The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-21 00:00:00

SEAM COMM&NIOATION WIIII AUSTRALIA.

The head-quarters and central point of departure for
three principal and distinct lines of steam communication
with the great colonies of the south are being rapidly '
perfected and established at Southampton. This port,
indeed, will in a few months possess in active operation
three separate and independent systems of communica-
tion by steam with Australia, and through this port
must, as a necessary consequence, be conducted the im-
mense postal arrangements and passenger traffic, which,
combined with mercantile communications, are necessary
to develope the apparently boundless resources of that
vast continent in the South Seas, to which the eyes of
the world have in late years been directed.
The pioneers of Australian steam communication—so
far, at least, as practical and useful results have hitherto
arisen—are the directors of the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company, who equipped and sent to
sea, from Southampton, the two first steam ships des-
tined,to- commence and continue a postal system. That
wealthy and successful company, already possessing a
line of steamships in regular operation from Southamp-
ton, pia the, Isthmus of Suez, Ceylon, and Singapore, to
China, was enabled to be the first in the field, and the
operations of their steamships, stretched out in advance
so far as Singapore, the nearest paint to Australia, ren-
dered it a comparatively easy task to complete the line
by adding a link from Singapore to the various ports of
South Australia. That link has been already supplied,
and for some months past the mercantile community
have been indebted.to the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany for the most -speedy and only reliable method of
postal intercommunication—viz., that by the eastern
route. This route is not and never can be anything
thing more than a postal one, its great expense for pas-
senger, bullion, and merchandise traffic is practically
prohibitory, and must apparently long continue so ;
while, additionally, the frequent changes from steamer
to steamer, and the necessity for crossing the desert
through Egypt, are inconveniences not easily remedied.
The line established by this company is, however, of
much importance ,to this country in a postal point of
view, while many benefits to the trade and commerce of
both India, China, and Australia, have been effected by
the regular communications maintained between those
places by means of this line.
The next, and second route to Australia, starting from
Southampton, is that by way of the Cape of Good Hope.
This has been provided by the General Screw Steam-ship-
ping Company, who, at an outlay of capital of nearly
500,0001. sterling, are using the greatest energy to place
upon the best possible footing this gigantic enterprise,
which involves nothing less than the circumnavigation
of the globe (for these steamers are to come home by way
of Cape Horn) during every voyage to be undertaken.
The Harbinger, of 1,000 tons, the first of their ships,
opened the line in February last, and for an expertmetn•
tal voyage did exceedingly well. This vessel was fol-
lowed by the Argo, a fine screw steam-ship of 1,850
tons, and the Harbinger is about to start in October to
prosecute another voyage to the antipodes. Pending
the experimental trips of these steamers, the General
Screw Company are preparing three iron screw steam-
ships of great size, with which most efficiently to carry
out their undertaking. These are the Crnsus, the Jason,
and the Golden Fleece, each of 2,500 tons and 500-horse
power, and a fourth of still greater tonnage is, we under-
stand, likely to be built. There is no doubt, therefore,
that ere long the Cape route to Australia will be effec-
tively and regularly performed by the ships of this com-
pany, and that great success will reward the efforts of
this enterprising association. The merits of the Cape
route, so far as passenger and merchandise traffic is con-
cerned, over the eastern route, arise from the conve-
nience and moderate charges with which goods, bullion,
and passengers can be conveyed. No change of ships is
needed, and a passenger setting foot, at Southampton,
on board one of the noble steam-ships of this company,
may without further inconvenience be conveyed direct
to Melbourne and Sydney, at a cost comparatively
trifling when contrasted with the excellent accommoda-
tion to be afforded on board these magnificent floating
hotels, The fact, likewise, that there is no isthmus to
cross, and that no trans-shipments of any kind are neces-
sary on this line, enables merchandise of all descriptions
to be shipped at such rates as will always command a
remunerative freight for so desirable a method of con-
veyance. These ships are destined, therefore, to be the
carriers of a vast quantity of cargo, and will also bring
back, in great amounts, the precious products of the
auriferous soil of the Australian colonies.

