CALIFORNIAN MAIL SERVICE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2641, 4 August 1871, Page 2

CALIFORNIAN MAIL SERVICE.

WEBB’S LINE COMPARED WITH HALL’S. (From the Southern Cross.) Much has been written respecting the merits of the two existing mail lines to Englaud via San Friuci-co (viz., from Sydney via Fiji and Honolulu to San Francisco; and from New Zealand via Honolulu to San Francisco), and of the vessels employed thereon. There are those who have no confidence in the American side-wheel vessels, asserting that in heavy weather, from their great beam and top hamper, they would be uiiab’e to make much, if any, headway against a strong gale. Proof has been given by the Nevada and Nebraska that such is not the case. Both vessels on their last inward trip had to contend against very fierce gales for three or four days before making the New Zealand coast, and yet they arrived hero within contract time ; and for comfort iu all weathers we have the statements of the passengers that they have never beep in better boats than those now employed iu our mail service. During the time that the Australian steamers City of Melbourne and Wo.iga Wonga were running between .Sydney, Auckland, and Honolulu with the mails, connecting at the latter p-.rt with the Musts Taylor or Ajax, our readers will remember with what un. certainty the arrivals of these boats were looked for in this port. The average time occupied by them between Auckland and Honolulu was 18 or 19 days. There was also long detention iu Honolulu of the connecting vessels, in consequence of their outward trips being equally long. These vessels are now employed by Mr Hall on his new route via Fiji and Honolulu Irom Sydney to San Francisco, but we notice with no better results as to punctuality tbau those

engaged on the rente via this port. The City of Melbourne, on her first ttipi via Fiji, left Sydney on May 4 ; Fiji (where s le was only detained three or four hours) on the 12th ; Honolulu on the 27th ; arriving at San Francisco on the 7th June, the passage from Sydney occupying 34 days. me Wonga Wonga, the second boat leit Sydney, June 1, at 4 p.m.; Fiji on the 13th ; and arrived at Honolulu - n the 26th, at op m., the passage from Sydney to Honolulu taking over 25 days. She left again for hau x i ancisco uxt day. and, allowing 11 days ' t!lL f passage. the time occupied by the City ot Melbourne would make 36 days for the ciiuiro journey. Wo will now give the time occupied by the American steamers to do the voyage from San Francisco to Auek'and and Sydney via Honolulu, which the Sydney people assert is the longest route, and it will be seen notwithstanding this that they do the journey in less time by several days. The only inference to be drawn from this fact is that the American side whe<-l steamers are far superior in speed to the Australian boats to say nothing of their accommodation. The pioneer boat of Mr Webb’s lino the Nevada, left San Francisco on April 8, at - p.m. , left Honolulu on the IStb at noon ; and arrived at Auckland on May 4at 12.0f) p.m., after a passage of 24 days G hours from San Francisco to Auckland. Adding days for her passage to Sydney, won d give 3f) days for the |trip ; four days less time than the time occupied by the City of Melbourne to San Francisco via Fiji from Sydney. Ihe Nebraska will, however, serve as a better illustration of the superiority of these boats as she proceeded to Sydney from tins port. She left Sail Francisco on May 6, at noon, Honolulu on the 15th, and arrived at Auckland on the 31st, at 7 a.m ; left again on June 1, and arrived at Sydney on the oth Jnne, at 8.30 p.m. ; after a passage of 28 days 6 hours from San to Sjdiiey, or six days under the time occupied by the City of Melbourne’s trip as givm above The Nebraska left Sydney again on June 10, at 230 a.m and Auckland on the 16th, arriving at Honolulu on July 1, at 8.30 a.m., 21 days G hours from Sydney. The Wonga Wonga, to go from Sydney to Hono'ulu via Fiji, occupied 2o days, or over 3idays longer than the Nebra, ka. Thus both on he outward and inward trips have the American steamships proved that the route via Auckland and Honolulu from Sydney to San Francisco can be done in less time by them than by the /iiisti a.i.m boats via Fiji and Honolulu. That the City of Melbourne and Wonga Wonga are firstclass steamers there is not the slightest doubt, bub that they are unfit for the long voyages on which they are now employed has been very clearly shown. They were not intended for such voyages when built, but only for the coastal trade of Australia for which they have no equal in the colonies. Thei’ carrying capacity for coals is so small that little or no room is left for cargoes, and on the Citv’B trip from San Francisco we notice that a quantity of her cargo had to be sold at Honolulu, being damaged by salt water.