JOTTINGS EN ROUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8020, 6 August 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

JOTTINGS EN ROUTE.

No. vr. [Ny ioNOTns.] HOMEWARD BOUND. THB COLOMBO IRONWORKS COMPANY Form an extensive establishment, fitted up with the most modern and comploto machinery, and tools of tho host aud latest doscription. The proprietors, Messrs. John Walkor and Co., devoted their attention most successfully to the machinery required for pulping and preparing the coffee berries for the European marketa. When the leaf-fungue-blight almost wiped out the coffee industry, and tea cultivation was substituted, this firm lost no time in produoing machinery best adapted for curing and proparing the tea for the home markets. Now that, the harbour worka are so far completod, and so many large steamers are every day entering and loaving the port of Colombo, this firm have laid themselves oat especially for mechanical work in connection with the repairing of steam ehipa. The chief engineer of the Valetta went to this establishment, scarcely, expecting to got some part of her maohinery reproduced. But, to hia astonishment, he found some 400 dusky sons of Vulcan, skilled artizans, busily at work, with the intelligence and precision of Scottish workmen. That which he required was soon reproduced to his entire satisfaction, as well and as cheaply ae it could have been in auld Glasgow. This firm originated in 1854, and ever sinco it has grown and developed with undeviating success. It has now five distinct departments—to wit: (1) The engineering, (2) the blacksmith's shop, (3) the sawmill and carpentar'a shop, (4) the foundry and (5) the timber yard. But for genius, Indomitable perseverance, ntiliaing cheap labour, this ueuful firm—the Pride of Colombo — ne'er bad been. In the colony of New Zealand it would have become defunct long, long ago 1 There are two aerated water companies and two ice compauies. The first established of theoo, "The Colombo Ice Company," for mauy years held the field unmolested by composition, and paid most satisfactory dividends, which went on increasing until a halfyearly dividend of 30 per cent., not at the rate of 30 por cent., but aa absolute 30 per cent., earned in six months. Of course, this could not last. It was too tempting jso two or three companies were organised, and the palmy days disappeared never to return. The Colombo Company is now content with S percent, per annum. It has twolcomaohinee, which. In the 30 per-cent.-dividend days, wore worked night and day, and turned oufc, within the twenty-four hours, threo tnns of ice—the largest blocks weighing 1301b each. The business, whether of ice or abated waters, is now distributed, and probably each firm does as large a business as did the original pioneer firm—the Colombo Ice Company (Limited). So many more largo stoumers call in for coal and supplies, that thousands arc now spont inetuad of hundreds, a:i formerly. Those steamers take from six to twelve tons of ice each trip. Colombo, before tho opening of the Supz Canal, waa in precisely the position in which Auckland is ut the praecnt moment in relation to tho Panama Canal. If prepared, and sutliuient accommodation bo afforded, it may an rapidly develop and bocotne enriched. Commerce flows into the nearest channel — follows facilities. At Colombo bit! ventures were mado, large sums expended—they succeeded—wealth and prosperity followed. Unless Auckland rises to the occasion, and carries out a well-considered and bold Boheinc of harbour improvements—adequate wharfage, with uheds and warehouses—she must be content to seo tho ocean steamers pasa her door, and sho will find horsolf loft out in the cold ; nor population and wealth ' deeroasing instead of increasing, Just now cha matter hangs in tho balance. The noxt throe years will determine tho fato of Auckland. Would that men were awake, and bec.lining earnest in their endeavour to niuet tho approaching crisis 1 Much more oould be written npon this oiiliject, as illustrative of the growing import tauoe an , ! prosperity of Colombo, but time nud space forbid further effort; it must be left, that we may return and finish our interesting explorations, ero we re«emb:irk ("or thn Valetta. It was pretty late in the afternoon before we (Uncharged our carriagos at the wharf. Tho samy policeman, iu the presence of whom wo had engaged thom in the morning, was thore. All waa reckoned np find sottlod without murmur or dispute, and the two drivera and the guide each took liU due, and seemed well pleaaed. Wβ then got into the atcam tender, and hastened aboard, glad to rr.rire to our cabins and rest. Wβ went out no tnoro that evening. A good number of tho paaaongnra had gono in tho early morn, per rail, up to Evandy ; but. as wo had made tho excursion before, wo proforred the exploration of Colombo, and were amply rewarded. liad we gone, tha foregoing pages had not been written. The majority returned tho same evening, but tho rent remained, until the next day. All were delighted with the trip, and described the suonory as magnificent. It was pleasant to *oo them all ao aatisfiod and wull pleased. Having heard that there were ,400 conviiJta on board the Russian transport, that thoy wero nakod and kept in iron oasjea litre wild beasts, we took a boat anil rowed right round her. And thore, sure enough, wore men without nhirts, pule and emaciated, vac.'intly gaping at us through the opon ocuttlos of tho Orlolf'fl dock, some six to nine feet out; of the water. Whether political or criminal convicts wo could not learn, hut if all bo true that was reported of them, tiiey muut indeed be in nn ovil case Aud p.h j'et at Colombo they had aocompliahed hut tho half of their dismal voyage. Their names are lost, thoy an , , niinply numbered, and their future of life naught but peual servitude, ahort and slavery. Alan ! The attempt at national government han leng alnce into sordid selfishness, Holf-aggraudieeniont, aud eolf-glori-fixation, and to these base passions everything that Is and noblo, and true in human nature h.is been sacrificed. What is Russian Government but; nu oligarchic power behind tho throno, oppressing, and riding roughshod over, tho manses of tho poople. Such a system mustt sooner or later hurst up with terriiic revolutionary violence, and in its terrific- explosion burel; throne and oligarohy into an Abyss of anarchy and confusion 1

