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