FIRST STEAMER TO INDIA.

North Otago Times, 3 December 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

FIRST STEAMER TO INDIA.

• ' /. r: , ';'■■ ONLY 35 TONS OP COAL.TAKEN FOR A VOYAGE WHICH TOOK ■' 114 DAYS,

When was. the first'steam voyage from England to Calcutta accomplished ? This cannot'be answored with any degree of certainty, for' various claims to .the distinction have been put forwhrd at one time or another. Credit, is commonly given to the Enterprise, launched at Deptford in February, 1825, Her owners were hopeful that she would earn the "Bengaf Fund," subscribed by some Calcutta merchants, for the vessel which should mako'the first voyago out and home, averaging no.t more than 70 days.each way. Tho Enterprise was equipped with a pair of SO horso-powcr engines,' while her copper boiler, which was ■in one piece, weighed 32 tons, and cost £7,000. Her furnaces were

seven in number, and burned 12 tons of coal per day. On ICth August, 1825, with 35 tons of coal on board, she steamed (at five knots speed) out of Falmouth Harbour. Some of her coal was in bags, .packed round the boiler, with the result - that-a fire broke out which might have put a sudden termination to tho voyage. Calcutta was reached on Bth December, ■ tho voyage having occupied 114 daya during forty of 'which the steamer was under sail, owing to the giving out of the coal supply, The Enterprise had of course, no chance of accomplishing tho feat which she Bet out to-perform, but her owners did not lose much by their plucky, if unsuccessful, venture for the Indian. Government bought ■her for £40,000, which was only £3,000 under her original cost.— "Syren."