THE CALIFORNIAN MAIL SERVICE : WEBB'S LINE COMPARED WITH HALL'S.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 26 July 1871, Page 2

THE CALIFORNIAN MAIL SERVICE : WEBB'S LINE COMPARED WITH HALL'S.

[From the Southern Cross.] Much has been written respecting the merits of the two existing mail lines to England via San Francisco (viz, from Sydney via Fiji and Honolulu to San Francisco ; andfrom New Zealand via Honolulu to San Franoisco), and of the vessels employed therein. There are those who have no confidence in the American side-wheel vessels, asserting that in heavy weather, from their great beam and top hamper, they would be unable to make much, if any, headway against a strong gale. Proof haa been given by the Nevada and Nebraska that such is not the case. Both vessels on their last inward trips had to contend against very fierce gales for three or four days before making the New Zealand coast, and ye 1 ; they arrived here within contract time, and for comfort in all weuthers we havo the statements of the passengers that they have never been in better boats than those now employed in our mail service. During the time that the Australian steamers City of Melbourne and Wonga Wonga were running between Sydney, Auckland, and Honolulu with the mails, connecting at tho latter port wilh the Moses Taylor or Ajax, our readers will remember with what uncertainty the arrivals of these boats were looked for in this port. The average time occupied by them between Auckland and Honolulu was 18 or 19 days. There was also long detention in Honolulu of the con nccting vessels, in consequence of their outward trips being equally long. These vessels aro now employed by Mr Hall on his new route via Fiji and Honolulu from Sydney to San Francisco, but we notice with no better results as to punctuality than those engaged on the route via this port. The City of Melbourne, on her first trip, via Fiji, loft Sydney on May 4 ; Fiji (where she was only detained three or four hours) on the 12th ; Honolulu on the 27th ; arriving at San Fi-aucisco on the j 7th June, the passage from Sydney occupying j 34 days. The Wonga Wonga, the second boat, j left Sydney on Juno 1, at 4 p.m. ; Fiji on the | '. ' h ; and arrived at Honolulu on the 26th, at 5p.m., the passage from Sydney to Honolulu taking over 25 days. She left again for San Francisco next day, and, allowing 11 days for 'the passage, tho time occupied by tho City of Melbourne would make, 36 days for the entire journey. We will now give the time occupied by the American steamers to do the voyage from Sau Francisco to Auckland and Sydney via Honolulu, which tho Sydney people assert is the longest route, and it will be seen notwithstanding this that they do the journey in less time by several days. Tho only inference to be drawn from this fact is that the American side wheel steamers are fur superior in speed to the Australian boats, to say nothing of their accommodation. The pioneer boat of Mr Webb's line, the Nevada, left San Franj cisco on April 8, at 2 p.m. ; left Honolulu on the 18th at noon ; and arrived at Auckland on on May 4 at 12.50 p.m , after n passage of- 24 days 6 hours from San Francieco to Auckland. Adding 5£ days for her passage to Sydney, would give 30 days for the trip ; four days less than the time occupied by tho City of Mcli bourne to San Francisco via Fiji, from Sydney. | The Nebraska will, however, serve as a better illustration of tho superiority of thete boats, as she proceeded to Sydney from this port. She left San Faancisco on May 6, at noon, ! Honolulu on the 15th, and arrived at Auckland on the 31st at 7 a.m. ; left again on June 1, and arrived at Sydney on the sth Juno, at I 8.30 p.m. ; aftor a passage of 28 days 6 hours from San Francisco to Sydney, or 6 days under the time occupied by the City of Melbourne's trip as given above. The Nebraskt left Sydney again on June 10, at 2 30 a.m., and Auckland on the 16th, arriving at Honolulu on July 1, at 8.30 a.m., 21 days (5 hours from Sydney. The Wonga Wonga, to go from Sydney to Honolulu via Fiji, occupied 25 days, or over 3.V days longer than the Nebraska. Thus both ! on the outward and the inward trips have the American steamships proved that the route via Auckland and Honolulu from Sydney to San I Francisco can be done in less time by them than by tho Australian bouts via Fiji and Honolulu. That the City of Melbourne and Wonga Wonga are first-class steamers tbero is not the slightest doubt, but that they are unfit for the long voyages on which they are now employed has been very clearly shown. They wore not intended for such voyages when built, but only for the coastal trade of Australia for which they have no equal in the colonies Their carrying capacity for coals is so small that little or no room is left for cargoes, and on the City's trip from San Francisco wo notice that a quantity of her cargo had to be sold at Honolulu, being damaged by sab water.