CALIFORNIAN MAIL SERVICE: WEBB’S LINE COMPARED WITH HALL’S.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 27, 29 July 1871, Page 6

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 England via San Francisco (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 unable 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 trips had to contend against very fierce gales for three or four days before making the New Zealand coast, and yet they arrived here within contract time, and for comfort in all weathers we have the statements of the passengers that they have never been in better boats than those now employed in our mail service. During the time that the Australian steamers City of Melbourne and Wonga Wonga were running between Sydney, Auckland, and Honolulu with the mails, connecting at the latter port wilh the Moses Taylor or Ajax, our readers will remember with what uncertainty 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 in 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 from Sydney to San Francisco, but we notice with no better results as to punctuality than those engaged on the route via this port. The City of Melbourne, on her first trip, via Fiji, left Sydney on May 4; Fiji (where she was only detained three or four hours) on the 12bh; Honolulu on the 27th ; arriving at San Francisco on the 7th June, the passage from Sydney occupying 34 days. The Wonga Wonga, the second boat, left Sydney on June 1, at 4 p.m. ; Fiji on the 13th ; and arrived at Honolulu on the 26fch, at 5p.m., the passage from Sydney to Honolulu taking over 25 days. She left again for San Francisco next day, and, allowing 11 days for the passage, the time occupied by the City of Melbourne would make 36 days for the entire journey. We will now give the time occupied by the American steamers to do the voyage from San Francisco to Auckland 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 wheel steamers are far superior in speed to the Australian boats, to say nothing of their accommodation. The pioneer boat of Mr Webb’s line, the Nevada, left San Francisco on April 8, at 2 p.m..; left Honolulu on the 18rh at noon ; and arrived at Auckland on on May 4 at 12.50 p.m., after a passage of 24 days 6 hours from San Francisco to Auckland. Adding 5A- days for her passage to Sydney, would give 30 days for the trip ; four days less than the time occupied by the City of Melbourne to San Francisco via Fiji, from Sydney. The Nebraska will, however, serve as a better illustration of the superiority of these boats, as she proceeded to Sydney from this port. She left San Faancisco 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 Syduey on the sth June, at 8.30 p.m.; after a passage of 28 days 6 hours from San Francisco to Sydney, or 6 days under the time occupied by the City of Melbourne’s trip as given above. The Nebraskt left Syduey again on June 10, at 2.30 a.m., and Auckland on the 16th, arriving at Honolulu on July 1, at 8.30 a.m., 21 days 6 hours from Sydney. The Wonga Wonga, to go from Sydney to Honolulu via Fiji, occupied 25 days, or over 35- days longer than the Nebraska. Thus both on the outward and the 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 Australian boats via Fiji and Honolulu. That the City of Melbourne and Wonga Wonga are first-class steamers there is not the slightest doubt, but 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. Their carrying capacity for coals is so small that little or no room is left for cargoes, and on the City’s trip from San Francisco we notice that a quantity of her cargo had to be sold at Honolulu, being damaged by salt water.