PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
*
88
The service to be performed by five new vessels, to be specially constructed for the service, of great speed, and with the most approved passenger accommodation, so designed as to meet the requirements of the Admiralty for vessels to be placed upon the list of the Royal Naval Reserved Cruisers," thereby establishing upon the Pacific a fleet of splendid merchant cruisers, available for the use of the Empire in the event of war, and to develope commerce under the British flag in the Southern Pacific Ocean during times of peace.
Further, it is proposed that, as far as possible, the crews of the vessels shall consist of men of the Royal Naval Reserve.
By this route passengers would make the same through time as the mails, without extra cost, special trains running alongside the steamers at Vancouver and Halifax, or Quebec.
In the event of emergency such steamers could make the passage between Vancouver, which will always be in telegraphie communication with London, and Moreton Bay in 17 days.
It would be quite feasible, in the case of pressing necessity, to make through time of 27 to 28 days from England, whereas, in the event of the Suez Canal being blocked and unavailable, 3-4 days would be required to reach Australia via the Cape at an average speed throughout of 15 knots an hour with allowance of 24 hours for coaling.
No. 30.
A TABLE showing an Estimate of MAIL TIME between ENGLAND and AUSTRALIA, viâ BRINDIS: (NAPLES) and Suez, under proposed Contracts of 1888, as tendered for by the Peninsular and Oriental and the Orient Companies, and an Estimate of possible MAIL TIME between ENGLAND and AUSTRALIA, via CANADA, at the same period. MEMORANDUM circulated by CANAdian RepresentaTIVES.
-
56 hours, or 2 days 8 hours.
ESTIMATE OF TIME, ENGLAND to AUSTRALIA under (proposed) NEW SUEZ CONTRACT.
London to Brindisi or Naples - Brindisi to Adelaide, P. & (). Co. Naples to Adelaide, Orient Co.
or
London to Adelaide, P. & (). Co.
33
"
Orient Co.
-
32
11
32 days 12 hours.
34 days 20 hours.
31
8
39
11
Land carriage of the mails by Intercolonial Railway from Adelaide to Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Rail 30 miles per hour, and following detentions: Transfer at Adelaide (say) 3 hours; Melbourne, 1 hour; Sydney, 1 hour; each change of gauge 30 minutes.
Adelaide to Melbourne, including transfers Melbourne to Sydney
Sydney to Brisbane
"
19
490 miles = 20 hours.
570 726
"1
33
201 = 251
27
33
THROUGH TIME from LONDON in 1888.
99
Halifax to Vancouver, 3,660 miles at 30 miles
hour
per
Transfers (3 hours at cach end)
Vancouver to Brisbane (Moreton Bay)
122 hours or 5 days 2 hours.
"
-
6,510 knots.
A. at 15 knots = 434 hours or 18 days 2 hours. B. at 14 C. at 131
وو
23
= 456
"
19 20
2
J
"}
"
= 482
Detention at Honolulu (say) 6 hours.
Liverpool to Brisbane
*
11
or
-
""
-
A. 29 days 7 hours. B. 30 C. 32 "3
17
"
Brisbane to Sydney by rail at 30 miles per hour, distance 726 miles, with detention for transfer from steamer to rail (say) 6 hours
Brisbane to Sydney by sea at 14 knots per hour, distance 455 knots, with detention of steamer, Moreton Bay, 1 day
I day 6 hours.
= 2 days 8 hours.
A.
B.
Liverpool to Sydney via Brisbane and rail -
"
sex
30 days 13 hours 31
15
31 days 23 hours 33
33 days 10 hours
31
1
34
12
11
"
"
Sydney to Melbourne and Adelaide same time as by Suez route. COMPARISON ON ABOVE LINES via SUEZ and vià CANADA, 1888.
C.
From LONDON við Brindisi (Naples) and Suez.
From LIVERPOOL VIâ CANADA,
Το
P. & O. Co.
Orient. Co.
A.
B.
C.
Adelaide Melbourne
34 days 20 hours
34 days 8 hours
32 days 2 hours
33 days 12 bours
35
16
35
"
+
31
"
32
7
ER
34 days 23 hours
34
H
r1
Sydney
*
30
"
Brisbane
37
123 14
36
30
"
13
31
#7
"
37
2
11
29
30
1J
"
.:
23
33
10
"
17
32
4
31
Adelaide
Melbourne
Sydney
Brisbane
P. & 0. Co.
Orient Co.
34 days 20 hours
34 days 8 hours
35
16 19
"
35
+4
19
36
"
37
12} 14
36
11
>>
31
37
2 15
POSSIBLE SERVICE.
ENGLAND to AUSTRALIA viâ CANADA.*
Liverpool to Halifax
A. at 18 knots
139 hours or 5 days 15 hours.
B. at 17
C. at 16
33
-
2,500 knots.
147 156
"
6 6
3
17
21
22
12
"
""
• This table does not provide for détour und call at Fiji for New Zealand mails and passengers.
The Canadian Government have called for tenders for a new Atlantic service at 16, 17, and 18 knots
That an 18 knot service between England and Halifax per hour. is quite feasible has been proved by the average voyages of the fast Cunarders during the year 1886. Via Liverpool and Quebec the ocean distance is 210 miles longer, and the rail distance 586 miles shorter than via Liverpool and Halifax.
It is possible that the speed of 30 miles per hour would not be maintained upon the narrow gauge portions of the Intercolonial Railway in South Australia and Queens- land. If a special train should leave Brisbane upon arrival of the mails the 6 hours detention allowed could be no doubt lessened.
By the Suez route passengers can only make the mail time shown above by incurring the heavy extra expense of the rail journey to Brindisi or Naples. The majority accompany the steamers from Tilbury via the Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar. This necessitates, at present, 9 additional days at sea. would always, if they desired, travel with and make the same through time as the By the Canadian route passengers mails.
The Pacific voyage is made through, comparatively speaking, smooth waters with north-east and south-cast trade winds south of latitude 40 north, thence prevailing westerly winds. It will not consequently he difficult to maintain the speed here specified.
By making Moreton Bay the first port of arrival in Australia, the shortest possible Trans-Pacific voyage would be accomplished; mails would be delivered at the nearest point of the Intercolonial railway system, and the heavy westerly weather encountered frequently on the voyage between New Zealand and Sydney would be always avoided.
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A
$1431.
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