THE AUSTEALIAN OCEAN YACHT COMPANY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 100, 8 January 1870, Page 7

THE AUSTEALIAN OCEAN YACHT COMPANY.

A bold idea in respect to passenger traffic between this and Europe (says the " Melbourne Argus " of the 2oth ult.) is now being promulgated by the prospectus of the " Australian Yachfc Company, capital £250,000, in 50,000 shares of £5 each, £3 per share paid up." Such is the formal language of the document, but the enterprise does not take so much tho shape of a sharebroking venture as that of a project calculated to forward the dearest interests of two classes, viz., those in England whoso prosperity in life would be insured by emigration to Victoria, and those in Victoria whose fondest hope is to pay a visit to the mother country. We may, therefore, refer the more freely to the company's proposal, which is to establish a line of ocean yachts, each of about 2000 tons, to carry passengers only ; to insure in them, by quick sailing and the action of 30 (working up to 90) horse power steam hydraulic propeller for crossing the belt of calms at the equator, passages averaging fifty days ; to give to passengers an unusually large space between decks, consequent upon the absence of cargo ; to afford the comfort of a flush clear upper deck ; and not only immense sailing superiority, but a large variety of conveniences for passengers, only obtainable in ships devoted to passenger traffic. The following additional advantages are enumerated as among those to be experienced by those visiting home, viz. : — No unpleasant or unhealthy effluvia from cargoes of hides, horns, bones, &c. ; no danger from spontaneous combustion, as in wool ships, and no loss of time in taking in and discharging cargo. With all this, moderate fares — amounting to less than half the present expense — are to be the rule, and it is contended that, with 300 passengers per trip, this could be profitably done. Finally, it is proposed to build all the ships after a model to be submitted to the inspection of shareholders. This model was first exhibited yesterday at Captain Coffey's Shipping Exchange, in the new Corporation - buildings, opposite Scott's Hotel, and was inspected by a number of gentlemen, who, whether familar or not with nautical matters, could not but admire the beauty of this little pattern of a hull, made up of graceful lines and gentle curves, which lead from a sharp cutwater to a substantial beam, and finish with a clean run aft without a hollow. It was designed and modelled by Mr. W. Thomson, of South Yarra. It is certain that the verification after experiment of the expectations of the embryo company would confer a vast benefit on the country, and help to bring about a much needed reform in respect to the passenger traffic of the world.