Shipping News.

Colonist, Issue 50, 13 April 1858, Page 2

Shipping News.

DEPARTURE. April 12.—Cresswell, barque, 370, Barnett, for Guam, in ballast. Passenger—Mrs. Barnett. ' : THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE. We have been favored with the following mation with, respect •to the Australian Steam Postal Service via Suez :— ' • At a meeting of the committee of the General Association for the Australian Colonies, held on the 10th December, the following resolutions were agreed to :—■.'■ 1. That for the efficient performance of the postal service between Suez and Melbourne six first-class steamships are. required, of 2200 tons burden at the least, and to be capable of performing, when tested for speed in the usual manner, not less than twelve knots, or naulical miles, per hour. ■.. - 2. That for the performance of the postal serrvice between Southampton and Alexandria three first-ickss steamships, of not less than 1250 tons burden, arid capable of still greater speed than the preceding', are required. • 3. That, understanding the European and Australian Royal Mail Company have joined the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, and that the contract entered into by the former for carrying the Australian mails is to be performed with the combined resources of both companies, a deputation from this association shall seek an interview with the directors of the said companies, and ascertain from thorn whether they are prepared to carry on the contract in compliance with the foregoing conditions. , . . i : 4. That, in the event of a sufficient guarantee, ■being; given that these conditions will be faithfully complied with and that no reasonable expense be spared to secure the efficient performance of the contract, this association will write to the Governments of the various Australian colonies, recommending them to take no steps on account of past neglect to terminate the existing contract. 5. That the hon. secretary send a copy of these resolutions to the chairman and directors of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, requesting them to appoint a day to receive the deputation. ■ (Signed) W. C. Wentworth, Chairman. James A. Youl, Hon. Sec.

The committee received a reply from the secretary'of the Royal Mail Company, stating that the directors would be happy to receive the deputation on the Ist of January; and, accordingly, the following gentlemen, W. C. Wentworth, Esq., Sir Charles Nicholson, William Westgarthj Esq., E. Stephens, Esq., J. A. You], Esq., A. L. Elder, Esq., — Tobias, Esq., H. G. Aslmrst, Esq., and F. A. Dv Croz, Esq., had an interview with the board. After some conversation, in'the course of which the directors gave a most explicit assurance that they would exert themselves to the utmost.'to carry out the service in an efficient manner, worthy of the great and rising importance of the intercourse between the mother-country and Australia, they stated that, as soon as possible, there would be five ships placed on the station between Suez and Australia, viz., the Victoria, Australasian, European, Columbian, and Emeu. The Victoria was taken up some time since to convey troops to India, and the Australasian has only recently left on the same service. Both of these vessels will, immediately on their being released from the Government service, be placed on the line between Suez and Melbourne. The directors, however, stated that they intended to place six boats on the line, as they felt that number to be absolutely necessary for the efficient execution of the service. We also understand that the committee of the General Association intend to recommend to the Legislatures of the various colonies the continuance of the contract to the Royal Mail Company. — Home Newsi Jan. 16.

The case of the Leviathan has drawn attention to former instances of architectural enterprise in the construction of marine prodigies; but the ancients seem to have cfilfte outdone all succeeding attempts —the Leviathan of 1858 alone excepted. Some of the galleys, from descriptions left us, were superb. Ptolemy Philopater had one built which was 420 feet long and 38 broad, and required % compliment of 40J0 rowers, 4000 sailors, and 300 soldiers; but that of Biero, constructed "By the-re-nowned Archimedes, consumed wood" enough to build 60 large galleys, and it was fitted up in a style that throws the most splendid of our vessels into a wide distance. There were not only banqueting rooms, galleries, baths, library, and a spacious gymnasium, furnished and finished with the most admirable skill and costly materials, with stables, fishponds, mills, and gardens, but there was a temple of Venus, fitted up in gorgeous style, the floors being inlaid with precious stones, the walls of cypress wood, ornamented with choice paintings and statues. The warlike appurtenances of this marine monster were on a corresponding scale of formidable grandeur. The vessel was surrounded by iron bulwarks like a rampart, massy, and strengthened with eight towers, from which missiles were discharged, and there were machines sufficiently powerful to project a stone 3031b. weight, or a dart 12 cubits (17| feet long, a distance of half a mile. It is not easy to conceive how this extraordinaiy galley was constructed, and so wondrous did her magnificence appear to an old wYiter that he devoted two volumes to the subject. Considering the great difficulties which have attended the launching of the Leviathan, with all our improvements in scientific and mechanical contrivances, it may be equally matter of surprise how this mass could have been propelled into her proper element.

The total number of emigrants who sailed from Liverpool for the American, Canadian, and Australian ports (including New Zealand) during the year just ended was upwards of 154,000, the total number of ships employed being 400, of an' aggregate tonnage of more than 500,000 tons. Of these between 230 and 240 ships have sailed during the year for the United States, carrying in all 97,594 passengers ; 150 ships have taken their departure for the Australian ports, with 51,243 passengers (including 400 to New Zealand); and 16 ships have sailed during the year for the Canadian ports, with about 6000 passengers on board. In the latter part of the year there has not only been a considerable falling off in the emigration to the United States^ but many of the old emigrants have returned to Liverpool, and either proceeded to Ireland or have taken passages to Australia.

A return was recently issued .to Parliament shewing the number of diays occupied by the Australian mails since February last, in each voyage out and home, se^ parating the position's of the route between Southampton and Alexandria from that between Suez and Melbourne; also a list of penalties .incurred by the European and Australian Royal Mail Company', by reason of non-arrival according to contract; and the amount already levied or deducted from the contractor's remuneration. It appears from this return that, of the four;outward mails, only one completed the voyage within the specified time—namely, the mail despatched in May last. The February mail was nine days twenty hours in excess, and the penalty The delay between landing this mail at Alexandria and reinibarkiny it at Suez was nineteen days, whereas the time allowed by the contract with the Gtovernment by the European and Australian Company was only.ftvo days and twelve hours. For this delay the Company had to pay a further penalty of £IGOO, making the total deduction from the contract allowance of ,£7708 6s, Bd. for the conveyance of the mail no .less than £3850. In the March mail the excess of time was ten ■days and one hour, and the abatement £2750; A further penalty in respect of the same mail to which, the company were liable, amounting to £137^, was remitted in consequence of the mail having been conveyed in the .Simla, one of the exceptional vessels allowed- by the contract. The excess in the April mail was only 19 hours, while in the May mail there was a saving of one day and ten hours. In the home-' ward mails the whole payment for the first or January mail, was absorbed by the penalty incurred by a' delay of forty-four days and four hours. In the February mail there was a saving of two hours, and in the March mail of one day and fifteen hours. In the April: mail there was a delay of four days and twentyone hours, and* an abatement of £500. In the May mail the delay was eleven days fourteen hours, and the abatement £2300; in the June mail the delay was fifteen days and twenty-one hours, and the abate* ment £6000;. in the July and last mail there was a delay of eight days and ten hours, for which-the company paid a penalty of £1800.•