The New York herald., 1875-12-13
EAST INDIAN NAVIGATION.
Report from Lieutenant Lizard,
Of the Challenger.
SHIPS LOGS COLLATED.
The Route Between Australia
and China.
wAsHrSsros, Dec. u, lST2


me following n report Of Lieutenant Lizard OF
Her Msjesy's shP Chalenger,,on the route between
Australia and Chtna through the East IHdIa ISLANDS,
compiled from > careful study OF charts ard logs
"The easterrMnost route east OF New Guinea, wharh
shall call the route TO China, follows bne on
1he chart from Newcastle % Norlcik lsianai ,roln r
thence Matthew Island, then north along the lIlst
fnerldiantc IL deg scGth; then rth.northwest TO
Pleasant Island crossing the Equator N 100 deg east
then through the eastern ISLANDS o the Carolina group
"a the,r destinations The length Of this route is
From Newcastle to Hong Kong, also miles from New
castle to Shanghai 5000 miles; from Newcastle to
Yokohema s 500 miles Ten vessels have adopted this
route their passage rs sixty four days The
shortest nassage orty days was the Veno
ma which ship eft Newcastle on the % Of April The
longest passage made by the Wndhoyer which
ship left Newcastle December Il She took seventy
four days on her voyage 70 Hong Kong
MIDDLE ROUTE
''Another route Of New Guinea which shall
lne on the chart from Newcastle, midway
between Lord HoweAs Island and the Ehza-
beth Reef; from thence 10 the D'Entrecusteaux
Reef on The northwest extreme Of New Caledonia
ihen between the Solomon and Santa Cruz islands and
from thence northwest by north % the Equator, which
is crossed in l59 deg. east From the Equator
northery route is taken through the middle Of the
Caroline group, and then course Is shaped for the
port bound To- The length Of this route is;-From
Newcastle Hong Kong, 5000 miles; from Newcastle
10 Shanghai, 5400 miles from Newcastle 70 Yokohama
1900 miles Twenty nine vessels have adopted this
traek and their average passage Is eight days
days less than the outer route the quckesI
passage made by the Thermopyla, which ship left
March, or in twenty eight days
ROUTE
'The third route least of New Guineal, which shall
call the inner route China follows Line from New
castle northeast the l57th meridian then due north
that meridian 70 the latitude OF the Pocklngton
Reef IN latitude ii deg SOUTH theh either 10 the
northwest between New Ireland and the solomon
group or 70 the north, through the bougainvile
then north TO the Equator, which may be crossed in
about longitude 1853 deg east from which position
straight may be shaped for either Shanghai or
Yokohama; but for Hong Kong course TO the north
ward OF the straight line 70 Baiintang Channel The
length OF the route s-From Newcastle TO Hong Kong,
5000 miles from Newcastle Shanghai, 1900 miles;
from Newcastle 70 Yokohama, 600 miles FIVE sail
ing vessels and one steamer have adopted track
The made the passage in twenty three days 10
Shanghai The average length Of passage OF the sailing
vessels IS forty eight days
"The fourth, or Torres Straits route follows line
from Newcastle northeast to the 18th meridian then
north that meridian 10 the latitude Of the Melish
Reef then northwest for Bhgh's entrance TO Torres
Straits When through the straits the route IS between
the Tenimber and Arrow Islands for the passage be-
tween Ceram and Bours the Moucca Channel,
then round the northeast end of Celebes sea through
The Basilan Channel into the Sulu Sea, and then
Through Mndoro Straits into the China Sea- The dis
from Newcastle TO Hong Kong by this route is
$500 miles, and it has been taken by only one ship,
The England which made the passage in fortyone days
STATISTICS or PASSAGES
"A careful study Of the tables and the wind charts
published bv the Admiralty IN 1872 has led me to the
following conclusions viz during the months OF
January February and March the average passage by
passage being &c days and the shortest 81 days The
average passage by the middle route 40 days, the
longest recorded being As days and the shortest Is
days No passage by the fnner the Torres Straits
route has been attempted during this season, anc
glance at the WIND charts viii show that neither or
these tracts suitable during the hrs three months OF
Lhe year.
during these months, therefore, rests be-
tween the middle and the outer route,
and the passage by the middle route is performed
days ess than that by the outer route there
be question that the middle Is the proper
route China for vessels leaving Australia In January,
February and March During the months OF April,
May and June only passage has been made by the
outer route, viz, in April, the time occupied being
toriy-nine days
"A careful study OF the wind chart these months
in conjunction with this information will, ] think
show satisfactorily that neither the middle the
outer suitable for ships al this season, but
that the inner route offers the greatest facilities for
making rapid TO China Tor ships leaving Aus
tralia in April, May and June
sIfa ship leaving Australia can Torres Straits
before the end August viii be found the best track
70 take; IT. however she get through those
straits by that time she should adopt either the inner
the middle route-probaby the inner will be found
the quickest If every taken 70 get north
after crossing the Equator until the tenth parallel is
reached, the vessel that took seventy days on
the voyage wasted fortnight by trying work TO the
westward against light northwest winds when between
the Equator and deg north latitude. There appears
however very little 70 choose between the middle
and inner routes and either of them may be fol-
lowed too late IN The season to enter Torres Straits
During the months Of October, November and De-
cember the Torres Straits route is certainly
unit 10 take but until possess more Information
regarding the inner route am not certain as to It's
biness or otherwise.
Therefore for the present ships leaving in October
November and December should adopt the middle
route and may expect TO make the passage IN about
Iortyfour days
DIFFICULTIES
Viewing then, the different tracks In regard TO
heir freedom from danger, there Is doubt that the
the clearest and that probably, is the
IL has been adopted by so many ships The
middle route, however nearly free from difficulty
~ the outer and will be, in my opinion, quite safe
rompleted-a work, understand the pres
ent photographic sian in New Caledonia
engaged The timer route is at present the
least known and unquestonably thai portion OF II be-
tween the Solomon Islands and New Guinea requires
20 be surveyed; STILL however, the passage between
abe Solomon Islands the eastern and the Louisdale
Archipelago and New ireland the side
wide channel apparently free from danger with the
cepton Of Pocklngton Reef and IN the months Of
April May and June, during which ships gain the
greatest advantage by using IT, the weather is fine
that nothing to deter vessels taking this track
provided good lookout kept and Ii
must likewise not be forgotten that should
II be found the quickest IL the shortest
highway to China vessel would probably soon be
employed properly surveying IT, The Torres STRAIT
route although free from danger, may be gated
with facility by captains who havo any experience
among coral reels and who accustomed 10 their
vessels from the masthead-a precauton which Is alb.
soutey necessary. Once through the strait there are
but dangers the track China although the
islands are, many Of them, doubtful IN position they
are OF sufficient height 70 insure their beng readily