The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-03-16
Ocean Steamers.

The Inauguration of a line of steamers
between San Francisco and Australia,
seems no longer TO be a thing which is to
be desired, or which is an expected future
enterprise, but II is, as would appear
from the statements we get upon the sub
ject. both from England and the United
States, definitely determined upon. The
first steamers of the line may, to all APP
pearance, be looked for here within
month or so, and the perpetuity of the
service seems to be assured by the fact
that both the Governments of the United
States and Great Britain have taken in
hand to foster the enterprise by subsidies
of considerable amount When we speak
of = a line" of steamers, we should really
say lines, because it would appear from
the best information attainable at present,
that line is TO be subsidized by each Of
the Governments in question, so that, at
first at least, we shall have two rival
lines, one English, and one American.
By the last mail, we are in receipt of tele-
grams informing US that contract has
been signed at London for q regular
monthly service between Australia and
San Francisco, via Honolulu. Although
it is not certainly known what are the
terms Of the contract, or with which of
the great ocean steamship companies this
contract has been entered into. it is under
stood that the subsidy granted is some
thing like three quarters of a million of
dollars, and that the great Transatlantic
Company, the Cunard's, are the parties
who have taken the contract If this is
the case, for which we do not certainly
youch.) the amount of the subsidy. and
the weIl-known ability of the Company
who are said to have undertaken the con-
tract, are ample guarantees that the service
viii be faithfully performed. The Cunard
steamers in the Atlantic have proved
themselves more than equal to any COM
petition which has as vet been brought
against them, and the great experience
of the Company, as well as the uniformly
tirst-class vessels employed by them, would
make their advent into the commerce of
the Pacific an event of great Importance
By the same mail, we have advices to
the effect that VIM. H. Webb, a promi-
nent steamboat man in the United States,
has secured contract from the American
Government to run line of steamers on
the same route. The subsidy he is to re-
ceive, is understood TO be a quarter of a
million a year, and it is said BY those who
are in communication with Mr.. Webb's
agents in San Francisco, that one of his
steamers-two of which are now in San
Francisco-will soon be put on the route.
The vessels which he proposes to use for
the service, we are, through the kindness
of fellow townsman, able to give, as
follows:
The Ne5raska-Al at Lloyds; 2I4s tons
register; 5000 tons builders measure
ment; $50 horse power: ESQ feet long,
~ feet beam; built in May. 1887, and av-
eraged l54 knots on her trial trip.
The Nera9d-A l; 2I45 tons register;
2s4 feet on main deck, and licensed to
carry sss passengers Average speed on
trial trip, IS knots, and built in December,
1867.
The Dacotak-A at LlOyds: 2l5o tons
register. PSI feet long, and Il feet beam
Licensed to carry 72O passengers.
The Santiago de Cu5a-I627 tons; $50
horsepower; 2s7 feet long, 80 feet beam
Built in 1861. and rebuilt in 1867. In
tended to form the connection with Auck-
land
Ii will be seen that the above, as to
size, and in other respects, are frst-class
vessels, and win nc doubt give their com
petitors of the Cunard line hard trial
for the precedence in the trade, although,
if the latter line Is to receive the subsidy