The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-21 00:00:00

HOW BEST TO GET TO AUSTRALIA

The colonies of Victoria and New South Wales would
give a princely prize to any Edipus who should solve this
riddle. They want their English letters, their English
goods, their English immigrants, and they want them
regularly and statedly, and not by fits and starts, depen-
dent on wind and weather, calm and storm. Nor would
the Colonial-office and the Post-office, at home, give less
to have the haunting question laid, since it is always
rising up unqnietly before them, and will not let them
rest. More also than these are interested in it. The
nation would give much to know the best way of getting
to Australia. Some have friends they want to hear from,
some have goods they wish to send, some desire to emi-
grate themselves; and very many, apart from all such
inducements, feel that an integral part of Great Britain
should be bound up with the mother country by the closest
ties, and that length of space should not necessitate length
of time in our intercommunications.

This question of the best way of getting to Australia
involves two considerations—the route and the convey-
ance. Is Panama, or the Cape, or India, the best route ?
Is a steamer, or a clipper, or neither, the best convey-
ance ? We perceive that in answer to a question of Mr.
Baxter's on Thursday night, Mr. Labouchere stated that
the government have just put out tenders for a monthly
communication, one half of the expense to be' borne by
England, the other half by the colonies ; and the problem
therefore will speedily have to be solved. We do not
know if we can contribute anything towards its solution,
but in a matter so interesting, any suggestion may prove
useful.

A conviction, we believe, has been lately growing in
the minds of practical men, that the Cape route is that
which can ultimately be made most available for goods
and emigrants ; nor does it seem difficult to arrive at
such a conclusion by the negative process of proving a
far less degree of adaptability for such traffic, in the
other routes.

The way by Panama presents objections so great that
neither shippers nor passengers are likely to make much
use of it. The English steamer arrives at Colon, where
the passengers disembark, and the goods are unshipped.
Some fifty miles of railway then convey the passengers
across to the town of Panama, where they must wait till
the goods can follow them. After this, goods and pas-
sengers are again transhipped into steamers, and at last,
we may hope, reach their destination.
We say that we hope so much, but really the chances are
hardly in their favour. Independently of the trouble of
embarking, dis- embarking, and re-embarking, shipping,
unshipping, and trans-shipping— the possibility after all
of being left behind on the Isthmus—there are two un-
pleasant peculiarities connected with Panama which make
it advisable to give it a very wide berth. For weeks
together, sheets of water (one cannot call it rain) come
tearing down, soaking everything, washing away every-
thing. An ill look-out for dry goods, or fancy articles !
And besides this rain, there is the prevalence of what] is
called suggestively " the Isthmus fever." Of 1125 pas-
sengers who came from Sydney in the Golden Age
steamer, and went on board the West Indian steamer, it
would seem that no less than seventy-five had taken the
Isthmus fever, of which twelve cases ended fatally.
The Indian route appears out of the question, except
for mails, and for men of independent fortune. Its great
expense, its constant changes of conveyance, render it
incapable of becoming the main channel of Australian
trade.

We are thus thrown back upon the Cape route. At
least, as compared with the others, this has many advan-
tages. It is inexpensive; it requires no detentions and
no changes ; and it is gradually becoming better under-
stood, and therefore more expeditious. Thanks to Lieut.
Maury's example and suggestions, the principles of great
circle sailing and composite sailing are teaching us each
month the best track round the Cape. We are learning,
month by month, to map out the ocean streams, and the
currents of the winds, in those. till lately, unknown seas.
Month by month we are discovering how far to steer due
southward, and when and where the icebergs begin to
gather and thicken round the ship.
This question so far disposed of, there remains that of
conveyance. We all remember how anxiously the results
of the first steamer to Australia were watched for, and
how disappointing they appeared. Whenever, as hap-
pened twice or thrice, the steamer arrived at Melbourne
under 65 days, the expense was so enormous, and the
profits so completely eaten up by it, that two such suc-
cesses would be more ruinous than a failure I But in
most cases coals ran short, coaling stations were called
at, time and money were lost, and no corresponding bene-
fit was gained.

Meanwhile a new description of sailing vessel, with
every line of her model adapted for speed, was growing
into notice. The Marco Polo, the Red Jacket, the Light-
ning, and others, had been making passages which eclipsed
the performance of almost every steamer. These clip-
pers caught every breath of wind in their huge sails,
and their sharp build enabled them to cut through the
water like a knife. But they depended too entirely on
their sails, just as the steamers had too completely relied
on their engines. In a calm they were of course at a
stand-still ; in adverse gales they had to tack and beat
about; and if they got too far south, they might find
themselves harrassed and hampered among the ice. In
all cases the length of their passage must be uncertain,
and there could be no reliable limit.

