STEAM SCHOONERS.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 292, 17 March 1849, Page 2

STEAM SCHOONERS.

To the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald. Gbntlembn, — In the English papers, lately received, I observe accounts of the performance* of a new class of vessels that are belnjj introduced Into Her Majesty's navj. I mes»n the " icrew schooners,'* which are ve».»els of about two hundred and eighty tons burthen, nnd commanded by a lieutenant, and have crews of one hundred and ten men, and carry eight gun* : they are fully rigged, ar tl can work at schooners, but they have also a steam engine, which works a screw, and is sufficiently powerful to propel the vessel at the rate of eight miles an hour in smooth water. As Captain Er»kine« the senior naval officer in these seas, is now in port, perhaps you will allow me to suggest that a couple of vessels of this description would be much less expensive than a steamer like the Inflexible, and be much more useful under his command. One of these schooners rould carry* for a short distance, say from Auckland to Wellington, two companies of infantry with ease ; and it is seldom that a larger number of soldiers are required to be transported from one settlement to another, at one time. So in cases of emergency requiring the presence of the Governor- in-Cbief, one of these schooners could be tlespatched for him, or for any other important purpose, at about one-fourth the expense of moving a first-class sloop. If two of them were on the station, one for Sydney and one for Auckland, I am sure the service would be performed more efficiently than by one large vessel, and what is of very considerable importance in the present state of the revenue and expenditure of Great Britain, there would be a consider" able savirg of expense. A representation of these facts, if made by Captain Eiskineto the Admiralty, would probably hare the deaired effcett and I therefore ask jou to publish this letter. W.

English Shipping. — The Mary Catherine, 530 tons, Smale, (which sailed from Auckland on the 16th Sept., 1847, under the Dame of the Charlei,) was to sail from London for Sydney and Auckland on the 15th November The Chaseley, from Sydney tbe 14th June, arrived at Deal on the 31st October. The George (tailed from Deal for Sydney on the 27th October. The Marion tailed from Deal for Plymouth, to embark emigrants (or Adelaide, on the 30th October. The Stedfait, reported in yesterday's Herald as having ■ailed from Deal for Plymouth on the 23rd October, to embark emigrants for Sjdney ; the Potentate, for Launceiton ; Sussex, for Hobart Town ; and Glenelg, for Adelaide and Port Phillip— all put back or the 28th October, from stress of weather in the Channel, and returned their voyage on the 31st October. The Lord JHungerford, for Port Phillip snd Sydney, and the Labuatf, for Pork Phillip, sailed from Deal on the 31st October, to embark emigrants ; the latter, however, was compelled to put back again on tbe Ist November, and it was expected that all which sailed in company with her would have to do the same, owing to heavy gales. The Midlothian, 414 tons, Gibson; and the Tory, 500 tons, Row, had been taken up for the conveyance of emigrants to Sydney ; the former would sail from London on the 23rd November, and the latter on the 30th, both calling at Plymouth. The Taglioni entered ontward for Sydney on the Ist November. The Coromandel, 639 tons, Normun, was to sail from London for Adelaide, Port Phillip, and Sydney, on the 20th November, calling at Plymouth to embark passengers. The Marmion, 450 tons, Fletcher, was to sail for Hobart Town on the 15th November. The Calptrarnia was to sail for Adelaide on the 22nd November. The Symmetry, 350 tons, Suger, had entered outwardi for Hobart Town ; and the Sunderings, 271, Woodcock, for Launceston. The tug-steamer Adelaide, bound to South Australia, was at Madeira October C