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FAST OCEAN TRAVELLING.
MAILS FRON LONDON IN TWENTY-
EIGHT DAYS.
ARRIVAL OF R.M.S. BRITANNIA.
Tbo R.&LS. Britannia, of tho F. and O. line,
htLB coraploted tiie fastest passage ever made
from London vid Colombo to Australia, deliver
ing mails dated London, 25th March, in Mel
bourne on 23rd April, This is the best per-
formance of any mail boat over the samo
distance, and nil on board, from the commander,
Captain Orman, down, are naturally proud of
their connection with what is claimed to be "tho
fastest ship in the world." The Britannia on
her first voyage to Australia did so well that
thnt proud title was claimed for her, but tbo
honor was disputed by tho Orient Company's
mail steamer Ormuz, which landed her mails at
Adelaide on a Thursday and reached Melbourne
on a Friday evening Tho Orient Company's
steamer, however, did not call at Colombo, so
that the F. and O. Company's route was 330
miles longer, and it was claimed that, had the
Britannia followed the same course as the
Ormuz, she would have landed her mails in less
time than the Orient .vessel. Since then the
Orient Company have included Colombo in
their outward ports of call, so that
tho rival companies now bring their
mails out under similar conditions. Up
to tho time the Orient Company's now
steamer Ophir put in an appearance in the Aus
tralian trade, both companies have apparently
been satisfied to allow the dispute as to tho
respective merits of their steamers to remain
undccied, but with the advent of the Ophir
with her twin screws and powerful machinery,
tho F.'&nd O. Company evidently thought it
time to rouse themselves and look to their
laurels. The Britannia followed the Ophir on
her first voyage, but tho new vessel's machinery
did not work well, ro her arrival at Melbourne
only two days before tho Britaunia did not
causo much comment. The Ophir completed her
second voyage last week, but although she niado
a fast passage she did not approach tho record
made by the Ormuz. Whether the P. and O.
Company thought the new vessel would be let
out on her second voyage it is impossible to Bay,
but the manner in which the Britannia has been
driven would lead to that conclusion. The rate
at which the Britannia has travelled over such
a long distance speaks volumes for her ma
chinery nnd tho engineers who have worked it.
The steamer left London on the 18th Maroh,
And picked up the mails at Brindtsi at 1.18 a.m.
on 28th March. The race against time then
commenced, and on tbe run to Fort Said
a speed of 16£ knots was main
tained. Theace to Colombo the b&tne
speed was made. From Colombo on tbe run to
Albany strong S.E. trades and bead seas pre
vailed, but in the face of these disadvantages a
speed of 16 knots was maintained. From Albany
to Adelaide the steamer did 16£ knots, and
from Adelaide to Melbourne 16£ knots. The
mails reached Albany 24 days 17 hours out from
London, aud Adelaide 27 days 13 hours out.
They were there put into a train, and
reached Melbourne 17 hours later. Tho
actual time tho mails wore on board the steamer
was 25 days 7 hours. This includes all
stoppages, but the aotual steaming time of the
ship from Brindisi to Adelaide was only 22 days
23 hours and 25 iniuutes. The deck officers
with Captain Orman this voyage are the same
as were with him before. The chief engineer,
Mr. JVL Gattreil, and his second, Mr. L&psley,
are perhaps the proudest men in the ship ; for
no matter how clever the navigating offioers
may be, it rests principally with the engineers
to make the passage a success or not. Although
the ship has been pressed, the welfare of the
passengers has not been neglected, and various
sports were held on the voyage. Mr. Bucklaod
is still purser, and has with him as chief steward
Mr. Groeu, who was formerly in the Oceana.
The official import of the passage is as follows
Left London - on l£ch March, and had fine
weather 'as far as Lisbon. Theuce to Gib
raltar a heavy easterly gale was encountered.
Gibraltar was readied at 8.50 p.m. on 22nd
March, and left at 10,16 p.m. Malta was
reached at 7.58 p.m. on 25th March, and left at
7.18 o.ra. the next Jay. She arrived at Brin
disi at 9.43 a.m on 27th March, aud hod to wait
until 1.18 a.m. on 28th March for the mails.
On leaving BrindiKt a oouhc was steered inside
the Ionian Islands, and the passengers had a
i good view of the Greek coast und tho islands of
Cdphalonia, and Znntc. Port Said was reaohed
at 229 p.m. on 30th March, and loft at 5.10
p;m. The piwsuge of 47 miles through tho canal
occupied nearly 19 hours, Suez not being reached
untii XL33a.m. on 31st March. Sho sailed at
12,30 pJm.nd arrived at Aden at 11.54 p.m. on
3rd April. left at 6.30 a.m. on 4th April
for Colombo, whoro she arrived at 7.50 p.m. on
9fch. The Britu"ni:a sailed again at 0.30 p.m.
on 10th, and after' -ccossing the equator had to
contend againRt strj liead winds und seas
up to Albany, arriving fcjmro a 1-28 a.m. on
19th April. Sho was do.'yd thoro tm
p.m., and made a fast run of £5 hours to Ade
laide, where sho arrived on FritO morning.
She sailed for Melbourne at 3.15 p. nf. Bftme
day, and entered Fort Phillip Hends at d o'clock
on Saturday night. Tho ship was boarded .at
sea by Pilot Russell, who iB to be complimented
on the way he brought the vessel along. Tbe
night was very dark and the channels
narrow, but ho steamod her to Hobson'rf
Bay at a speed of over 17 knots an
hour, reaching the anchorage at 10.15 p.m. It
w&s thought that tho ship would anchor in the
Bay till daylight, as ono of the Harbor Trust
dredges was in tlio fairway ; but the pilot, with
\Vhe assistance of Captain M'Meikan, of the tug
Albatross, performed the difficult feat of berth
ing the huge vessel at the railway pier, Foci
Melbourne, without aocident. Tho BritanniA
will resume her voyage to Sydney at 11 p.m. to
day.
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