But a powerful and novel competitor to both these
routes is about to enter the field, and the great western
track from Europe to the Pacific is to be at once placed
in operation, to compete for the postal and passenger
traffic with Australia. Only a few months will inter-
vene before a regular communication by way of Panama
will be established, Southampton being likewise, as in
the case of the eastern and Cape routes, the point of
departure. The communication thus projected is to be
supplied by the Australasian Pacific Mail Steam-packet
Company—an association incorporated by Royal charter,
which, at an expenditure of upwards of a quarter of a
million, have built and are equipping five screw steam-
ships, destined to run monthly from Australia via New
Zealand to Panama, and, connecting with the steam-
ships of the Royal West India Mail Steam-packet Com-
pany on this side, to maintain a rapid and regular
monthly steam service between Southampton and Aus-
tralia. The steamers prepared specially for this enter-
prise are the Kangaroo, Emu, Black Swan, Dinorius,
and Menura—each of about 1,600 tons burden, supplied
with auxiliary screw machinery of 300-horse power, and
fitted with propellers patented by Griffiths. These ves-
sels are represented as combining in every degree the
requisites of speed, either by wind or steam propulsion :
and possess all the improvements both of form and
equipment yet introduced in the steam marine. To
these five ships will be added a sixth, the Pelican, of
1,100 tons, and 220-horse power, destined to run be-
tween Sydney and Port Philip, in correspondence with
the main line ships, and to be additionally available for
any casualty that may occur on the trans-Pacific service.
The Kangaroo and Emu are both launched, and are re-
ceiving their machinery • the remainder are in a forward
state. But for the strikes in the north, and the feverish
state of the labour-market in the Clyde, they would have
been ready some months since. It is now, however,
anticipated that the Kangaroo will be dispatched from
Southampton in November direct for Sydney, there to
commence the regular service to Panama. The Kangaroo
will be followed by the other ships in quick succession.
The proposed route is from Sydney to 'Wellington, New
Zealand, through Cook's Straits, keeping along the
40th parallel of south latitude, until about the 100th
parallel of west longitude, thus taking advantage of the
strong west winds generally prevailing in the Pacific—
thence a northing to Panama will be made. The out-
ward or return course is intended to he from Panama in
nearly a direct line to the north of New Zealand, calling
at Auckland. It is not at present contemplated to touch
at Tahiti, although a coal depot is to be established
there, to be available if required. A large supply of
coals has already been sent forward to Panama and New
Zealand, and the company fully expect to effect the voy-
ages through from Southampton to Sydney in 55 days,
the steamers in the Pacific being calculated to perform
their work at an average speed of 9 knots an hour.
Such is an outline of the important project embarked
upon by the Australian Pacific Mail Packet Campany,
whose managers embrace many gentlemen known to be
practically acquainted with steam enterprise in various
parts of the world, particularly in connexion with the
West India Mail Steam-packet Company, and the Pacific
Steam Navigation Company of Liverpool. In whatever
light the operations of the company are viewed, they are
of a highly interesting character. The vast expanse and
placid waters of the Pacific Ocean are to be at length
belted and bridged over by steam, and thus to be made
subservient to the interests of commerce and the pro-
gress of civilisation. Two or three years before any
system of steam communication with Australia was
agreed upon, this journal, in examining the various
routes pressed upon public attention, took frequent op-
portunity to exhibit the great advantages to be derived
ffirm rom an
conviction adoption of the Panama route, and it was in the
establier that the line would sooner or later be
India that a renewal of the contract of the West
Company was recommended, upon great na-
tional grounds, andt in the expectation that that com-
pany, foreseeing the immense advantage to their traffic,
would
give
eantrtlantic steam service upon a foot-
ing that would
line utmost speed upon the direct from Southampton to
to become so important a Inalliama, which is now about
vigation to Australia, New Z in the chain of steam na-
ealand and the South Seas.
The peculiar merits of the eastern
Australia have already been glanced and Cape routes to
mains to mention those of the western
oart. p It now re-
It is clear that unless the Panama rout ro anama plan.
e f rapidit to either can be made
superior in pointsand _ of the others, and
unless mails, pasngers, bullion can be conveyed
• ker by its agency than is found to the
much pm be case
over either of the other route; it will be established in
vain, and the enterprise will be a
..tailure. Geographi-
cally,to Australia
the Panama route is the beat. It is
the and to this8
the most direct and the may be
added the acknowledged fact
that the navigation of the
favourable for auxiliary screw-
Pacific Ocean is the most
steamers of any ocean in the world. A straight line ma
from
Southampton to
be drawn on Mercator's Ch art
Sydney, which would nearly intersect the American
continent at the Isthmus of Darien, and this, without
fatiguing the reader with es
estimates ofdistances, will be
e is
sufficient to show that the Panama r
osses the
shortest
ons. It
means for approaching our Australian p Euro
- from pe to
is, in fact, the natural ocean highway
the South Pacific, and must necessarily, if efficiently
performed, take precedence of all other systems.
We have no doubt that the measures in progress by
the company for establishing this service will be success-
ful, and that, when in proper working order, their ships
will regularly traverse the Pacific, and bring up to Pa-
nama most valuable freights of gold, and many passen-
gers
fact
has for transmission to England. So soon as the
has been made evident that this is the most speedy line,
postal arrangements will have t , o be completed by the
Government, seeing that it is of the utmost importance
to take advantage of the quickest route, and bearinc, iii
mind, also, that this company's ships will bring New
Zealand nearer to the mother country than can by any
other means be effected.
But it is not alone upon the proper performance
of
the service in the Pacific by
ships that the success of the enterprise and its value
to the world will be secured. Success
iiill in
an equal degree depend upon the maintenance
of the most rapid communication on this side of the
Isthmus, between Southampton
At present this service is not adequately performed, and,
unless other arrangements are speedily
would seem that the utility of the Pacificentered upon, it
route is likely
to be jeopardised by the imperfect performance of the
transatlantic service of the West India Mail Company ;
and mails leaving the Isthmus,
passengers and proceed-
the circuitous route of. the United States, can
proceed-
ing by days in advance
now reach England someof the steamers
og the Royal Mail Company direct. While such an