All things being ready, before sundown of Tuesday, the 20th April, the Valotta's anchor wii3 weighed, and wo were again at sea. Tho season for the south-west moneoon had not yet set in, due in another fortnight, henca wo had light winds and a calm boa. i Without pressure, or any increased consumpI tion of coal, wo made an average of 300 i miles in the twenty-four hours. Mo incidont of note occurred during our voyage across the Indian Ocean. The island of Socotra, lying botwoen tho north-eastern coast of Africa and fcho south- western coast of Arabia, was sighted, and in due course we ranged up the African coast northward by Capo Guardafui ; its aspcot was mo«t sterile and deserted. Thon losing sight of it, wo opened up the rugged, pinnacled rocks of Aden on tho Arabian coast. Although we were not to call in at Rden, the Valetta was stoered close in with the Asiatic coast, and so we had a good view of the lighthouse, and the bungalows, and other buildings upon the rising ground open to the 30a breezes. Wβ saw several steamers at anchor in tho Aden roadstead, and some signals were exchanged. One of the steamers was the P. am.l O.'s s.s. Pekiu, from Calcutta. As, in all probability, tho Valetta would have to wait at Suez for tho arrival of the P. and O. steamer from Bombay to take on her passengers, our captain did not hurry, but steamed up the Red Sea very leisurely, averaging only from 275 to 285 knots in the 24 hours. Nevertheless, wo overhauled one or two merchant steamers and a British corv3tte, and passed a number of steamers running down the Red Sen,. The length of the Red Sea from Eden to Suez 19 1200 miles. The Valetta paused Kdeu in tho afternoon of Tuesday, tho 3rd of May, and anchored at Suez on Sunday morning, the Bfch of May. , Much had been said of the dreaded heat of the Red .Sea, the chances of death from heat apoplexy were disoussed, aud eve/yone seemed to be nerving himself or herself in some way or other for the worst. Instances were cited of as many as nine having succumbed in ono passongnr steamer. Apprehension was stirred, and most folks felt uneasy. All were agreeably disappointed, for, as soon as we were fairly In the Red Sea, anticipating the thermometer to indicate at least 100 degrees of heat, a fine breeze from the north met us sweeping down the aea, which continued with little variation as to force all the run up to Suez, thermometers indicating not more than 80 degrees. Henc9 the run up the much-dreaded Red Sea turned '

out to be the pleaeanteat part of the voyage from Cape Leewin. At Suez, the advices from the headquarters were that the Valetta should make the best of her way to London with as little dolay aa possible. In obedience to theßo instructions, the Valetta entered tbo oanal early at noon of Sunday, the 6th of May, and pursued her way with the help of an electric light at her bows during the night, which economised twelve honrs. Her return home was accelerated in consequence of the loss of the Tiismanian in the Straits of Boni facio. The captain and some others perished, and the passengers had a narrow escape. We must close in order to posb this, snd resume ouroext paper with jottings upon the Suez Canal, lonotos,