The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-16 00:00:00

STEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

The government has advertised for tenders for
conveying the Australian mails in screw steamers, either of
wood or iron, via the Cape of Ciood Hope, once every two
months. It is probable that the object of the government
in this is to gratify a very general wish that screw steam
navigation should receive some national encouragement,
and that means should be taken to facilitate emigration to
Australia by renderiim the voyage to that country more
rapid than when performed in sailing vessels, and less ex-
pensive than when a portion of it has to be performed by an
overland route and the rest in paddle-box steamers. To
imagine that the government believe that the Cape route to
Australia is the best, that the screw can at present tit:du-
ally compete with :the paddle-box, or that the Australian
mail scheme contemplated in the advertisement alluded
to, was the only one that would ever be necessary, is
absurd. This advertisement appeared before the gold
discoveries in Australia had received any confirmation.
There is no doubt that after a few more advices have ar-
rived from New South Wales that the attention of the
public and the government will be directed with intense
interest as to the most practicable means of effecting an im-
mediate rapid communication with Australia. The only
two routes that can be considered are those by way of India
and Panama, because lines of paddle-box mail steamers
traverse portions of these routes. To communicate with
Sydney through Panama would require, probably, a new
company to be formed and new steamers to be built
to cover a distance of 7,9G8 miles from Sydney
to Panama.. To communicate with Sydney eastward
the distance that would have to be covered is
only 4,500 miles between Sydney and Singapore,
and the Peninsular and Oriental Company have already
steamers in the eastern seas that could immediately cover
the distance. If an immediate rapid intercourse with
Australia, thdrefore, were imperatively demanded, the
country and the government would naturally turn their
attention to the Indian overland route. Even if tho Bat-
hurst gold discoveries do not increase the passenger traffic
on the overland India route from England, the traffic be-
tween India and China with Australia will enormously in-
crease, and render a steam-packet line between Singapore
and Sydney remunerative. Now, the question with the go-
vernment, al to the establishment of a mail steam-packet
communication with Australia is one of expense, and the
question with the Peninsular and Oriental Company, as to
the establishment of a line of steamers between Singapore
and Sydney, is one of interest. A very short time will decide
whether it would not be worth while fur the Peninsular
and Oriental Company to run a steamer down to Sydney
in connexion with their Singapore line—say every other
month—and convey a mail for a sum that the govern-
ment would be willing to allow. Six times every year wo
should then have a very rapid intercourse with New
South Wales. Such an arrangement need not interfere
with the mail packet communication with Australia, tie
the Cape, by means of screw steamers, which will answer
many important purposes.

COLLISION ON TILE CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.—About
12 o'clock on Thursday last, the second division of the down
train from London to the north, which left about 9 o'clock
on Wednesday evening, met with an accident at Kirtle-
bridge, near Gretna, about 17 miles from Carlisle, the con-
sequences of which wero happily of a trifling nature. It
appears that • train of empty trucks had come from Beat-
lock towards Carlisle, and, not expecting tho London train
at the time, was crossing the line for the purpose of attach-
ing an additional number of empty waggons from the
Kirtlebridge siding, when the passenger train, with sixteen
carriages hove in sight. Tho engine of the latter was
immediately reversed, and every effort made to avoid a
collision, but the momentum had not been entirely over-
come when the two engines came into contact. Tho
number of passengers in the train at the tune of tho
accident is believed to have been about 200. The rate of
speed before the trucks train was discovered was about 30
miles an hour. Beyond the continued blowing of the whistle,
few of the passengers noticed anything out of due course
until the collision took place, when the heads of the people
were violently knocked against the backs of the carriages
and into each others' faces. Most of the injuries eln•
tained were consequently cuts or contusions on the head and
face, from which, and from the sudden alarm, many
were rendered temporarily insensible ; but they all speedily
recovered to express their thankfulness at their miraculous
escape. In all, it is believed, that from 30 to 40 persons
have been hurt, but almost all of them slightly—at least
such is the case with those belonging to Glasgow. The
engineer and stoker jumped oft the passenger train when
they saw that a collision was inevitable; but they had
previously turned off the steam and applied the breaks with
all their power. Those in charge of the empty train be-
came completely paralysed when they saw the passenger
train advancing on the same line of rails, and did nothing
to avert the collision. Possibly by this time it was out of
their power to make any effectual effort. Fortunately none
of the passenger carriages were thrown off the line. All
the passengers agree in stating that • more reckless colli-
sion—in broad daylight, too, and with a train which was
known to be on its way—or a more merciful escape, has
never occurred. What the railway officia/s can say for
themselves remains to be seen.

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EASTERN UNION RAILWAY.—Last week the Trowee
extension of this company's line was opened by the direc-
tors, and on the day of the Yarmouth races, a train of .300
persons from Colchester, Ipswich, and other places were
taken over it to Yarmouth, without change of carriages.
STIRLING AND DUNFERMLINE RAILWAY: The
Anon extension of this line is going forward rapidly, and
the bridge over the Devon at Cambia is completed.