'The following extract from the Hong: kong Daily Pross" of the 2nd inst. shows that the P. & 0, Cor' is beginning to'realiso the importance of the passenger traffic to the Far'East:—
Tt will be "noticed with great satisfaction,-by: British residents especially, that the 'Company is pitting oit -the "run' to Colombo new steeniers' of 7,000: afd 8,000 tons. 'The Arcadia,' ' Doitgols;- Delhi, Delts;-Ocoana; iand Devanha ate in' the lint of versals to leave during: February, March} snd: April "next; and' theso'will connect at Colombo with' the ° larger steamers "of the: Company "homeward bound from Australi An Exchange says:—"The ' latest Additions to-the P: &-O."fivet' aré- of special-interest to'Buropéan' residents in the 'Far Hast" One' ofthe! last,'-is the Mooltan. She isa replica "of the *Mol: davie' class; but'-with'*certain'"iniprov ments in various ways, which: the exporionco'of Ythevlast yost"or'two-has shown to.be possible. Tho- construction. of five vessels of this type, at a cost nearly approaching two millions sterling, is only a further proof of energy on the part of the Company, which but recently placed five or six steamers of the Persia class on their Eastern-line:
"Although the 'M? class, as the Mooltans are usually described, have a tonnage nearly 2,000 tons above that of the Persias they do not carry a greater number of passengers, and: this arises from the fact that these new steamers have no lower deck accommodation. All their eabiue ar deck, 20 that cabin ports, whether in the first or second class, never' require to be closed unless in exéeptionilly severe weather, The second-diss accommédation being thus entirely on. them latter also show a great stride beyond tle designs of former ships by the Large proportion of passengers who can be berthed on the upper decks in cabins which never require to be shut on account of bad weather.
"Four other new vessi will soon 9p; the Delta, Dongola, and Devanha, and they ate intetided to: carry on local Bombay and" C! Servi Tu some respects they may be con oven more luxurious ax passenger than the 'M? class, for they only carry half the number of passengers, and their cabiriis are therefore entirely on the upper dock. Neither first nor second-class cabins are tobe found even on tle main deck, and the coolness and sjiacioustiess of the accomthodstion are ensured by the great' beam of these all the cabins being what' are called ones. 'The Bist of these vessels was bitilt will make -her appearance in Bombay Harbour in' November, and in Colombo oarly in Deceriber, on her maiden voyage to China.
Four other vessels of a type closely esombling the ' D' class contracted for, atfc'tlioy wil under the letter 'N,' as th Nile, Note, and: Nyanga.' They -are fended for the, Company's intermediate between London, China, and Japan} which'has been for -a good muir years carried out as'a'direot and: independent service, apart altogether: from.: the'work under the Mi contract. The building programme of the Company has, in throo years, totalled up the-formidable sum-of nearly four millions sterling, inclusive of the cost of certain. cargo steamers not included in the - above summary."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.