REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTER-PROVINCIAL COMMUNICATION.

Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1856 Session I

1 8 5 6.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTER-PROVINCIAL COMMUNICATION.

EXTRACTS FROM THE YOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Votes, No. 14, Friday, Mat 9, 1856. 8 " . C ?™ ica *'° n ~~ m - Em ° tt > pursuant to notice, moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the most efficient mode of maintaining a rapid and frequent comTmmication between all the Provinces of the Colony, and that subcommittee conslstof \ 3r " a ? an^ eW ' C " Brown, Mr. Graham, and the mover! xCeport to be brought up this day fortnight. Question put and passed. Votes, No. 24, Feidat, Mat 23, 1856. 10. Inter-Provincial Communication Committee:—On motion of Mr. Elliott Chairman of this Committee, the time for the Report of the Committee was extended to this'day Sgbt Votes, No. 33, Feidat, Jiora 6, 1856. 16 ' fcWl Communication Mr. Fitzherbert brought up the Report of the Committee on oridenS ™ <I ° r< " i " id bC pri ° M ' t08etl « ** «■»

D.—No. 14.

REPORT.

The Select Committee of the House of Representatives, appointed May 9th, 1856, to consider th e most efficient mode of maintaining a rapid and frequent communication between all the Provinces of the Colony, report as follows :— The Committee appointed on the subject of steam communication between the different Settlements have taken the evidence of the following persons, viz., Messrs. Mailler, Milton, and Deck. Their own enquiries, added to the information thus obtained by them, have strongly impressed the Committee with the necessity that increased efforts should be made by the Government to render the . communication by steam between the several Provinces more efficient both as to speed and regularity. They are further of opinion that the present is a very favourable opportunity for carrying the above obiect into effect; in support of which opinion they particularly desire to draw the attention of the House to the evidence of Captain Mailler, the whole of whose statements indeed appear to the Committee worthy of particular attention. The Committee definitely recommend that the Government should immediately advertise m the neighbouring Colonies for two steamers, of power, respectively, equal to that of the S.S."A\ illiam 1 enny, and offer a united bonus of £8000 for their services in maintaining a communication between the provinces, including Otago, in accordance with the route-arrangements suggested in the evidence ot laptam .Mailler appended hereto. WILLIAM FITZHERBERT, Chairman.

3

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE INTER-PROVINCIAL COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE.

EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN MILTON. Wednesday. 28th May, 1856. Zealand' for fw ™ T** / the " Zingar i " steamor ' bave beGn 011 the coas t of New Otago ?-Yes g ' m ac l uamted witb all the P°between Manukau and iK o b Ln P ° SSi^ e t0 r^ tain . a communication, with one steamer, between Jianukau and Otago, calling at the intermediate ports of New Plymouth, Nelson, Wellington ana Lyttelton, both going and returning, provided that a detention of not more than twenty four hours was allowed m any one port ?—lt would be possible to make two trips a month calling It the oflLaiSgwidTS a dGte ? ion ° f A feW V,T ° nly to ° k Plaoe ia ea ° h P° rt T ' he actual time 3KiSf m yS ' T VT ld tw ' ont days for detention in harbour, adanted for Ihe Wp Jof the coastmg traffic of New Zealand, what size vessel would be best adapted tor the trade; and what power should she possess to enable her to make say twenty two trips in the year, calculating that two trips would bo lost in making repairs &c >—I think that i vessel of 350 tons register would be large enough, because she would not £ required to caSy carJ she ought to be guaranteed to ran eight knots an hour. q t0 Caily Cargo ' whichTuch ™s° P l j »hn^ State - t0 t ?° C r mi l tee . w}lat ' in s" our °P inion ' sh ™ld be the probable bonus t0 entCl ' ° n SUdl an undertaking ?-I should think r ±10 '° 00 . a J™*! but I think that an arrangement might be made by the owners to run C tl' S uaran teemg a fixed interest on the capital advanced AW I" Col ' ,nlal Secretary.—Wwt is at present the average stay of the " Zin-ari "in each nort ? -About three days m each port, with the exception of Taranaki 1 .» ioS'C wlS?' *"" " Zi ° g ™ *-T «* i I think about rix knots 11,0 ®f eed ™BM,8 M , b0 ™reaMd>-]!y the substitution of u new boiler her entered into for lis thl P t0 m alterati ° n UnIeSS lllCre Was a contract

4

13. By Mr. Graham.—Could you suggest any improvements for landing passengers and goods at any of the ports ?—Vessels cannot get further up than the White Bluff in the Manukau. If a jetty of about 500 feet was made at the White Bluff, it would be very convenient for landing passengers and goods; at present there is a great want of some accommodation of that sort. In the event of not heing able to procure the necessary accommodation, a landing place at Onehunga would be of great service. 14. Could you state the average number of passengers you carry?—I could not do so without going through all the agents' books ; but I think about ten cabin and six steerage passengers would be about the average. 15. What would be the charges for the trip to Otago and hack?—£3o; £15 there and the same back again.

EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN DECK. Friday, 30th May, 1856. 1. Tou were for some time, I believe, the commander of the Colonial Government brig Victoria," and sailed in her altogether several years ?—I was chief officer four years, and commander five years, of lI.M. Colonial brig "Victoria." 2. As this long service on the coast of the Colony must have made you well acquainted with the prevailing character of the weather experienced there, will you state your opinion whether quick passages could be relied upon to be made between Manukau and Otago, and the ports of the inter- • remediate Provinces, by smart sailing schooners ?—Quick passages eould not be relied upon if sailing •vessels of any description were employed, unless there were several of them—say two between each Province, one going and one coming; each of these vessels would cost from £800 to £1000 per annum. The coast of New Zealand is a very stormy one; and a vessel sailing from Auckland to Otago, calling at each of the intermediate ports, would have to alter her course to every point of the compass ; the longest run she could make on one course not exceeding 300 miles, i.e., from Cape Maria Van Dieman to Cape Egmont. Not the slightest dependence as to time could be placed upon them, if they had to .start from or come into the Manukau. 3. Are you sufficiently acquainted with the harbour of Manukau to be able to state whether sailing vessels experience any considerable detention in entering and leaving that port ?—Vessels are frequently actained at the Manukau for five or six days, in consequence of the prevailing westerly winds on that coast; the "Zingari" was onee detained there eight days, .in consequence of the heavy sea rolling on the bar. 4. What is the character of the ports of Nelson, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Otago, in respect of facilities of ingress and egress for sailing vessels, in all states of the weather?— The harbour of Nelson can be entered with the flood tide with any wind except a south-easter, or a heavy north-easter, which winds seldom blow there", it is a difficult harbour to get out of, especially in south-west winds, when vessels are frequently detained there three or four days together, Wellington is a very fine harbour when once in it; but one of the most difficult in New Zealand for vessels to get in or out of—the wind always blowing either in oV out of the entrance. I have frequently, when in the "Victoria," coming from the northward, been inside the outer rock of Barrett's Reef, but owing to the strong winds have been unable to carry sufficient sail to beat to windward, and have in consequence been driven out to sea for two or three days together; it has on two or three occasions taken me longer to get from Cape Palliser to Wellington, a distance of thirty-eight miles, than it has from Auckland to Cape Palliser, a distance of 400 miles. Vessels cannot heat out of Port Nicholson in strong south-easterly weather, which is prevalent in the winter months. Lyttelton is the easiest port in New Zealand for ingress or egress. Otago is a bar harbour, but the bar seldom breaks ; the channel up to the port is very narrow and intricate; vessels can rarelv leave on the day appointed; I was detained there in the brig five days, in conscquence of adverse winds, the pilot not being able to take the vessel over the bar. 5. What, in your opinion, would be the average time of passage for clipper sailing vessels between all the ports named respectively, including calls at New Plymouth ?—Supposing a sailing vessel able to leave Manukau, I should say the average passages would be as follows:— Manukau to New Plymouth 2 to 3 days. New Plymouth to Nelson 2 to 5 days. Nelson to Wellington 3 to G days. Wellington to Lyttelton 2 to 5 days. Lyttelton to Otago 3 to 4 days. But it is almost impossible to speak with any degree of accuracy, as the winds are so variable; by referring to the appended scale it will be seen the various passages the " Victoria" made during the seven years, I was in her up to July, 1853 ; the last two years log book I am unable to refer to, as it is at Nelson. I should say a steamer like the one I have recommended below would make the entire trip, calling at all the ports, including stoppages, in all weathers, in thirty days. 6. Are you practically acquainted with steam vessels; and it so, will you state your opinion of the relative advantage of a powerful steamer and a clipper sailing vessel, as vessels for maintaining a rapid and regular communication between the ports of the various Provinces of the Colony ?—I have never served in steamers, but have frequently been in them, both at home and in New Zealand. I have a sufficient knowledge of the marine engines to know if anything is wrong in the working of them.

