THE VOYAGE OF THE S.S. AUSTRAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4429, 5 July 1882, Page 2

THE VOYAGE OF THE S.S. AUSTRAL.

Though of about the same tonnage as her forerunner, tbe Orient, the Austral is amuoh faster vessel, bhe can easily maintain a speed ot 16$ knots per hour, and her maiden passage from England to Australia has boon the fastest yet recorded. Bhe left London on May 20, called at Plymouth and Haples. and reached Port. Said on tho morning of tfce3>th. She was piloted through the <-.inal with little difficulty, but "blocks" delayed hu>- arrival at Sues till 7 o'clock in the evening of the 3 ■ r.«. In consequence of the difficulty of coaling at Aoon she did not leave that port til] June 7. Notwithstanding adverse currents encountered in crossing »&e Indian Ocean and exceptionally heavy aaas, raised by the south-west monsoons, the Austral, during the tan tram Aden to Melbourne— Adelaide was not called at— averaged 345 miles pec day. The vessel would have reached Melbourne on Saturday, but for the fact that winds and ourrenta were against her. Howsver, 32) days' steaming time from Plymouth Sound, or a voyage of a little over 36 days, including all detentions, is a unique performance, and sufficiently establishes the repute of the Austral aa a fast vesseL— Melbourne Argus.