THE "CHUSAN," STEAM-SHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 87, 4 September 1852, Page 6

THE "CHUSAN," STEAM-SHIP.

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's screw-steam-sbip " Chusan," now in harbour, forms a source of much attraction and curiosity. Many hundreds of visitors went on hoard by the watermen's boats in attendance ; and the satisfaction derived from the urbanity and attention of the officers tended to keep up a constant stream of sight-seers from morning- till night. Fears being entertained that the crew might he induced to leave her, in con.sequence of the disparity betwixt the Eno--lish and colonial rates of wages, several constables were stationed on board and ashore, to prevent an escape ; but it is hoped that arrangements will be made to obviate the necessity^ continuing this precaution, which is to be taken but as a temporary one. She is a most noble looking emit, barge rigged, built of iron. Her draught of water astern is about 12 feet, and forward about 10 feet 6" inches, which, to peisons experienced in nautical affairs, would impjy a sharpness of build in her general fines and formation—a conclusion fully borne out by the fact that she has the exact fa'c simile, of the hollow bow of the celebrated clipper yacht " America," the winner of the great yacht match in England. This peculiar sharpness, which in some measure accounts for her extraordinary performances, both under canvas and steam, is not accompanied with the peculiarity which lias been generally considered to attach to vessels of this construction—that of being a wet ship—the <; Chusau1' having- proved herself

to be, on the passage from England, a splendid sea-boat, particularly dry, and liable, even in breezes, to nothing beyond a spray, which,more or less, attaches to every fast-sailing' vessel. The performances on her long- route from England, fully justified the expectation entertained of her sailing capabilities. She passed the Needles rocks on the 15th of May, and at 3 o'clock, p.m., the crack screw-propeller "Propontis," bound for the Cape with the mails, was exactly 160 miles ahead. The " Propontis," at noon on the 24th, was fallen in with in latitude 26*12 north; longitude 2034 west, and was soon past and left out of sight. On the 26th the " Chusau" made St. Vincenfc,at night, and lay to off the harbour till 8 o'clock on the following morning, when the " Propontis" came up and entered. Having1 the mails, the latter ship got coals at once; but the " Chusan" having to be detained for a similar purpose, did not get away till midnight on the 30th, or morning of the 31st, by which delay the " Propontis" got two days start. Notwithstanding this advantage, however, the " Chusan" reached the Gape on the night of the 24th of June, and went into harbour on the 25th, the "Propontis" not having come up till 10 o'clock a.m. of the 26th. The comparison between the two was thus satisfactorily ascertained to be in favour of the ': Chusan," which is larger in tonnage, and less in power, than her famed competitor. The utmost despatch was made in procuring coals, which were found in abundance at the Cape of Good Hope, which place she left on the evening of the 29th. She experienced head winds for 11 days, but falling in with the westerly wind the engine was disunited, and the vessel being put under canvass, made some extraordinary runs, varying from 180 to 250 miles a-day. the " Chusan" reached Port Phillip on the 29th, which place she left on the Ist of August, at two o'cloc'r p.m., and arrived off Port Jackson at 8 p.m., on the 3rd, making the run from Heads to Heads in 54 hours, being the quickest upon record.— Empire.