A third plan was now suggested, and is, we have heard,
on the eve of being carried out. This was to build clippers
with sailing capacity superior to any of those formerly
built, but also with small engines and auxiliary screws
which should, when any ordinary clipper would be be-
calmed, enable the vessel to make way. Should this plan
succeed, the problem proposed will very fairly, we think,
have been solved.

POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH THE
AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

Last week was issued the copy of a Treasury minute,
dated November 27, 1855, upon the subject of postal
communication between England and the Australian
colonies. The minute enters into a variety of details
relative to the communications which have passed with
the Colonial-office, the colonies, the Postmaster-general,
&e. The concluding portion of the minute shows the
result.

The plan which my Lords propose is thus shortly
summed up :-
1. That they shall instruct the Admiralty to obtain
tenders, by open competition, for a monthly postal ser-
vice between this country and Australia, the vessels,
(outward and homeward) touching at King George's
Sydney, carrying the mails for
South Wales, Victoria, South
tShoeundsi,xlllceolbloonsirense,ofanNdew
Australia, Western Australia, Van Dieman's Land, and
New Zealand.

2. That branch services shall be established by open
competition from Melbourne, as the central point, with
Port Adelaide, Van theman s Land, and New Zealand.
3. That all letters and newspapers shall be prepaid,
and that each post-office shall retain its own receipts.
4. That the entire cost of the services described shall
be divided equally between the home government and the
colonies collectively.

,57That each of the colonies shall contribute to the
moiety to be paid by them collectively in proportion to
the number of letters despatched by each, to be ascertained
every two years.
In the first place, it will be necessary to obtain from
each of the colonies named, a duly authorised legislative
acquiescence in the arrangement proposed. For this pur-
pose let a COPY of this minute be transmitted to the
colonial office, and request that the Secretary of State will
take the necessary steps with that view. But state that
as some time must elapse before replies can be received
from the different colonies, and as my lords are anxious
that no time should be lost in re-establishing a monthly
mail by steam, my lords, relying upon the correspondence
now before them from the Governors of New South; Wales,
and South Australia, have decided to take
aale steps in order to secure a commencement of
the service at the earliest possible time after the receipt
of communications from the different colonies acquiescing
in the proposed arrangements.
Write to the Secretary of the Admiralty and request
that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will take
immediate steps to procure tenders for a monthly postal
communication by steam with Australia on the following
conditions, and report to this board before any contract is
actually made :

I. The tenders to be delivered within two months of the
date of the advertisement.

2. The tenders to specify the routeand the maximum
number of days between the departure of the mail from
Southampton and its arrival at Melbourne, and Sydney,
and King George's Sound, respectively ; and also the
number of days on the homeward route.
3. That the service shall be performed under a penalty
of 1001 a day for delay in starting, and 301 a day for an 3
time consumed in the voyage beyond the allowed
maximum.

4. The contractors to state in what time from the
acceptance of their tender they will be prepared (under a
penalty to be agreed upon) to commence the service.
5. The contractors to give such adequate security as to
the Lords of the Admiralty may appear necessary, for
the payment of any penalties which may become due, and
generally for the performance of the contract, which
penalties in no case whatever shall be relinquished.
6. The contract to be for five years.
]Tenders are now being called for by Government.]

LEOMINSTER ELECTION, TUESDAY. - Net withstanding
rumours to the contrary, both candidates went to the poll,
and kept it up throughout the day. The friends of Mr.
Hardy, the conservative candidate, rushed early to the poll,
and at once placed their candidate in a majority, which they
continued steadily to increase throughout the day. At the
close of the poll at 4 o'clock, there were—For Hardy, 179,
Campbell, 101 ; majority for Hardy, 78.
DlssoLuTroics OP PARTNERSIIII'.—A, Gladstone and D.
M‘Gill, Bradford, Yorkshire, wine merchants. Joseph
Gill and Joshua Gill, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, gropers. C.
Cass and W. Carnes, Middleton, Lancashire, iron founders.
J. Sutcliffe and J. Corson, Manchester, commission agents.
T. 'Whitehead and J. Lassey, Morley, West Riding of
Yorkshire, dyers. J. Robinson and R. Duke, Liverpool,
attorneys. G. Bramell and J. Carter, Sheffield, bootmakers.
C. Spence and C. G. Llewellyn, Liverpool, galvanised iron
manufacturers. C. Egerton and H. Egerton, Liverpool,
printers. J. Toomy, T. Toomy, and J. Matthewman,
Bradford, Yorkshire, stuff merchants. A. H. Novelli, G.
Dunner, C. H. Bowker, and F. Kcen!g, Manchester, and
Bradford, Yorkshire, general commission merchants, so far
as regards G. Dunner. U. Allen and S. Allen, Radcliffe
Lancashire, tape manufacturers. J. Carter and J. WI
Carter, Barnsley, Yorkshire, linen manufacturers.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY

