THE MAIL SERVICE VIA FIJI.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 501, 18 August 1871, Page 2

THE MAIL SERVICE VIA FIJI.

llok. T. Graham, a member of the Superior Jlouse of Parliament in Australia, arrived by Iho steamship Wonga Wonga. He sends us i lie following regarding the pleasures of the trip : — Editors Alta, —Once more on terra firma, and thank God for it—for a voyage of 7000 miles on board the steamer Wonga Wonga forms an epoch in one's life never to be forgotten. It was not that our voyage was stormy, for, indeed, the .Pacific waters forgot to roll; neither wag it from the bad food, for that was tolerable; but I question whether the inmates of the Black Hole of Culcutta oould have enjoyed a dinner served up from the Cafe Chantou in Paris. The disagreeable smells, the dirt uud want of ventilation aboard this ship were horrid. The side-lights, not much larger than auger-holes, could not bo opened during the whole voyage, and nil the air that finds its "way below wan through, windfalls; and, small though the side ports be, we performed, the entire voyage without their being opened. There was want of Bteam, want ol ventilation, excessive heat, the vibration of the screw, the horrid noises, dirty servants, dirty cabins, continued passing of coal along the deck, coal smuts in every corner, soiling clothing, and down one's throat to be cleared only by distilled water, always tepid and sometimes quito hot.

'lhirby-nino days in this sweltering box impreseea me that my sins are forgiven, for 1 liave been so many days in purgatory. My pen refuses to give an idea of this passage. Just fjney travelling in a ship of 7UO tons register, with, us was reported to me, lot) tons of couls more than her registered tonnage, with the addition of her freight, passengers uud baggage, and her decks not much. above the water.

You have doubtless stood upon the beach and seen the ocean perfectly calm, yet the swell against tho rocks rolled up ten or fifteen feet with terrific noise. So it was with this heavily coal-laden ship when the eea wa,3 perfectly calm, tho water would wash over her decks, and the passengers were compelled to keep below in the impure and unhealthy atmosphere.

Of the captain's general demeanour I will s,iy nothing ; the least said tho better. He may have had favourites, if so, I was not one of them. Leaving your readers, to deduct I heir own inferences, I have tho:honor to remain, your most obedient servant, T. Q-BAHASI, M.D.