The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-03 00:00:00

much shorter time

Our ocean-steamers make the passage to and
from New York in about ten days, and the actual
distance steamed would be but very little short of
four thousand miles ; consequently, if these slips
were capable of carrying fuel, &c., required for the
sixteen-thodsand-mile passage to Australia, they
would be able to make the passage in forty-five
days at least, or in nineteen days less than the
Argo and Victoria have taken. The necessity for
employing vessels capable of carrying fuel for the
whole distance, must every day become more
manifest; and the growing importance of the
Australian [trade is sufficiently great to justify our
calling at once on the merchants, traders, and
bankers of Liverpool, to bestir themselves, and
not allow the whole of this valuable traffic to be

carried away from our port.
Southampton, by the patronage bestowed on its
fashionable waters, has thus far taken the lead of
that " -Vulgar " giant of the north —the Mersey.
Milford 'Haven, hitherto unknown to commercial
fame, is also a favoured rival to. the " eotton-lore6
port of Liverpool. And if steps be not quickly

taken, this town will be shut out from the immense
advantages to be derived from a direct steam-
communication with the Australian Colonies
Thus far we have lost nothing by our apathy, for
we see very clearly that vessels must be buit
expressly for this trade, and if our ship-builders
will only adopt all those improvements which ire
known to have been made in marine propulsion,
but which, owing to some strange fatality, ave
not yet been used, the speed of ocean steaners
might be increased by one-third. A four thomand
ton steam-ship, propelled by a pair of whet are
called " planetary paddle-wheels," would b 1 able
to run at an average speed of twenty krotsan
hour. On this point we speak advisedly,having
seen above thirty knots attained by
wh., el s im-
mersed below the shaft, and carrying two ton
per horse in power. This improvement in the
propeller obviates all the practical lifficulties
which have heretofore stood in the ley of carry-
ing heavy cargo, or attaining increased speed ;
and if the few inventions, necessary io render our
port pre-eminent for the speed And burthen-
carrying capacity of its steam-shins; be really
sought after in perfect good faith, No feel assured
that this age will be found equal to the task of
bringing to perfection the wonderful and beautiful
science it has so successfully originated.
Fortunately, the prospect of establishing a line
of steam communication between Liverpool and
Australia, affords an opporttnity to our ship
builders of showing their superiority over those of
the Thames and Clyde. Waile the profits to be
derived from this trade are greater by far than

on any other ocean-steam line in existenc

The prodigious quantities of specie passing home
wards and outwards—the extraordinary passenger
traffic home—and the emigration to Australia,
are all sources of profit which are scarcely credible.
The Argo brought one hundred passengers,

notwithstanding that grave doubts were entertsined
as to the time the passage would occupy, and
also as to the practicability of the undertaking.
But once remove these doubts by offering tae ac-
commodation of ships with superior comforts, and
in every respect adapted to the service, and we
shall turn the whole trade into our own pat.

We have more than once shown in the NORTHERN
DAILY TIMES what those principles are, and how
the necessary deductions may be made to enable
the employers of this country generally to meet
the difficulties of the present crisis. We have, in
fact, shown that, in some cases, sound commercial
principles actually demand an advance in the
standard of wages, while in others, where expe-
diency urges a similar course, the margin of profits
raises no insurmountable obstacle. If these will
not do, let all who are doubtful as to the future
look to the state of the bullion-market—the abun-
dance in our corn stores---the increased powers of
consumption accruing to our colonies and nearly
every other co antry with which we trade. Where
can we discover a d9ubt as to the possibility of being
able to realise produce or bullion in exchange for
our manufactures ? Australia is full of gold.
America is overflowing with grain. The Cotton
crops are promising—the Sugar crop is prolific—
Rice is also abundant—Coffee crops are above
the average of former years—Teas are equal
to an enlargement demand—immense efforts
are being made both in England and America
to increase shipping to the full extent re- - -
quired to meet the growing demand for addi- IxQuiny INTO Loss OF THE ANNIE JANE.—Yes-
tional means of transit, and in the face of all these terday an inquiry into the circumstances connected with the
assurances of an early demand, and a long season loss of this vessel commenced at. the office of the local marine
board of this port, before Captain Beeelly. The inquiry was
of prosperity, we hope the "Associated Masters" held with closed doors, all the witnesses not being in attend-
of Preston will not be losers by the course they "ante, and it being considered injudicious to allow an ex-parte
are now, following. statement to appear, Several witnesses were examined,

A steamer sailing every month frorr Sydney,
Melbourne, and Adelaide,may calculate en having—
judging from the recent importations Jf gold from
those parts—from three to four milliors of specie on
freight. This, added to the large nuAber of passen-
gers a four or five thousand ton Filip could carry,
would render the undertaking most profitable. We
trust then, that a moment will lot be lost by our
enterprising capitalists in suing about the good
work, and that Australia will soon have reason to
be as grateful as Canada, an-t our American posses-
sions generally, to Liverpool for the establishment

of steam communication; commensurate with their
present and future waits. For heavy lines of
steam navigation we have advantages which no
other part of the kingdom can offer. An endless
supply of the cheapest fuel—docks to receive the
largest vessels, and facilities for loading, unloading,
and repairing, nrhich are not to be equalled in any
port in the vorld. But these advantages, to be
sustained, pzust be fed by kindred enterprises, and
whenever a legitimate opportunity presents itself,
such as we now have before us, we should grasp
at it 1-efore the prize is carried away by others.