The SPEAKER. took the chair at twelve o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a second time, and ordered
to be committed :—Dover Water; Lymington Railway ;
North British Railway ; North Western Railway ; Saint
Ives and West Cornwall Junction Railway

The second reading of the British and American Great
Railway Land Company Bill was postponed till the 15th
April.

PETITIONS,

Sir J. Wm:Ann-presented nine petitions from artizans,
praying that the British Museum, National Gallery, and
Crystal Palace might be opened on the afternoons of
Sundays.
Some petitions were presented against the Police Bill.
Mr. SPOONER presented petitions signed by 6000 peoplo
against opening the Crystal Palace, British Museum, &c ,
on Sundays.

Several petitions were presented in favour of the Medical
Profession Bill.

Some petitions were presented against the abolition of
Church Rates.

Mr. THORNELEY presented a petition from the medic al
practitioners of the Liverpool Dispensary, in favour of the
Medical Regulation Bill.

EPISCOPAL AND CArITULAR ESTATES BILL

On the motion of the Marquis of BLAND FCRD the second
reading of this bill was agreed to, and on the motion of Sir
G. GREY it was ordered to be referred to the committee on
the Ecclesiastical Commission.

DISSENTERS' MARRIAGES BILL.
The second reading of this bill was postponed
MEDICAL PROFESSION BILL.

Mr. HEADLAM moved the second reading of this bill.
Mr. SPOONER hoped the House would not hastily pro-
ceed with this measure, against which thero were many
objections.

Lord R. GROSVENOR called atetn lion to many objections
he had to various provisions of the bill. He considered the
principle of the bill was based on a monopoly, for it gave
to one college the power of conferring the right to bo
registered and to practise as a qualified medical practitioner.
The state of medical science in this country was not in such
a state as to justify the adoption of this measure. Before the
House agreed to it, he asked them to reflect whether, by
doing so, they would not be inflicting a serious injury on the
community. The public had never asked for this measure,
but only medical practitioners. He assented to the principle
of education laid down in it, but the other portions of the
bill ho dissented from. He would not object to the second
reading, but suggested some alterations to be made in com-
mittee.

Sir G. GREY said no doubt there were some of the de-
tails of the bill that required alterations which might be
done in committee. Repeated applications had been made
to the Government for an alteration of the laws with re-
ference to the medical profession, and several attempts
had been made to accomplish it, but which had failed
owing to the jealousies that existed amongst the different
branches of the medical profession.
Mr. HENLEY and Mr. NAPIRU having briefly addressed
the House,

Mr. ITEADLAM replied to many of the objections of the
noble lord the member for Middlesex, and said that any
suggestions that might be made by the medical profession
or hon. members would receive every consideration.
The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted the:first Wednesday after Easter.

DRAINAGE ADVANCES ACTS AMENDMENT DILL.

In reply to some observations from Mr. WILLIAMS,
Mr. WILSON repeated his statements with reference to
the operations of the bill which he addressed to the
House on its first reading. The principal object of the
bill was to charge landowners who applied to the Govern-
ment for advances under the Drainage Act, interest on
the money so advanced from the date of the cheque, and
not as now when the money was drawn from the Bank of
England.

Sir. HENLEY said he thought this was putting the screw
on the landowners, but, under the circumstances, con-
sidering the advantage these advances were to land-
owners, he should not oppose the bill.
The House then went into committee on the bill ; Lord
DUNCA.N in the chair.

The clauses of the bill were agreed to without opposition
and the House resumed.

TENANTS COMPENSATION (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. MooRE brought in this bill which was ordered to be
printed
The House adjourned at ten minutes to one o'clock.