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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 240, 11 April 1866, Page 3

■ A Steamship Company.— "The riyer," says the old Sanscrit proverb, is crossed, and the bridge is forgotten." Fourteen days or so of short whist and long flirtations, of bad cigars and pleasant yarns, of -hot calms and cold gales, a transfer of cash and billets, and the voyage is over. But the utility, wealth and importance of such an association as the Eoyal Mail Company, the admirable system organised for the performance of the duties of every individual serving under it, and the consequent safety with which so many voyages at all seasons are performed, deserve

more consideration, than is usualy given to the subject. In my first lounging fit, I took up the prospectus and the book of regulations of the company, which dates from 1830, and, setting myself to calculate, found that this one company now owns a fleet of 23 steamers, of 45,804r tons, and 11,470 horse-power. These vessels, I calculated, convey on an average some 35,000 passengers yearly, and over 20,090,000 dollars in specie, besides other valuable cargo. There are prizes in such a service. The superintendents, made from £1500 to £2000 a-year. The senior captain draws .£I2OO in cash, and has his living and lodgings free. The other captains with like advantages in other respects, get i>looo per annum. The junior officers are proportionably well paid. There is a home for them at Southampton, where they live at free quarters In the large steamers there are four or five officers besides the captain, and their duties are strictly defined. The ehi6f officer keeps the log, the second has charge of the treasure, and accompanies the Admiralty's agent on shore with the mails, the third and fourth stow the cargo. A junior' officer is never left in charge of the ship at night. There is a goodly crew. .On board my ship, which I will call the ISTameless, .were 53 seamen, 54 engineers, and 23 servants. One might well feel at ease in a vessel so provided. — All the Year Round.