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Star (Christchurch), Issue 107, 16 September 1868, Page 2

The favourite steamsliip Albion, formerly belonging to the now defunct Otago Steam Shipping Company, and purchased by the Messrs Hoyt and Captain A. M'Kinnon, arrived at Yokohama, Japan, from Sydney via the Fijis, on the 16th of June, after a remarkably fine passage of 35 days, including three days' stoppage at the Fijis. From private correspondence we are enabled to glean that the greater portion of the passage was made with one boiler, and that her consumption of fuel only averaged fourteen tons of coal per daj r . On arrival, coal was worth £3 10s per ton, and she had 250 tons left. A large number of steamers were in the Japan waters, but none equal to the Albion. The latest dates are to the 18th of July, up to which time the Albion was still lying at Yokohama without a purchaser, although advantageous offers had been made for her. Her passengers were very much disappointed with the place, owing to the ports not being opened and safe ; as fighting is still going on and no stable Governmeut rule, they could get nothing to do. So far as the country was concerned, nothing could excel it in beauty and fertility ; but only a few miles could be traversed iuland in safety, as the natives thought nothing of cutting one's head off if an encroachment wa.s made upon their lands. Also, if a foreigner did not make obeisance to the Daimios, he was liable to be cut down. Only for the presence of a number of English, French, American, and Dutch men-of-war, the safety of Europeans would be in danger. On the passage from the Fijis, a number of shoals and islands were discovered to be incorrectly laid down in the charts. — Otago Daily Time-, Sept. 12.