A Journey Round the World.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6240, 12 June 1890, Page 2

A Journey Round the World.

The New York Journalist contains some interesting facts. contributed by Mr Walter P, Phillips, director of the United Press of New Yors on the subject of the time occupied in a journey round the world. Ilia ' text is the extraordinary development which has been given to railway enterprise in America by the opening, of the CanadianPacific Railway. He says at this time, when much is being said of plucky Miss Ely’s feat of surpassing the achievement of Jules Verne's imaginary traveller, who circled the globe in 83 days, it may bo of interest to know that a copy of the Times was sent round the world three years ago through the Canadian-Pacific connections in less than 69 days. This occurred without pre-arrangement, and a similar trip could bo made to-day in much shorter time. The Marquis of Huntly, while in Japan, received a copy of The Times, via Suez, on the day a Canadian Pacific steamer was sailing fos

Vancouver, and it occurred to him to try the experiment. Ho forwarded the paper by mail to The Times, with the result of its reaching the office the sixty-ninth day following its date of issue, 'iho time, however, can soon be reduced to fifty-eight days, for the fast steamships of the Canadian Pacific now building will soon be ploughing the serene waters connecting Vancouver with Hongkong. The trip from London to this British port in the Orient can then bo easily accomplished in twenty-eight days, and the average time of the Peninsular and Oriental steamers between Hongkong and London via Suez and Brindisi, is but thirty days. But marvellous as all this seems, the record is to be etill further reduced by nearly one-half, and there will bo nothing to prevent those who desire it from making a trip from London and back again in a space of time that will totally eclipse the record of Julius Verne’s hero, who, by dint of great effort and unfailing ingenuity, completed his journey, ami doubled the fortune he had wagered on the result of his attempt. With the completion of the Russian Traus-Oonticental Bailway, an enterprise now well assured, the tourest may leave London on a given day, and in 10 days and 9 hours arrive at Vancouver ; ho can proceed thence to Vladivostock in 10 days and 18 hours; ho can push on to St. Petersburg in 11 days and 11 hours, and reach London again in 2 days and 20 hours—a total of 35 days and 14 hours.