STEAM SHIP CENTENARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 120, 24 May 1938, Page 6

STEAM SHIP CENTENARY.

The Sirius was the first steamer to cross the North Atlantic under continuous power. She was built at Glasgow of 700 tons and 220 horse-power, and chartered by the British and Xorth American Steam Navigation Company, (which was formed in 1830 by Macgregor Laird. The Sirius left Liverpool on March 27, 183S, and Cork on April 2. 1833, making the crossing to Xew York in l.> days. The Great Western sailed from Bristol on April S. She. was 1240 tons and 440 horse-power and gained on the Sirius. but did not overtake her. The Sirius was followed by the Great Western. British Queen, President. Royal William and the Liverpool. The Cunard Line dispatched The Britannia, its first steamer, in IS4O. Great opposition and ridicule was faced by Macgregor Laird before he was able to form the B.X.A.S.X. Company in IS3G. One eminent authority. Dr. Lardner, in the "Liverpool Albion" of December 14. 1835, denounced the scheme as "perfectly chimerical." Mr. Laird replied in the same paper of December 2-5, IS3B. and proved his theories correct in IS3S by the passage of the Sirius. The British Queen was jthe first ship (designed by him) for the comI pany, and he made the return trip in her to Xew York, rejoicing that it took but one month! She left Spithead on .July 12. 1839. and beat the record trip to Xew York by IS hours. Her average speed was about ten knots. It was intended that she should make the first crossing, but she was not finished in time, and so the Sirius was chartered. A.R.M.L.