The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-02 00:00:00

STEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

%Ile Select Committee appointed to inquire into
the I existing steam communications with Inc3ia and
Chiba, and into the practicability of effecting any
improvement therein ; and also into the best mode
of establishing steam communication between Eng-
land,- India, China, Australia, New Zealand, or any
of shem, as well as any points upon the several routes
bet Ween them, and who were empowered to report
their observations, together with the minutes of evi-
dence taken before them, from time to time to the
Flcuse, have further considered the matters to them
referred, and have agreed to their second report as
follows :

"Your Committee having investigated the urgent
claims of the colonies of Australia to a participation in
the advantages of steam communication, which have
been so beneficially extended to most other British set-
tlements, and having laid before the House a special
report upon the subject, have since carefully considered
the improvements of which the steam communication
with India is susceptible.
" The arrangements under which this service is at
present conducted are generally so well known to the
public, that it is unneccessary for your Committee to
enter into further detail than may be requisite to eluci-
date their recommendation.

"In the investigation of this part of their inquiry,
your Committee have:not thought themselves justified in
excluding its commercial bearings. Although they con-
sider the postal question paramount, and the one to
which their attention should be most directly pointed,
yet they feel that when a contract is given tor postal
service, which necessarily interferes to prevent the
operation of competition, it is impossible to exclude
those considerations, as they materially affect the cost
at which such service can be obtained.
" The three heads under which this subject may be
most clearly considered seem to be the following:—
" 1. The arrangement under which the service is at
present conducted.

"2. The cost at which it is carried on, and the pro-
portion which this bears to the speed obtained, and the
facilities afforded.

t," 3. The improvements required in future arrange-
ments, and the best mode of securing them to the public.
" The arrangements under which the service is at pre-
sent conducted are as follows:

" On the 7th of every month a mail is dispatched from
the Post-office for India via France.' From Mar-.
sillies passengers and mails are conveyed in vessels in
her Majesty's service to Alexandria. At Alexandria
arrangements have been made with the Egyptian Go-
vernment for their transmission across the Isthmus of
Suez, where vessels of the Indian navy are in readiness
to start for Bombay; from Bombay mails are dispatched
by Dsk runners to their different destinations in India.
" Some years ago heavy mails and passengers for this
line were conveyed from Southampton to Malta and
Alexandria by vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental
Company, which left England four days previous to the
mail by Nlarseilles; this service has, however, been dis-
continued, and its discontinuance, it is stated, has caused
considerable inconvenience.

" The existing pecuniary arrangements for this ser-
vice between the Home Government and the Govern-
ment of India may be revised in January, 1853.
" The second monthly communication with India, and
the only one with China, is conducted by the Peninsular
and Oriental Company.
" Their vessels start from Southampton on the 20th of
every month, and aro overtaken at Malta by the ex-
pLondonress, fourn ee:
ender
similar later; they
arrange-
ments then
proceed
alluded
val
uen s w
d rin,to in the case of the other ser•
vice they are conveyed across the Isthmus of Suez.
"Vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Com-
pany are in readiness to proceed from Suez to Point de
Galle, Madras, and Calcutta, stopping in their route at
Aden, the communication between which place and Bom-
bay is effected by vessels of the Indian navy, which con-
vey the mails for Western India, and also such letters for
Madras and Calcutta as are intended to be forwarded by
express from Bombay.
" The arrangement of this extension of the bi-monthly
communication to Bombay formed no part of the Go-
vernment plan of 1844, and was gratuitously adopted by
the Indian Government. It was not intended to include
the conveyance of passengers, who are, however, per-
mitted to proceed in the vessels, as far as the accommo-
dation will permit.
" The arrangement by which this service is conducted
expires with the year 1852. As the homeward service
is carried on under similar arrangements, your Commit-
tee consider it unnecessary for them to enter into any
further detail.

"2. The cost at which it is carried on, and the propor-
tion which this bears to the speed obtained, and the faci-
lities afforded.
" From documents furnished to your Committee, it ap-
pears that the sum paid from the revenues of England for
the mail service performed by the East India Company
between Suez and Bombay amounts to 50,000/. annually.
There is also the cost of communication between Alex-
andria and the Post-office in London, the amount of
which your Committee have not the means of estimating.
It is right to add, that the expense of the transit of all
the mails from Sues to Alexandria is borne exclusively
by the East India Company.
"It appears that for the service between Suez and
Bombay there are three steam-vessels provided by the
Government of India inferior in no respects to any
steamers plying in the Indian seas; other vessels have,
however, at times been employed inadequate to the ser-
vice. The average speed required by the contract with
the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company seems to
have been maintained on this line.

