The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1876-05-17
The FOrIked Australian Mail Ser.
vice.

The accident to the steamship Colima, while
performing mail service on the rough coast of
New Zealand, in which she broke all the blades
of her propeller, by striking sunken rock or
other obstruction, has called attention to the
dangers of the New Zealand coast service 1t
was no doubt great mistake for the contract
ors to enter into an engagement to perform this
dangerous service with the finest boats ever
built, but which are, nevertheless totally I'M
fitted for it. Most of the Colonial papers now
see the mistake, and if the New Zealand gov
eminent is wise, it will allow modification of
the terms the contract so as to make it equally
efficient and yet much safer, and consequently
more'likely to be uninterrupted and perma-
nent. Some of the Colonial papers suggest
that the Bay of Islands, near the north point of
New Zealand, be selected as the stopping place
for the mail steamers. The Bay of Islands is
about 100 miles north of Auckland, on the east
coast of New Zealand. The following is from
the Sydney Morning Herald, which recon-
mends doing away with the "forked service"
and adopting the route from Sydney to the Bay
of Islands, thence direct to Honolulu emitting
the Fiji's =
Z" No doubt, on map, and especially on fat
map the route by Fiji appears the shortest and II is
the shortest but not By much is generally sup
posed. The distance from Sydney TO Kandavu is
1850 miles, and thence TO Honolulu $685. making the
total distance from Sydney to Honolulu BY this
route 4I25 miles. From Sydney to the Bay of ISL
ands is llS7 miles, and from the Bay of Islands to
Honolulu is 3747 miles, making total OF 1884 miles,
and giving difference Of 209 miles in favor of the
kandavu route. But then in ocean navigation, dis
lance does not always mean time. This was clearly
proved on the late voyage of the Mikado which lost
nearly eight hours and half at Kandavu on her out
ward passage. On the homeward passage the loss
still GREATER for she arrived off the Nankua pas
sage al IL p. NJ on the lytl oil March, and lOve-t0
and entered the passage at A. NJ on the following
morning She arrived off Kandavu the same day at
midnight and again hove-to and entered the harhor
at A. NJ OF these two delays, the first involved
loss of hours, aud the second Of T. or total of Is
This IS u delay which win always occur when the
entrance is approached at night and it more than
compensates Tor 209 miles OF distance. In addition
TO this the Mikado was detained "a hours, awaiting
the arrival Of the Colima, whose passage had been
protracted on account Of heavy weather. This is
source Of delay that can never be altogether olivia
ted. A through line can always be worked with
more punetuality than a line that has branch con-
nectiOnS- These are sometimes unavoidable, and
where the trade OF many scattered districts has to be
concentrated, the delay must be submitted to- But
where 1t is possible 10 do without it. no pract
cally acquainted with steamboat work would court
the disadvantage and no one would hesitate to make
some slight sacrifice to get rid OF it.
The harbor of Kandavu is not to be deprecated.
1t is very good harbor of its size and conveniently
located But it is not first class harboT, nor is it
approachable without danger or delay. The reef at
its entrance, which was so fatal to the Maegregor,
will always be a drawback, while the want of room
for maneuyring led to an awkward collision be
tween the Colma and the Granada The large class
of vessels which is now employed demands large
harbOrs, and IL we arrange the service so that
they will have only large harbOrs to enter 1t viii be
saving of time and dimunition Of risk. By tax
ing the route suggested the steamers would only
have TO enter Port Jackson, Bay OF Islands, Homo
lulu and San Francisco, all ports of the frstcass."
The following is from the San Francisco cor
respondent Of the same paper, who was pas
senger in the steamer City Of San Francisco,
on her FIRST trip from the Colonies: