THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4980, 9 March 1877, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

From the'following extracts from the log of the! s.s! Zealandia, giving the result of the upward and downward voyages of the steamer —that is, from Auckland to San Francisco and back—it will be seen that the respective averages of speed were 13 34 and 12‘03 miles cer hour. Such a rateof travelling says much for the steaming qualities 1 of the Zealandia, particul rly when it is observed that the steamer was not at full speed throughout the voyage. Of course the average is based on thejtime the'Zealandia was actually steaming.; but even the relative speed from the hour of departure to arrival is excellent., The present contract time between Auckland and! San Francisco is twenty-four days. The Zealandia 1 ran 1 the'distance on the up voyage in two hours under twenty-two days ; and' she completed, thej down voyage in twenty-one days fourteen, hours—averaging a fraction over twelve miles an hour—of, course exclusive' of ;stoppages. With such performances' the , San Francisco ■service cannot but rank as one of ,the first in thej list of ocean services. The proposed modified service will not require the steamers to touch at Fiji, by which a considerable saying of time will be effected, and .it will not be unreasonable to expect that when Kahdavau is no longer a stopping-plaice, the distance between Auckland and San, Francisco will be covered in twenty ■ days, or even less,; making the through journey to London something, lessithan forty days. LOG OF THE S.S. ZEALANDIA—AUCKLAND TO SAN FRANCISCO.

Time from Auckland, to San Francisco, 23 .days, 1 3 hours,,44 minutes ; actual steaming, 21. days, 22 hours, 14 minutes. Average speed per hour, 11’34 miles. LOG OF THE SiS. ZEALANDIA—SAN FRAN-. CISCO TO AUCKLAND.

, Time, San Francisco to Auckland, 21 days, 13 hours, 56 minutes; actual steaming, 20 days, 21 hours, 22 minutes. 1 Average speed per hour, 12'03 miles.

Distance Date.’ in Miles. Remarks. 1876. Deer.. 18 Left anchorage, Auckland Harbor, 2p.m.; pilot left 2.20p.m. „ is , 260 „ 20 290 Strong southerly wind „: 21 287 „ 22 242 Arrived at Xandavau 7.30 a.ra., and left at 5 p.m. for Honolulu .. 22 235 „ 23 . 284 Cleared Kanuku passage at 9 a.m. 24 285 „ . 25 274 N.E. trades and fine weather 26 262 »» ,, 27 280 ,, 28 275 '*> •„ .. 29 274 „ 30 264 Eased engines at noon so that ship should reach Honolulu .. 81 249 i 1877- . early in morning Jany. 1 ' 158 Arrived at Honolulu at 5 a.m. „ 2 "• 109 Left Honolulu at 1 a.m. for San Francisco ' .. 3 273 Fresh easterly winds „ ! . 4 , . 276 ■ „ ! 8 .268 »»■ „ „ 6 ■ 279 Strong N.W. weather „ i ■ 256 „ , 8 „ ? 220 - . 260 PassedFanafones8.60p.nl., and received pilot 10.20 p m. . r ., ' 10 114 . Anchored off dock at 00.20 a.m. of llth January 5904

, . 1 D**te. Distance . in Miles, Remarks. ' 1877. Feb. . S Weighed anchor 10.30 p.m,, and i discharged pilot 11.30 p.m. ' „ ;■ .4 159 ,, 1 ‘5 303 6 302 „ ; 7 1 292 ! ■■ Vf :■ ■■• „ ,8 , 296 „ 9 293 „ 10 296 biased engines at noon so that ship should reach Honolulu early In’mornlng „ 11 170 Arrived in Honolulu 4 a.m., and left 4.30 p'.M. „ 12 ■ ■ 226 Strong trade ■winds. Fine weather „ ■ ia 810 f t. ■. , p ‘- 1 ‘ ; -;y • m.; 1 .; „ 14 2962 1 . : „ . ,16 ’ 2852 ' . 16 ’ 303 I. , , 1 ■ „ ii 315 Weather fine, with strong trades „ if 309 1£ 297 »» .. 2( 202 107 miles to Kandavau „■ 22 : 206 •Arrived nt Kandavau 7 a.m.; left , . ... for Auckland 11 a.m. „ , 2J 284 Strong fj.JS. wind ... & 288 „ ■ 26 270 Arrived in Auckland 0 a.m. „ 28 235 .6027