" Complaints have been made the comfort and
convenience of the passengers have not been sufficiently
considered in the arrangements. These complaints refer
chiefly to the vessels engaged in the bi-monthly commu-
nication between Bombay and Aden; the vessels em-
ployed in which, as before observed, are not designed
for passengers. It has further been stated to your Com-
mittee, as respects the vessels of the Indian navy gene-
rally, that inconvenience is experienced by the mercan-
tile community from the high rate of freight of bullion,
and from their not carrying merchandise.
" The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company re-
ceive for the mail service between England and Alexan-
dria 23,0001.; for that between Suez and Calcutta,
115,0001.; and for that between Ceylon and Hongkong,
45,0001.; and of the amount paid for the two latter ser-
vices the East India Company contribute seven-sixteenths,
namely, 70,0001.
" Although the vessels on this line were considered
of the first class when originally constructed, yet the
rapid improvement which has taken place in machinery
readers them now below the standard which has been
reached on the North American lines.
" Witnesses have stated that there has been some irre-
gularity in the arrival of the mails at Calcutta by this
line, and statements have been made to the same effect
by the commercial bodies at Calcutta.
the cost
" The rate of fares charged by the company;
n , the
for the carriage of freight; the difficulties throivdni
different
way of passengers taking advantage of the
European lines, which might be made
available for
and the
pleasure and for comfort from Alexandria,_
the
year,
crowded state of the vessels at certain periods of
have all been matters of complaint before your Com-
mittee.
s been brought for-
" On the other hand, evidence
hapassengers have re-
ward to speak to the attention the r, to the Peninsular
coived on hoard the vessels helongint,
and Oriental Steam Company
that
which it is
has but
eefnairditso.
played by thet
" While your Committee think
acknowledge the enterprising spiriti
and Oriental Steam Company
Peninsular
in the general management
_of the communication which
they have now conducted for some years, they are of
opinion that the English and the Indian public have
at times experienced considerable inconvenience; and it
is certain also that until the agitation of the question
connected with the renewal of the contract brought the
matter more prominently before the public, tho Penin-
sular and Oriental Steam Company had done little to-
wards introducing into their line those great and impor-
tant improvements, as regards speed, which have of late
years_tiken place in ocean steam navigation. Of late,
however, some of these vessels have undergone consider-

The evidence before your Com;eittee shows strongly
that a full communication every foi'Znight is required
between England and the different pros:done:es in India,
and that such communication, with a meelerate. assistance
for postal service, would bo remunerative. Similar evi-
dence has been given with regard to Chi'-Js, but not to
the same extent.
"Your Committee, knowing the effect of steam com-
munication in developing trade, and the tendency which
it always has largely to increase the amount of Waffle on
any line, in proportion to the frequency of the opi)ortu-
nities afforded, and having before them an offer n.ade
for the performance of a similar service to the one cten-
ducted by the Peninsular and Oriental Company for
nearly half the amount now paid by the Government for
that lino; having likewise the admission of the Peninsu-
lar and Oriental Steam Company that the present extent
of the traffic is such as to induce them to build large
screw-steamers for an additional communication, are in-
duced to believe that a full mail service twice in the
month to the different presidencies of India, and to
China, might be established without any material in-
crease of charge on the public revenue.
" Certain prop( sods appear to have been made by the
Eastern Steam Navigation Company to carry out a com-
munication between England, India, and China,
.. the ex-
press portion of the mails to be conveyed via the Trieste
route, in conjunction with the Austrian Lloyd's Com-
pany; the political advantages of having two lines open
across Europe your Committee consider of some import-
ance; and it appears fr.= the evidence that the Govern-
ments interested in the Trieste line are prepared to enter
into negotiation, and to give every facility for the trans-
mission of the mails.
" It has been suggested to your Committee that, in
order to secure to the public the advantages of these
communications, stringent rules should bo laid down in
any new engagement that may be entered into between
the Government and companies undertaking the service,
and that rates of speed and fares should be fixed. Your
Committee concur in these suggestions, so far as regards
the size of the vessels and the speed required, and they
are of opinion that the penalties for failure in speed
should be such as might be rigidly enforced when such
failure cannot be satisfactorily accounted for; but they
do not believe that there is any mode by which the full
advantage of the communication can be secured to the
passengers and traffic of India by the interference of Go-
vernment in the internal arrangement and management
of the affairs of a private company.
" The only mode in which this can be secured to the
public is by the establishment of a wholesome competi-
tion.

