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Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 16, 20 January 1910, Page 7

The articles of agreement entered into between the Commonwealth Government and the Orient Steamship Company provide that the new English mail contract shall commence on "a day in February, 1910," to be determined. It has been arranged that the first mails under the new contract shall be despatched from Adelaide on 11th February, those leaving Taranto, Italy, two days later coming within the new arrangement from the other end. Five new vessels were to be built by the contractors, capable of delivering the mails in 638 hours, instead of 696 as provided under the existing contract. They have not only been built, but have already completed at least one trip to Australia. A sixth vessel is to be built within 18 months of the beginning of the contract, and a seventh within six years. The steamers are to be capable of travelling at the rate of 17 knots an hour. Although this represents an increased speed compared with the vessels which have hitherto done duty, the rate is (remarks a contemporary) a long way behind that which is attained by steamers crossing the Atlantic, and in this respect the new service can scarcely be regarded as up-to-date. Time is the essence of the contract in matters of this sort, and nothing should be left undone to limit the period which must necessarily be occupied in the transit of correspondence between Europe and Australia. The contract with the Orient Company is to last for ten years, the annual subsidy being £170,000. At Hastings, stated a Press Association telegram received at midday, an Inch of vain had fallen since duylifjht. This will cause damage to Btone fruit.