BEATING THE RECORD.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3210, 21 January 1893, Page 3

BEATING THE RECORD.

TitK fastest passage on record between Sydney nnd Auckland lias just been made by tlifl new steamer Miowcia, 3,3(3 tons, Captain Stott, of the newly-established Now Zealand and Australian Steamship Company, The rival steamers Miowera and Rotomahana arrived hero from Sydney this morning within a few hours of each otlior, aftor an interesting trial of speed on tlio passage across. The Miowera arrived at the Queon-streot Wharf shortly before two o'clock this morning, having made the passage across from Sydney in 3 days 10 hours 52 minutes, actual steaming time, the fastest on record. The Union Company's steamor Rotomahana, which loft Sydney ono hour and 25 minutes after tbe Miowera, arrived at the wharf a few minutes after six o'clock this morning, having performed the pa«wige in 3 days 13 hours 55 minutes. Tho Miotvera thus beat tho Rotomahana by 3 hours 3 minutes. The performances of both steamers was very oreditable, and pending further tho new Huddart Parker liners may claim to bo the fastest steamers in the intercolonial trade. The average speed of the Miowora on the ocean trip across was 15$ knots per hour a, performance which is all the more oreditable considering that the now liner has not been dooked siuco sho was launched in England last year, and that sho was unablo to maintain a full head of steam on the trip across*owing to tho itoamer being supplied with Southern coal instead of Newcastle coal. It is claimed that the latter fuel would have enabled another knot per hour to bo got out of tho steamer. Tho Miowcra's record on this occasion is lhr Bmm better than the s.s. Mararoa's previous record, but there is every reason to expect that sho will do even better after she has been docked and 010/tned and supplied with better fuel. Tho Rotomahana's performance, which is also an excellent one, was Nequal tn an average speed of 15 knots per hour from Sydney to Auckland. The distance from Sydney to Auckland is 1,281 miles, 42 miles moro than tho distance between Wellington and Sydney, which the Rotomahana covered in 3 days ] lhr last week. ' The rival steamers both went South to-day, with full complements of passengers and cargo.