NOTES BY A NEW CHUM.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5101, 23 May 1885, Page 2

NOTES BY A NEW CHUM.

(FftOM DUE TBAViLIING COBBEI-

POKDBNT.

FKOM THE BLUFF TO MEL- « BOURNE. .•.-■.: t -.-;,;,. Melbottbn^:, May 12. It was with feelings something akin to a dread of the iuevitable that tbiSj'portion of the journey was looked forward to by many of our.passengers,for thoroughness of the Southern Pacific ocean at this time of the year haa become proverbial. | Nor did the reality fall short of the expectation. With a clear iky and i fairly smooth sea, we steamed out of the Bluff on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, and by about midnight the last pointi of New Zealand's rocky »hores faded in the moonlight, and we were "at sea." An .icy southerly breeze had .also sprang up, lashing the loog rollers into foaib, and making all whose duties compelled them to be on deck button their overcoats more closely about them and seek what shelter they could obtain. Next' r morning broke gloomily, and all hopes of a smooth passage were dispelled. The vessel pitched heavily, ever and anon burying her head in the green seas, and sending heavy ehqwera; q{ spray ov;er her deck*s. It was Sunday, but there was nothing to remind one of the fact, except the orthodox plum-pudding at dinner time. Drearily "theday passed, °"?Bt ?jf"*h'e pap. sengers remaining in their sleeping apart" ments, it being more comfortable to be there than to go on deck and stand ex* posed to the cutting wind and drenching spray. Night came and passed, and Monday was spent much as Sunday had been. Tuesday brought a little improvement, for the sea bad slightly moderated, and the sun.managed to, struggle through the clouds and shine on us for a few hours! There was alsbr the nope that next morning would see us in fcmboth water, for our good ship had covered 261 miles I hat day, and 258 more ; would com* plete the 931 toH.obirt. were i there> fore, in better spirits, and the tablet, which had been almost deserted, presented quite an animated appearance. Wednesday saw-many of U9 up with the dawn, for land was in sight, and by eight o'clock we were steaming past, rocky headlands, thankful to be; once more in smooth water, and admiring, the rugged scenery, or else watching the porpoises disporting themselVes around Our fbbws.'* By -11.30 we were passing the Iron-pot Lighthouse, and an hour later were alongside Hobart wharf. The harbor is a pretty one, with a wide entrance, and completely landlocked, and with deep water . close up to the shore. It was a warm, sunny day, and after being cooped up for three day*, all enjoyed? their afternoon ramble ashore. The town is nearly as large as Auckland, the business portion being built in a hollow, and the. residences chiefly on the bills surrounding The streets are wide and regular, and while the whole place has an air of quietness, there is with it a plain intimation of attendant prosperity. . Many of the buildings, especially Gorernment House, the City "Council offices, public library, and Museum, are large and hand*

some structures. Nearly all the buildings, private houseseß well as business premises, are constructed of brick or.atone, it being a rarity to see a wooden one. Hera the Wednesday afternoon is obserred ai

the holiday instead of the Saturday, most of. the shops being in consequence closed. Our stay was short, and sweet, and by eight o'clock we were again under way. Thursday proved, most enjoyable. The sun shone brightly, the breeze was cool enough, to be pleasant, but not sufficiently strong to aggravate old Father Ocean's calm surface, and we sped along within a few miles of the Bhore, -scanning the forest clad ranges-, with here .and

there along the beach a feir acres of

clearing, or watching point after-point rise from the sea in front, while those we, had passed sank in succession ..beneath the horizon. Early' in the ' afternoon we entered Bank's Straits (between the Tas-

tdanian main land and Fiiadors' IsUnd)* and as the shades of,night once more gathered, the hills "faded in the back*

ground, and we headed across Bass'

Straits towards the island continent of

Australia A few hoars later, the lighthouse on Wilson's Promontory , was sighted and passed, and by moroiaf we were close to Port. Phillip Heads, .'which we entered at 9 39. The' bay ;is of vast ex'ent, but the outlet is only two or $£f?e miles wide, and in .consequence the car*

rent is very strong, boiling like a huge cauldron, and causing a dangerous " rip " where it debouches into, the ocean. LeavV ing Queeriscliff, with its battery of heary guns on our left, we steam along the buoyed channel, (for the'bay is shallow) and reach Williamstown and Sandridge, on either side of the river Yarn, at 42.45. The principal shipping is-clone at these* ports, the Yarra being too small and shallow to allow of large vessels going up to the city. At Williamstown also is the graying dock, capable of receiving the largest Teasel afloat. The Te Anau, how eTer, after discharging the mails, steams on to Port Melbourne. The distance up the Yarra is about nine miles, bat so narrow and tortuous is the channel that it took us three, hours to traverse that distance. Three or four times we grounded in turning the corners, and the pilot had once to run her ashore to allow another steamer to pass down the stream. The Harbor Trust hare fqr, years been doing their best to render the river navigable and^dredges are constantly at work, the mud being emptied out on to the banks In this way hundreds of acres of swam D »ra being made fit for' occupation, but the stench from the mud is almost nnbearab c. A canal is also in progress, which will f reatly shorten the disSnee to the