imperfection exists, it will be useless to prognosticate
any great things of the Panama route to Australia, and
a large traffic will never flow through it. Another
drawback will be the inconvenience to which travellers
are to be exposed by trans-shipments. Under existing
arrangements, passengers will have to start from South-
ampton for St. Thomas, where they will be transferred
to another steamer for conveyance (touching at Santa
Martha and Carthagena) to Colon, the station on the
Isthmus. After crossing this narrow neck of land by
rail, the Pacific steamer will be gained, and the voyage
thence to Australia commenced. Besides the inconve-
nience of trans-shipments, the delay will, with other
causes, be fatal to the complete efficacy of the route.
To provide a remedy, some of the existing arrange-
ments which are now so detrimental to the West India
mail service should be discarded. The trans-shipment at
St. Thomas must be abolished, and to effect this a dif-
ferent class of ships from those now employed would
have to be provided. The distance from Southampton
to the Isthmus is 4,740 miles, and this voyage should
be accomplished in one uninterrupted run, broken only
by a stoppage of a few hours at St. Thomas to transfer
branch mails to intercolonial packets. That this can
be done is undoubted. Many eminent ship-builders
in this country, if unfettered by restrictions, would
guarantee to produce steam-ships, either on the screw
or paddle-wheel principle, capable of reaching Chag
ire
s.
in fifteen or sixteen days from Southamp w
out coaling at any intermediate point, unless compelled
The
to do so by unusual roughness of weather.
coaling stations of the Transatlantic lane of
packets
would then be merely at Southampton and. Chagres, or
Navy Bay, and, till such an arrangemkeenttsis suchin
ships provided, and the smaller pac emp oye
conveying branch mails compelled to reach St. Thomas
before the main line ships are due there, the West India
mail service will never be efficiently conducted ; and the
prospects of the success of. the Australian Pacific line
will be clouded byim
Looking auninceenrtaseintrtyaffiaendthdaotubt
would be secured
to the Southampton and Chagres line, arising, (in addi-
tion to the Australian traffic) from the increased com-
munications to flow across it from Central America, Ca-
lifornia, and the Southern American States, it is not too
much to declare that a more rapid line of steam ships
from Panama to England is one of the great necessities
of the age. The outlay of half-a-million of capital in
providing it should be considered as nothing when com-
pared to its importance, and it will only be when ar-
rangements of this kindhave been placed in force that
the service of the West India Mail Company will be
carried out with that celerity which the urgency of the
subject demands, and the traffic to Australia and other
important points by the western route will till then re-
main comparatively undeveloped and in its infancy.
It is expected that the Australian Pacific Company's
ships will secure the bulk of the communications, both
as regards passengers and treasure, between the United
States and Australia, as well as provide a useful com-
munication to and from many places on the west coast
of South America, already possessing extensive business
relations with Australia. The main object of the enter-
prise, however, is to establish the most swift and direct
means of conveyance to and from Europe and Australia,
and if this point be achieved all other subsidiary advantages
will follow. It is well known that the Australian colo-
nists have repeatedly expressed their conviction that the
Panama route was the only one which would serve their
purpose with that measure of superiority which is due to
the astonishing commercial progress which Australia
presents to the world. Constant representations in fa-
vour of the scheme have been received from Australia.
Let us hope, therefore, that there will now be no disap-
pointment. It will be a pity if the success of the enter-
prise should be marred by the inadequate measures for
securing an efficient steam service from England to Pa-
nama (the first stage of the route) by a company which,
judged either by its long standing, great respectability,
command of capital and resources, or by the enormous
grant of the public money which annually flows into its
coffers, should possess the finest and fleetest steamships
that can be produced, should eclipse all other companies
in the result of their operations, and in steam navigation
take the lead of the world. To a company so situated,
with such boundless prospects of solid and tangible good
to be derived from the exercise of enterprise and judg-
ment, hesitation at this juncture is tantamount to defeat,
and the virtual and ultimate extinction of the company
is rendered certain, because in the coming era of great
enterprises, other and more energetic competitors will
spring up to enjoy the fruits which want of enterprise
may have left unplucked.—Times.

