THE STEAMSHIP GREAT BRITAIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1512, 9 June 1873, Page 2

THE STEAMSHIP GREAT BRITAIN.

[MELBOTJENE ABGUS, MAY 27.]

'■' -The screw steamship Great Britain; after —completing another and' a successful voyage from Liverpool,- anchored in the bay yesterday afternoon at her old "camping ground," where she • had been so often moored by her late gallant and lamented commander, Cap- '■ tarn Gray, who shall tread her decks nevermore. The present run out of tbe good ship has been accomplished in. 57 days, and her reputation for making rapid and regular passages bids fair to be upheld by her new commander, Captain Cbas. Chapman. Cap- < tain Chapman, however, is no stranger to the ship, having served in her under Captain Gray for years, and his acquaintance witb . the Great Britain and her peculiarities was second only to Captain Gray's, when the latter was in command. Captain Gray Tr-hmiselfV who -was a shrewd and accu-' rate discerner of -the ■. capabilities of those . . under him, has more than once stated that if ever, he left ; the Great Britain be could not desire the control of her to fall into better, ' hands than those of Captain Chapman. The first intimation of the steamer's arrival in these waters was notified from Queenscliff yesterday morning, and the intellidence was not altogether a surprise, for she was ex- . pected with her usual punctuality to put in ah appearance on Saturday or Sunday last. The voyage, however, was not accomplished without 'some adverse weather, and during the last eight days of its continuance the ship had to forge ahead against easterly ■winds, varied by calms; Having been under steam for 30 days during the voyage, prior „ to encountering the easterly weather, a serious inroad had been made on tbe fuel on board,; and the remainder had! to be used discreetly. But for this the voyage might have been abbreviated . by three idays./ " The Great Britain on this trip brings between 50 and 60 saloon passengers, and: 33o in tbe second and third cabins. At the close of the. .. voyagej the saloon passengers, being highly pleased with their trip, and with the ship and her commander,; presented the latter with an address expressive of their senti- , ments, and also a purse,, of sovereigns. Amongst the 'tween-deck passengers there .are about 40 who have come out under passage warrants. The ship is in thorough order throughout, and the rigorous attention paid to cleanliness under Captain. Gray's regime seems in nowise to have been relaxed. ; Boyond the usual overhaul received at Liverpool every voyage, there has been, nothing /; special done to the steamer, and the talked - : 'of extensive alterations are still in abeyance. The one_ prominent change 'in the personnel : • of her officers is of course the appointment of -Captain Chapman. Mi\Rdbertsbn is still chief officer; and Mr Brown second ; but the -'■ third officer, Mr Patefson, and the fourth Mr Ley,' are new to the ship. The engine-room still acknowledges Mr Meadon ■ as 'chief, and th« duties of purser,, devolve, as they have done' for many years past, on Mr TJnsworth. Dr Smyth, who has been with the .steamer for several voyages, is ' still in charge of the medical department on • : board.'., - ; . ' \