" Upon a full consideration of the question, your Com-
mittee recommend that a communication twice in the
month between England and the different presidencies in
India should be established, and that such communica-
tion should be separated into two distinct services, and
put out to separate tenders.
" Your Committee have already stated that the exist-
ing contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Company is terminable in December, 1852; and, as it
appears from the evidence that any new parties compet-
ing will require at least 18 months after their offer is ac-
cepted to prepare for the due performance of their en-
gagements, it is the opinion of your Committee that no
time should be lost by her Majesty's Government in
taking till the preliminary steps which the fair encou-
ragement of an open competition so obviously demands;
and they therefore recommend that tenders may be called
for, contemplating the arrangements already alluded to.
Ample time will thus be given to enable her Majesty's
Gov; rnment to decide from the tenders which may be
sent in whether a bi-monthly communication can be eats-
blisLed on the plan proposed, without any probable in-
Oren' e of expense to the revenue of this country.
" With respect to the service new peetormed by yes.
Eels of the Indian navy, it has been stated in evidence
tha*, in poin; of economy, the comfort of the_sarenger,
and the-require:m:ll's of trnele, this service would be per-
formed to greater advantage by a private company.
"On the other hand, there are heavy charges borne
by the Indian Government in connexion with the ex-
pensive arrangements cnt -r: d nto at the period when the
quca:ion of steam communication was fully e..nsideled
b her Majesty's Government in 1844. which in any
on w arrangements would require to be fairly adjust( d.
" Your Committee have likewise been informed that
there. are politicll reasons which render it important
that this communication should remain in the hands of
the, India, Company.
"Your Committee have not entered into this point,
but they consider that it is a question for investi-
gation by those Committees which they understand
will be shortly appointed to consider the future
arrangements for the government of India ; should
the service continue to be performed by the Indian
Government, your Committee are of opinion that it
should be maintained at no greater cost to the public
than would be requirel by a private company, and that
the same attention should be bestowed on the comforts
Of the passengers and the wants of trade as in vessels
conducted by private enterprise. Your Committee think
it right to add Neat this principle has been fully ad-
mitted by the witnesses who have appeared before them
on behalf of the Indian Government.
"Your Committee have had under their consideration
certain proposals to connect the Cape of Good Hope with
Calcutta a vi(2 Mauritius.' They ate fully alive to the
possible importance of a line to India, independent of
foreign countries; but, looking at the principle upon
which grants for postal service are allowed, they cannot
recommend any grant to this lino beyond what may be
fair for the actual postal service performed; and they
believe the growing wants of India are such, that ere
long private capitalists will be found ready to embark in
the undertaking.

Th In reference to the steam communication with Eng-
land required by the colonists of Mauritius, it appears
in evidence furnished to your Committee that in the
course of last year a vote of 12,0001. was passed by the
Legislative Council for opening a steam communication
with Aden; that HUM seems to have been sufficient for
the purpose, as parties were in readiness to undertake
tho service.
" Your Committee would not interfere with the views
of the colonists when so evidently expressed; consider-
ing that they are the parties most likely to make a judi-
cious selection of the best route for their own interest,
and they therefore recommend that the Government
should grant to the colony the full permission to enter
into such arrangement as may be necessary to effect the
object in question.
'. In the course of a protracted inquiry much evi-
dence has been taken before your Committee tend-
ing to show the decided advantage of iron over weed
in the construction of vessels fitted for the packet
service, more especially in those to which the screw e
propeller is applied, and they are of opinion that the
postal service would suffer materially, both as
notspeed and cost, if the contracting cornpeniesregw
compelled to employ steam-ships built of woodere
to call
of iron. And your Committee feel it their da'
which
the attention of the Government to the evidenceany
has been received upon this subject from the m dd nb
who have giPP •
emi-
nent practical and scientific men w
fore them.
arrangement which
stating their conviction that any
itch e t
that
Government,
the
cill
~ your Committee cannot close this report without
's open to serious ob-
jection, , lines in the hands of one
company which they have
might tend to promote an extehisive traffics on the Indian
jection, and, in the recoil!
tshuegygesvttidsh fowl' the
lay down
wfor the full advantage of these
security to the publicmust
consist in open and fair cora-
,.ng must rest the responsibility of
communications
petition.
nciple with honesty and fairness
consilidte:rea";iopnrinoefip
carrying outet°thl
and it can only be effected
by ample
to the public,
particulars of
" On the
. tun the terms and conditions
notice andbeing given, so as to enable all parties to enter
required aertrimpri
the field
. joy 29,
who may be desirous of tendering for the service.
1851.

(Friday), between the hours of ten a
GREAT F LERKEN
IRE IN C WndELeLle.v—enL, a:tfireniogfhat
very alarming character brokehi out in the manufacturinglpre-
mises belonging White;
to Mr. X
mahogany timber merchant
square, Clerkenwell. The imilding
tien,
Yardley-street
and brass turner, and
w hich, \\hi
the
m i n
disastergton -
occurred was between 60 and 70 feet long, stretching about
50 feet in a directiono
l towards the houses in Exmouth-street,
Spa-fields. The
for
rr
tpuorrntiinogn
lathes was fitteda nd unpt h
ev,r-i with costly
steam machinery purposes,
whilst the floor above was filled with upwards of 20 lathes,
many of them of great value. Some hundreds of pounds
worth of timber and brass were also piled away in the various
compartments above. Sheets of flame shot forth from the
building, and rose so high in the air that the metropolis was
brilliantly illuminated. Before any one had time to call
the information to the fire stations, the flames gave suilicien
warning to the firemen of their services being wanted.
Plenty of water having been obtained, the engines were set
to work, and owing to the praiseworthy exertions of the
firemen, the flames by half-past twelve o'clock on Saturday
morning were so far subdued that no extension of mischief
was apprehended. The premises in which the misfortune
commenced, however, were by that period nearly gutted,
and considerable damage was done to those adjoining. The
origin of the fire is unknown, and unfortunately the sufferer
was only partially insured.
INFLUENCE OF ScOTTIIIII M usic.—An American
.
paper says :—"lf the Scotch bagpipes
be played occasionally
•
days in any place infested with rats, they win ini
for a few .
raediately quit the premises, and never return:.