Year: 1871

Appropriation Bill the sum asked for, Win


the following words attached: TO be


paid at the discretion of II. Ms Cabinet


with the consent of the Privy Council, in


sums not exceeding two thousand dollars


per month, to any line of steamers running


between the ports of Honolulu, Australia


and New Zealand, making Honolulu ter


minus or stopping place for receiving and


delivering cargo" 1t will therefore be


apparent that no appropriation was made


directly to line of steamers as has been


claimed), but simply gave authority to the
Government to contract with responsible


parties willing to make this place port OF


call, should the advantages likely to ac-


crue from the outlay of a sum of money


(large in proportion to our revenue), APP


pear to justify It's action there can be no


doubt that the Legislature expected care


and thoughtfulness is the expenditure OF


the funds voted, by the Cabinet and Privy


Council, and placed implicit trust in their


discretion. On so important a subject, it


behooves the Government to see that the


faith thus given, should not be abused.


What is the history of the matter? Mr..


Nelson arrived in this city by the Moses


Taylor in October, and on the oath of that


month addressed letter to the Minister


of the Interior, after personal interview,
in which he states that he represents the


consolidated interests of Mr. Webb and
Messrs Holiday, Brennan & Co., but as


we understand produced no document to
show he had authority to act for them.
He received an answer from the Govern
ment assuring him of its wish to establish
permanent steam service between Homo
lulu and Australia, and giving assurances
of their intention to meet the wishes ofthe
Legislature, should a reasonable guaran-
tee be given that cargo could be shipped
and delivered, and that they did not find
themselves left out in the cold ON some day
that should meet the convenience of the
Company. Whilst Mr. Nelson was alb
sent on his mission, Mr. Collie, who was
well known to have made a tour of the
Colonies in the interests of Mr.. Webb, and
was no doubt his agent in the steam busi-
ness arrived here and remained some days,
but we have been told that he did not
make himself known to any member of the
Government; which, if fact, does not
show great anxiety on his part to receive
our cooperation; but however that may
be, Mr. Nelson returned to this town on
the oath of December, by the Wonga
Wonga, bringing with him printed copy
of the contract made between himself and
Mr. Vogel for the establishment of a line
of steamers between New Zealand and
San Francisco which copy he transmitted
to the Government on the 9th, not on
the Goth, as printed in the .AdoeTtiser, Civ
ing this Government notice that he was
prepared to notify the New Zealand Gov
at once that he named Honolulu
as a port Of call, calling especial attention
at the same time to the 9TH clause of the
contract Said clause reading as follows:


a. The said steam vessels may call at two inter
mediate places and no more between Auckland and
San Francisco and between San Francisco and Auc-
land and such two places may be at any of the Ha
waiiau Society Navigators or Fijian Islands VIII
lam Nelson whose signature is hereto affixed
agent of the Contractors shall think fit and appoint
aud such ports after being appointed may altered
rom time to time by the Contractor with the con-
sent of the Postmaster General but not otherwise"


We call special attention to the last
clause of the section, which shows clearly
hat an agreement made by Mr.. w. Neil
son, on the terms proposed by himself,
would have stultifed our Government
and would justly have rendered them
aughing stock to the world


We have seen above that the Legisla-
.ure and Government anticipated steam
with both New Zealand and
.he Australian Colonies, the latter being
N fact the market in which our Planters
and Farmers are more especially interest
ed. But what shall we say of the docu-
nent, to which the attention of our Gov
was invited, when we read the
25th and 26th Articles of the
contract:


"25 No mails whatever to or from any of the
Colonies of Australia or to or from New Caledonia
except as herenbefore provided shall be received
board or carried in any of the steam vessels employ
I'd under this contract without the written consent
Of the PostmasterG General and for every breach of
his stipulation with the consent or connivance or
through the negligence of the Contractors they shall
forfeit the sum of $500 as quadaied damages to be
deducted from any sums then due or to become due
BY way of subsidy under this contract"


"96. In pursuance of the Postal Convention exist
ing between the United States Government and the
Colonial Government of New Zealand and in order
to ensure reasonable contributions from the Austria


Ian Colonies and New Caledonia for maIi services
10 be performed for them whether under the terms
Of this Contract such contributions would be paya-
Bile to the Government of New Zealand or the Con-
tractors neither the Postmastcr-Genera nor the
Contractors shall will transmit or permit to be
transmitted aud will use their best endearors to
prevent the transmission of all mails to or from
any of the Australian Colonies or to or from New
Caledonia unless such Colony or New Caledonia
repectively shall give such contribution sfore-
od ,r5 ;r coea of xxifn broacb n THE