THE CALIFORNIAN SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 3387, 29 December 1873, Page 3

THE CALIFORNIAN SERVICE

We are permitted to furnish some interesting particulars respecting the Californian Service. bout the beginning of October, the telegram announcing the confirmation by the New Zealand Parliament of the preliminary arrangement reached Mr Russell in I ondon Messrs Samuel and Russell immedat-y called upon Mr H. IT. Wall to supply satis* factory names of gentlemen to join with him in the contract. A difficulty had arisen through the arrangement entered into in Sydney, between Mr Hall and his bonds men, Messrs Cameron and Dodd, who desired to sell the concession obtained from the New South Wales Government rather than take an interest in the line. After some time spent in negotiation, Mr Hall managed to disassociate himseif from Messrs Cameron and Dodd ; and he then connected himself with Mr Paul L. Forbes, senior partner in the wealthy China bouse of Hus* sell and Co., and Mr De Bussche, who is exclusively connected with steam shipping between London and China—a man of great experience and enterprise, part owner of the Tartar and the Mongol, two of the vessels to be employed in the temporary service. M r Forbes is well know nin England and America as of great wealth and high reputation. He has drawn on Baring’s house for forty years. Messrs Forbes and Bussche will be joined by o*hers in the nndertak ng ; and their aim will be to employ the finest boats ever yet seen in the Pacific, and in every respect to perform the service thoroughly. They have already contracted for building two of the boats on the Clydand two at Sunderland. The former are to bo built by Messrs John I Id r and Co., of Glasgow. The dimensions of each will be ; Length, 3ooft ; breadth of beam, 37ft; depth of hold, 27ft 6in; gross tonnage, 2,780. They will be gu ranteed of 12-ki.ot speed. The SumlerLnd boats will be built by Mr James Laing. They will be each 360 ft long, 38ft beam, 28ft Gin depth of hold, 3,130 tons gross, and of guaranteed 12-knot speed. Messrs Elder and Co. supply the engines for the boats they are to build ; and the engines for the> s underland brats wi 1 he constructed by Mr Hawthorne, of that

place. Messrs Fordyce and Bussche are the owners of the screw line which is so snccl-sr-fully opposing the Pacific Mail Co between San Francisco and China and Japan. The contract fur the San Francisco Service was d'awn by Mr Mack roll, «f 1 omlon, anti was approved by Mr I 'ennistoun Wood : and a telegram was received a fortnight ago stating that the document had been signed, and a copy posted to the Government. It has already been stated that the four boats first chartered for the temporary ser ▼ice were the Macgregor, the Tartar, the Mongol, and the Mikado. On the contractors finding that the Mongol would not be ready to start precisely at the time fixed, they telegraphed to China for another vessel—the Coythenes it is understood-to take her place, and the Mongol will arrive out a few weeks later than was intended The dates fixed for the next two months a> e —The Tartar, to leave Sydney on the loth January, connecting at the Kandavu on the 23rd with the Governor Blackab, from this Colony; the Coythenes, to leave, Auckland in time to reach Kandavu on the 2lst Feb ruary, connecting there with the viikado from Sydney. It is understood that some difficulty arose in arranging the further dates, consequent upon the question of the time the boats should remain in Auckland. Mr Hall wanted to k av e twenty-four hours there, fyit twelve was oonsi ered to be sufficient ; and the details of the settlement will probably not be known here until the signed copy of the contract has been received. It has been decided that the stoppage off Napier shall be not more than five hours; at Wellington, not more than twelve ; and at I-yt-telt-'D not more than twelve. The decision as to Auckland will depend upon the time found to be absolutely fop coaling. It is be regretted that Mr Russell had jpjjnpnsp labor to go through in arranging all the details of the contract; indeed, it may be said upon unquestionable authority, that instead of his tnp being one of pleasure, he has been almost continually occupied with reference to the contract. Shortly before the last mail left England, he had a sudden attack of illness; and although better when the mail left, he had nevertheless been ordered, on account of his health, to propped to the Continent. 'I he Hon. Hall bad readily given assistance; Mr Bussell consulting him froip time to time while arranging spine pf tip*' details of the Contract. Dr ■ppatherston bad, at Mr Bussell's request, negotiated with the Imperial Fpat Office «ifl tips question of dates, and also as to the mode of charging for foreign letters by the route. Altogether, it will be seen the question pf the Contract bar been very completely considered ; and that we are likely to have a steam service far superior to any hitherto seen in the Australian waters.