The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-20 00:00:00

THIRTY DAYS TO AUSTRALIA

(Prom the Liverpool Herald.)
There is something startling in this announce-
ment, because people have no idea, even in then
days of progress, .that a voyage to the antipodes
could po•isibly be effected in one month ; yet, why
not? We understand that the Government con-
tract for conveying the mails is 59 days, say 60.
Mr. Clare, jun., of this town, is prepared to build 4
Iron mail steamers of 10,000 tons etch, that shall
average 20 miles per hour, for the sum of 400,000/.
each ; boats that, in case of war, could be applied to
the Government transit of troops, &c. Now, what
would be the result of shortening the voyage to
Australia to 30 days ? In the fist instance, we
are receiving 20 millions sterling in gold annually
from that colony; the interest upon that sum for
one month (the time saved for conveyance) would
be 840,0001., and drafts to the same amount, hav-
ing another 30 drys to run, would make a total
per annum of 1,680,0001. interest, which, added to
84 1,000/., would yield the sum of 2,400,0001. ! So
that, in one year, 800,0001. more than► the cost of
building this splendid fleet of steamers, suitable for
war purposes, would be realised merely by the saving
of time. Mr. Clare is prepared to have this num-
ber of boats ready in twelve months, upon the
Government undertaking to pay him such a rate of
postage as the expeditious service he would render
would entitle him to ; and we are satisfied the
colonists would not object to an additional postage
that would bring them nearer to this country by
at least half the time now consumed. After the
first year the Government would be in the re-
ceipt of 2,400,0001. to meet the expenditure.
Suppose the expense attendant upon each voyage
was 100,0001., that would amount in the year,
twelve voyages, to 1,200,0001. ! thus leav-
ing a balance in favour of the Government of
1,200,0001. ! To attain the continuous speed here
laid down is the great matter for consideration,
and many may doubt the possibility ; but Mr.
Clare is quite confident that he can accomplish it
by the construction of vessels after a plan of his
own ; vessels that shall not only attain a greater
speed than any hitherto built, but be proof against
wind, wave, and foundering at sea ; that can
neither leak nor sink, and at the same time be shut
and fireproof. Surely such a discovery is of na-
tional importance, above all little personal inte-
rests, and, if practically brought to bear, would in
time confer incalculable benefits upon Liverpool,
her shipowners, and her merchants.

MR• PALK, M.P., ON CHURCH-RATES

AND REFORM,

On Friday afternoon Mr. Palk, the Conservative
member for South Devon, dined with a numerous
party of his father's tenantry at Torquay, and in
the course of a speech, after expressing his grati-
tude to the electors for the recently repeated wani-
festation of their confidence in him, and joining
with a previous speaker in the hope that much of
the unhappy difference that had existed b -
tween Churchmen and Dissenters of this coun-
try might be supplanted by a better state
of things, he spoke as follows :—I allude more
pat ticularly to the question of church-
rates. It is a question which has agitated the pub-
lic mind for many years, and I think the time is
now come when that question should for ell* be
set aside. (Cheers.) But there are difficuttids—
difficulties of great importance. The law that
would be good for populous towns like this, and for
towns of even greater populations, will not alto-
gether do for purely agricultural districts. But I
do hope that the time has arrived when this ques-
tion of church-rates may be met without
political feeling, and that each honourable
man—and there are plenty of them—upon
bath sides, will together combine and ac-
cept that which I believe would settle the question
for ever—a fair and honourable compromise.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I hardly know that I have
yet acquired a position to enable me satisfactorily
to bring the quest!en before the House of Com-
mons. I know too well that a bad advocate fre-
quently damages a good cause. But whenever the
question is brought before the House rest assured
that I will endeavour to support or to suggest some
measure which, I trust, may have the concurrenee
of Dissenters and-the acceptance of the Church-
men of England. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I look
forward to the next session of Parliament with c,n-
siderrble apprehension. I think matters of vast
public importance must be brought before the
house ; I think the words which were said to bind
party to party have disappeared ; and I think that
the tame is come when it is necessary for every
wan' whatever his principles may be, to march
with the times and to give effect to the opinion
which has been clearly, and distinctly, and plainly
expressed by the country at large, that the present
state of the representation must be a subject for
the consideration of the house. (Prolonged
cheering.) To that consideration I moan to bring
an unbiased and unprejudiced mind. I totally
decline to pin my faith to or to guide my actions by
any man. I will, with your permission, act as I
think is best for you and best for the interests whit

you have intrusted into my care. (Hear.) The
hen. gentleman concluded by expressing a hope that
whenever he had again to resign to the elec-
tors (if South Devon the privileges which they
possesses they would at least admit that, however
imperfect his talents might be, be had never de-
ceived them nor pandered to popular impulse, but
had used his 7,;9,5t exertions to give them full and
efficient service ai:d to further the interests of this
great country. (Chi.-.41r5.)