5

I should say a wooden steam vessel of 400 tons, with engines of 80 or 100 horse power, schooner rigged, witli three masts, would be ihe best description of vessel for the coast of New Zealand ; the above is considerably more power than is usually given to vessels of such tonnage ; but when the heavy winds and strong tides ot' Cook's Straits are taken into consideration, I do not think less power would enable her to make head way against them; if economy is to be considered, I should give it in favour of clipper schooners. 7. Will you state any suggestions you may have to offer to this Committee on the best mode, in your opinion, of maintaining such a communication ?—I would recommend that a steamer of 400 tons, and 100 horse power, should be procured. The vessel, I think, should be Government property, and carry nothing but passengers, mails, and light packages. Such a vessel, with her expenses, would cost as follows : — Cost of a Steamer of 400 tons, Avith engines of 100 horse power £18,000 Wear and tear, 5 per cent 900 Insurance 900 Interest 900 £20,700 Commander's pay, per month £25 Chief Officer 16 Second ditto 10 First Engineer per month 26 Second Engineer, per month 15 Four Firemen, at £12 per month 48 Eight Men, at £8 04 Two Boys, at £3 6 <:,J ok 12 Steward 11 "Wages per month £233 "Wages per annum £2796 Victualling £800 A vessel of this description would burn, say ten or ttvelve tons of coals per day—lB days under steam per month, which would give 216 tons per month; at £2 per ton—£432 per month for coals; —per annum .... £5184 Cost of oil and tallow, per annum 00 Sundry ship's stores, sails, &c , ' ' ggg Cost per annum. PaSI TBT I S l° h ? VeSS fI ' •° uld Probably carry per month would be about 60, which, at ° f f 7 head, would give £420 per month, or £5040 per annum, independent of the &c i f I pa f a f es of the G °vernors, Members of the General Assembly, Judges, mvn So cWpr actual cost per annum to about £4000. If each Province was to have its fff 0110 leaym S. eacl ? of tlle P ort s for the other on fixed days ( wind and weather lUt e'l S™"™. I'''™1'''™' 1 C ""° lbUry ' ™ d "o effected at a cost

RETURN shewing the longest, shortest, and average Passages, made by H. M. Colonial Brig "Victoria," between the various Ports in New Zealand, from January, 1846, to July, 1853, inclusive.

PHILIP A. DECK.

No. of Passage?, Longest Pass. Shortest Pass. Average Pass. Prom Auckland to Wellington 20 19 6 days. 11 days. „ Wellington to Auckland. ... 17 22 6 U „ Nelson to "Wellington 16 7 1 4 " Wellingtcn to Nelson 19 10 16 hours. 31 „ Wellington to Port Cooper. . . 6 7 3 davs 4 » Port Cooper to Wellington... 6 11 3 5 ,, Auckland to New Plymouth. . 4 11 7 jq ,, New Plymouth to Auckland. . 3 9 5 7

6

EXAMINATION OP CAPTAIN MAILLER. Saturday, 31st Mat, 1856! IBu the Chairman.—What class of vessel would be best suited for the traffic between the Provinces ?—An iron screw steamer of about 300 tons register and 80 horse power would be the best 2. What would be the average speed of such a vessel ?—Her speed would be about 8} or 9 knots an "T rXrJaTvefsroTthe above description that could be obtained in the other Colonies Yes' the " Lady Bird, Black Swan," and "Royal Shepherdess." These vessels were lately advertised for sale by auction, and in all probability either one or the other of them could Je procuxed. 4. By Mr. Fitzherbert.—What bonus would the owners of those vessels be disposed to take ?— F T Which of those" vesselTdo you consider the best suited ?—The "Lady Bird" would be the one'l should recommend. She has an average speed of ten knots, and has not been employed tor some time. r> Wbat number of cabin passengers would she carry ? —About 50 cabin passengers. 7. Do you think there would be sufficient traffic for two steamers ?— I do; I think every fortnight greater expense in having two steamers ?—No; two steamers might be °1 Ys\h° r it on°the supposition that they should belong to the same company ?—Yes. 10 Sunnosing there were two steamers employed, how would you propose that they should run . The best arrangement would be for the steamers to start from Wellington, one northward and the oth lT mSe would the trips take, supposing the vessels to start from Wellington ?_The trip could hp made in 14 days, provided that she could take in all her coals at Wellington. . . 12 Could there be any means of maintaining a regular postal communication with the neighbouring Colonies ?-A could be maintained with respect to postal communication in connection with the ncighbourin Col t^eMaiiukaii of much hindrance to steamers of the tonnage vessei of the power I have described would be able to take the bar at a time when one of the size of the "Zingari" would not.