THE QUEEN AND THE IRISH EXHIBITION.

The following letter has been addressed by Lord Pal
merston to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland :
" Whitehall, Sept. 12..

"My Lord.—lt is my pleasing duty to express to
your Excellency, by commrnd of the Queen, the entire
satisfaction which her Majesty derived from her late
visit to Ireland, from the moment of her landing to her
re-embarkation at Kingstown.
" The loyal and affectionate attachment to Her
Majesty's person and throne evinced by her Irish sub-
jects on the present, as well as on a former occasion,
has not failed to make a deep impression upon the minds
of her Majesty and of the Prince her Royal Consort,
and has tended to confirm, and, if possible, to increase
the strong interest which they have ever felt in the pros-
perity and happiness of the people of Ireland.
"I am further commanded to assure your Excellency
that her Majesty and the Prince have viewed with the
greatest admiration the varied and interesting collections
displayed within the Great Industrial Exhibition which
now adorns the city of Dublin, and her Majesty feels
convinced that, under the fostering care of your Excel-
lency's administration, the spirit of enterprise which has
produced this noble undertaking will be fully developed,
will be fruitful of valuable results in the progressive im-
provement of the condition of all classes of her Majesty's
Irish subjects, and will thereby conduce to the general
welfare and prosperity of Ireland.
" I am, my Lord, with great truth and regard,
"Your Excellency's very obedient servant,
" PALMERSTON'.
"His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant,
Dublin Castle."