THE PROPOSED STEAM SERVICE WITH ENGLAND.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 125, 1 March 1879, Page 3

THE PROPOSED STEAM SERVICE WITH ENGLAND.

On the above subject the Wellington " Chronicle" has the following apparently inspired article : Some time ago we referred to the proposal made by Sir Julius Vugel, the Agent-General, to have aline of steamers established te run between London and New Zealand. The information received up to that date showed that the AgentGeneral had been in communication with some leading ship-building firms, and had received some preliminary information on the subject of the probable cost of the service, and the kind of steamers which would be required. Sir Julius, at that time, promised to report fully on the whole question at a later date when his information was complete. Letters received by the last English mail indicate that the proposals | for a direct steam service between i London and New Zealand have now j assumed a practical shape. Sir Julius! Vogel and Mr Lnrnach have had several j interviews with l\lv Gnlbraith and Mr I Denny, the eminent Glasgow ship- '•■ builders, and those gentlemen propose, I on certain conditions, to establish a line ! of steamers equal, if not superior, to any j line afloat. It must be understood that i nothing definite has been settled on the j subject, but the whole question has been j gone into by Messrs Gal<>rnit:i and j Denny, and all necessary data, even to ' the most minute details, have been ; obtained. j Should the suggested arrangement be carried out, it is proposed to build three steamers at Mr Denny's works on the I Cljde. These steamers would suffice to carry on an alternate month's service i between England and New Zealand and j vice versa. The steamers would each j have a gross register tonnage of about j 4215 tons : horse-power nominal to be i 700, capable of developing 4000. The vessels would be splendidly fitted up, and the passengers accommodation provided would be sufficient for 84 first- ! class, 84 second-class, and 450 thirdclass, or a total of SGB. At an average draft of 21 feet the speed on trial would be 14+; knots, but at sen, under ordinaiw circumstances, the average speed would be 12i knots. Provision would be made for carrying 2400 tons of coal, which would be sufficient for the voyage under ordinary circumstances. It is estimated that the steamers would do the outward trip via the Cape of Good Hope in 42 days, and the homeward voyage via. the Suez Canal in 40 days. The suggested passenger lates aae—saloon L7O, second cabin L 35. and steerage LlB, the General Government guaranteeing to find a specified number of steerage pessengcrs (emigrant) for the outward trips. It is calculated that with an alternate month's service, only two full cargoes of wool per annum would be obtained, and that during the remainder of the year the steamers would require to depend cheifiy upon wheat as homeward cargo, probably obtaining a freight of 35s per ton. Founding upon elaborated data carefully obtained, it is estimated that the three steamers would cost Ll 15,000 each or L 345,000 in all. The estimated amount of capital required i to work the undertaking would be L4G5,000. Allowing for interest on capital invested, and taking into account the working expenses on o/ie jniand ahd the earnings on the other, the fitanciusi|n has, we believe, been arrh/ed fuv*% Mr Galbraith that a yearly subsidy of Ibolit L-80,000 from tlie colonV to" tln/cintrattors, would be required to carry/mt the service. It is possible,\owever/that too low an estimate lias been arrived at with respect to the probable earnings, and if these were to turn out larger than anticipated the contractor would take a smaller subsidy if a stipulation to that effect formed part of the original agreement. The suggested port of departure outwards would be London, calling at a port in the Channel (outwards and homewards) to embark and disembark passengers and mails. The proposed contractors desire that the fixing ot the port of arrival and departure in New Zealand should be left in their own hands. They emphatically declare that both dry dock and wliarfage accommodation would require to be, available in the

colony for the use of the steamers. The length of the clock and jetty required must not be less than 410 feet, and tin' draft of water for admittance to farmer 22 feet, and alongside the latter 24- feet. It should be understood that the proposal is still only in its initiatory stage, and that Messrs Galbraith and Denny do not at present positively commit themselves to a tender. Nevertheless, these gentlemen think that after they have been placed in possession of the views of the New Zealand Government on the subject, and an agreement arrived at as to the amount of the subsidy, they will then be in a position to treat definitely with the tVgcnt-General for carrying out the service, provided the contract is not for less than eight years.