SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

5

E.—No. 4c

me, in arriving at the conclusion, to remove the present boilers and steam valves (though quite new and in perfect order) and replace them by others well known and easily understood by whoever may be employed to work them. The "Dacotah" is of the same tonnage and model as the "Nebraska," and very similar in her internal arrangements. I have, &c, Hon. Julius Vogel, Postmaster-General, Wellington, W. 11. Webb. New Zealand.

No. 135. Mr. Stewart to the Hon. Mr. A'ogel. Sir, — Honolulu, 24th September, 1871. Upon my arrival here I found a letter from Mr. Webb, informing me that business connected with this line had caused him to visit London, instead of your country. I have the honor to call your attention to the fact that the contractors, Messrs. Webb and Holliday, are losing money rapidly, both in consequence of the small passenger traffic, and the refusal of the Australian Colonies to aid the line ; and I beg of you to consider the question fully, and harmonize the interests of your country with that of the Australian, so that this line can be made first-class in every respect; and that it eventually may be made the great highway of travel between New Zealand and the Mother Country. lam fully satisfied a very few years will serve to make it self-supporting, but at present it requires aid from all quarters. The contractors have no preference for any particular route, and it is their wish to keep the track that will satisfy all parties, so long as they may be able to get cheap coals and obtain the passengers. I beg to call your attention to the fact that it is almost impossible to adopt the route through the Fijis with large steamships, as there are 200 miles of bad coral, which cannot be performed with safety at night, and, during four months of the year, subject to the most violent hurricanes ; and that, should one of the steamers be lost, it would destroy the prestige of the line. It would, perhaps, answer the purpose better to connect Fiji by a small vessel with the Navigator Islands or Auckland. It would be very little use in my going to Australia until you have settled what route is to be adopted, and until you have made up your mind as to the final terminus of the route ; and in consequence I will return to San Francisco, and come back by the " Nebraska." I have, &c, To the Hon. Julius Vogel, Postmaster-General, W. B. M. Stewart. Wellington.