The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-04-15

done very fairly In spite Of the service not being
aciy up TO time, and Of course excepting the mis-
hap TO the Macgregor, which no could control.
1t was indeed question Of interest In the depart.
ment as well as with the public, whether, We have
undertaken what can be carried out-that Is when
we get the permanent service-to deliver the mails
within the contract time from London, which we
estimate will be from Il to IS days. The average
time occupied by the steamers crossing the Atlantic
from Liverpool to New York during eight months
Of the year, does not exceed ten days Indeed fre-
quently II is under ten days. From New York 10
San Francisco the distance is at present accom-
plished in six days and twenty hours and this will
be shortly reduced. In round numbers then the dis
lance from Liverpool TO New York would occupy
seventeen days. No great exertion hitherto has
been made TO promote the quick dispatch Of the
mails from London to san Francisco, yet we know
positive fact, that the average time occupied in
their transmission, extending heightened pc
riod, has been about nineteen days and this is be-
ing lessened by the increased facilities afforded on
the railway line. Well now, under more favorable
cireumstanees-and have been promised every
sistanee by the railway companies and the Amerl-
can Government, TO facilitate the transmission OF
our mails-we have not the least doubt that the dis
ed very shortly In II days But we may fairly calcu
latenn IS days Well, am quite satisfied when We
get the steamers now building, that the voyage
from San Francisco 10 Sydney, Including stoppages
at Honolulu and FIJI, will be accomplished in IS
DAYS, and frequently considerably under that time
l do not say this from mere guess-work. IL any
will take the trouble TO calculate the distance he
will ud that steamiug at the rate of twelve knots an
hour, ii can be done in that time. We hear the
sertou made that the steamers cannot average
twelve knots. They do considerably more on the
Atlantic. The distance from Sydney TO san Fran
cisco Is Just 400 miles than double the distance
from Liverpool 10 New York. This is the steaming
distance, taken from the logs Of different vessels.
There De thus no dispuing the fact as II Is the
result OF experience The distance across the Attain
tic being performed in ten days. 1t follows that the
double distance across the Pacific would DC twenty
DAYS, and the 400 miles additional say two days-or
twenty-five days in all. Allowing two days for
stoppages at Honolulu and Fiji aud one day for de.
LAYS not fOresceu, the total time would be twenty
five days With the Macgregor, a slow boat, We
would, but for the accident. have accomplished the
voyage In - or % DAYS Was 1t then too much TO
expect that vessels specially built for the voyage Of
great power aud speed, would accomplish 1t In three
days less time. In mentioning these circumstances
to YOU, You will see that We have not undertaken
what is impracticablc but what WILL in all probabi-
ty be soon carried out. So far the two lines
concerned would much rather travel by the Paci-
hc line-l was going to say thousand times, rather
than by the Surz line In the Red Sea line YOU
only ten days, with trade wind and agreeable
weather almost at all times. mention these points
TO you, thinking You would be interested to hear
them. So far as | um personally concerned l feel
grateful TO you for the expression Of your good WILL
and feel thankful so far that have doue what
earnestly desired to do and what | really went TO
Europe Tor. l hope that with the blessing Of God,
mas be spared until this postal service is fairly In
cess. (Applausc) | thank you very much for in
wiling mt here TO meet you 10 day."