydney Government.
This projected service was to be per-
formed by the Australia and Zealandia,
since then bought by Messrs. Spreckels
and placed upon the Hawaiian register.
The tender by Mr.. Pearce was rejected
as being over the limit fixed by Pariia-
ment.
The fork service was then contracted
for by the New Zealand Government at
$4,000 (g3O ,OOO) yearly; time, twenty
: five days to Sydney, via Auckland;
mails and passengers to be transhlpped
at Honolulu. New South Wales was ex-
pected to contribute $4,000 Of this
amount. and the connection between
the Colonies and Honolulu was to be
kept up by the Zealandia and Australia,
the Mariposa and Alameda continuing
the service from hence to San Francisco.
At the last minute Mr.. Pearce with
drew. and started running direct oppo-
sition line, leaving out New Zealand,
although the Sydney authorities had
about this time consented to pay $4,000
(elO. OOO) as a contribution TO the sub
sidv. Meanwhile the United States
Postmaster General promised to pay
$40, 600 GA ,OO0) year towards the cost.
The fork service was abandoned by
mutual consent when Mr.. Pearce with
drew his boats, and the present through
service, employing three boats, was sub
stituted, the contractors receiving $50, OOO
a wear extra, two-thirds OF which sum Is
paid bv New Zealand and one-thlrd by
New South Wales The net annual
payments by the two Colonies named
are respectively e23, 1884 ($1l6,676) by
New Zealand and Ell 900 1855, OOO) by
New South Wales.
Speaking of the Royal Mail contract
steamships the New Zealand Postmaster
General saws: "The Alameda and Mari
posa have done excellent work. They
are boats of superior type, and more
than confirm the favorable reports made
TO this office regarding their passenger
accommodation and speed. The Mara
roa Is also fine boat. She has had,
unfortunately, to contend against series
of accidents to her machinery and has
otherwise been unfortunate. T. Her
accommodation is very superior. There
has been a considerable increase IN the
passenger traffic, which will no doubt
expand as the boats and the greater at
fractions of the route become better
known"
These remarks, in a state paper having
a wide circulation throughout the British