Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Saturday 24 October 1885, page 2


ARRIVAL OF THE R.M.S. IONIC.

This fine passenger steamer, which flies the house flag of the Shaw Savill and Albion Co., came into port at 8.30 a.m. yesterday from London, via tho Cape and Tenneriffe. The Ionic's passage has been a fair average one, viz., 39 days 7 hours 12min. The voyage on the whole has been a remarkably fine-weather one, and taking advantage of this the pas-engers throughout the trip indulged in high jinks in the shape of balls, parties, and the usual shipboard sports. One fancy dress ball that was given on board was a genuine suc-cess, and completely outshone anything of the kind that had ever before taken place on the steamer. There were o less than 66 different characters represented, and, to use the words of the chief officer, some of the dresses were simply indescribable. One birth took place on the voyage, and the cup that cheers was pretty freely circulated by those

who had an interest in common with the ocean-born. The Ionic landed 123 passengers here, 43 of whom were for Hobart, 8 for Launceston, 53 for Melbourne, and 19 1/2 for Sydney. Besides these she had 53 cabin and 180 steerage passengers for New Zealand ports. Tho Ionic left Plymouth at 1.47 p.m. on 12th September, and had fresh westerly winds and heavy swell across the Bay of Biscay. From thence to Teneriffe had light winds and fine weather. Teneriffe was reached at 3 p.m. on 17th September. Took in bunker coals there and left at 12.10 a.m. on the 18th. Moderate tradewinds and fine weather were experienced down to tho Cape, which was reached on 3rd inst., at 11 p.m., the passage up to this point taking 20 days 22 hours and 37min. Left Cape Town at 1.30 p.m. on the 4th, and ex-perienced fine weather and moderate breezes until passing tho Crozets. From thence till the 18th had fresh breezes and southerly swell. On the 18th a S.W. gale made things uncomfortable, ship rolling very much. Sighted the Tasmanian coast at 9.45 p.m. on the 22nd, and Bruny light at 2 a.m. yesterday. Took the pilot on board at 6.40 a.m., arriving in the Cove as above. The Ionic took in 250 tons of coal here, and left for New Zealand ports at 6 p.m. With re-spect to the coaling facilities. Captain Cameron desires us to intimate, for quick despatch, the system now in vogue here can-not well be eclipsed. The officers of the vessel are precisely the same as on the last trip. We are indebted to Mr. Lindsay, the second officer, for late files of English

papers.