A Colonial Navy, 81 



countries. The maximum of 4,000 tons named in the body of 

 this paper, would be better in the abstract than the size 

 adopted m the estimate, but it is doubtful whether the large 

 increase of cost, consequent upon such additional tonnage, 

 would not raise the bulk sum largely without affording 

 substantially a corresponding benefit. 



42. The experience of the past few years has fully demon- 

 strated the fact, that vessels of the class recommended can 

 be built to steam at rates equal to the greatest named, and 

 that the great ocean steam navigation companies have been 

 gradually, but steadily, increasing the tonnage and power of 

 their ships. 



43. The China, one of the Cunard fleet, built a little time 

 back, has a capacity of 2,750 tons, and engines of 560 horse- 

 power, and on trial steamed against a strong head wind 

 sixteen knots. Other vessels, under ordinary favourable 

 circumstances, have run their eighteen, nineteen, and 

 twenty knots. The above will serve to show that it is within 

 the limits of what has been done, to estimate that the pro- 

 posed line of ships can be built to run from seventeen to 

 eighteen knots, . and yet keep within the bounds of pru- 

 dence, and that it is no rash assumption that such ships can 

 and will make on an average from thirteen to fourteen knots 

 throughout the voyage. It is estimated that vessels of such 

 power and class would seldom, if ever, be in such gales as 

 would prevent their running at half-speed, and their mass 

 and build would neutralize dangers that would be fatal to 

 smaller vessels under similar conditions. 



44. It is now upwards of three months s*ince this paper 

 was first drafted and forwarded to Melbourne (4th July, 

 1862), but from some cause unknown to me, it has not 

 reached the Society. Since that period Messrs. Burstall and 

 Campbell's scheme, for 10,000 ton ships, has been laid 

 before the public, and commented on through the public 

 press, but although I have carefully consulted the reasons 

 advanced in favour of the larger sized ships, and the large 

 estimate for traffic, &c, &c, I have seen no reason for mate- 

 rially changing the views I had before expressed on the 

 subject. 



45. The amount of subsidy estimated will have to be 

 chiefly borne by Victoria, seeing that she would be princi- 

 pally benefited by the realization of the scheme, although it 

 is but reasonable to estimate a proportionate rate from each 

 sister colony, to the extent in which she would participate in 



G 



