458 STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN 



under the command of Captain F. P. Blackwood, 

 arrived at Sydney on the 10th of October, whilst we 

 were there, and sailed soon after our departure, to 

 commence tracing the outer Barrier Reefs, a service 

 attended with no ordinary risk, but whicb has been 

 happily completed, and a beacon erected to shew 

 vessels the best entrance, without a mishap. 



Since the early part of this work was written this 

 valuable addition to the survey of New Holland has 

 induced an enterprising master of a merchant vessel 

 to try the eastward passage through Torres Strait. 

 As a proof of the practicability of this route I may 

 state, that the above vessel passed through Torres 

 Strait in January, went to Sydney, and returned for 

 another cargo to Bally town, in Alias Strait, by the 

 May following. This passage, an account of which 

 has been published in the Nautical Magazine, was 

 made through the Barrier Reef by Captain Black- 

 wood's Beacon on Raines Islet ; but as this is out of 

 the limits of the westerly monsoon, a better passage, 

 doubtless, would have been effected by following a 

 more northerly route, as recommended by Captain 

 Blackwood.* 



With reference, however, to the anticipated steam 

 communicationt between India and Australia, which 



* See "Nautical Magazine," for December, 1845. 



f Steam communication between Sydney and Singapore 

 would require three vessels of six hundred tons, one of wliich 

 should leave Sydney and Singapore on the 1st of each month. 

 Their engines should be of 200 horse-power, and furnished with 



