JN70/18

Letter to H C Janes from Mr Sam Hunt, "Hazeldene", Fortescue Road, Paignton, Devon. Regarding proposed world tour.

13 November 1937

From: 1937 To: 1937

Thanks for yours of the 8th inst., I do hope you will be able to join us, as a congenial companian is a great assest on these long trips. With regard to your enquiries I have pleasure in replying as follows - (No1) - The fare for a 1st class round trip would be approximately £200-. This provides for single berth cabins from London to Sydney, and Auckland to Vancouver. Also 1st class rail travel across Canada, and cabin class Montreal to England. (No2) - I find that the Orient Line is the best line to travel to Sydney by. All their vessels burn oil, and no Lascars are employed. Probably you confused the Orient Line with the P&O (Pensinsular & Orient) Lascars are employed in this line. (No3) - The Orient boats run to Sydney in forty days. The voyage between Sydney & Wellington takes about four days. As you will see by enclosed Canadian Pacific timetable, the time taken between Auckland and Vancouver is eighteen days. Rail Journey between Vancouver and Montreal takes four days, and N. Atlantic crossing about eight days, ie that is a total of seventy four days. The Otranto sails from Tilbury on the 12th March and is due to arrive at Sydney April the 21st. The Aorangi sails from Auckland for Vancouver on May 17th. So this would allow of twenty two days being divided between Austrailia and New Zealand, ie discounting the four days travel between Sydney and Wellington. We should see quite a good bit of the interesting part of Austrailia before reaching Sydney, as facilities are given to passengers for going ashore at Freemantle (for Perth), Adelaide and Melbourne. There are several good points of interest within easy reach if Sydney (Blue Mountains and the famous Jenolan Caves etc), and I would suggest a week be spent at Sydney, and the remainder of the time (15 days) in New Zealand. The principal points of interest in New Zeland are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and the Boiling Springs of Rotorua, the wonderful Waitomo Caves (lit up by glow worms), Mount Cook and the Fox Glacier. I think we should have ample time to visit these places of interest in fifteen days. Thus, the total time taken for the trip would be 40 x 4 x 26x 18 x 4 x 8 = a total time of 100 days, or three months ten days. If we added another week for visiting Niagra and New York the total time taken by the trip would be three months seventeen days. We could see if this could be managed when we reached Montreal. If the later trip is taken we should arrive home about June 24th, but it cut out, for another occasion, about June 17th. I may say that I have decided to go first class throughout, as I fnd that the difference between a good Tourist class and first class is not very great. I do not know what the incidental expenses will amount to, my limit will be £300-. but I expect to do it on much less that this, as the English £ is worth about 25/- in Austrailia and New Zealand, which is all to the good. With regard to the Ports of Call London to Sydney, I understand that facilities are given to passengers to visit Gibraltar, Toulon, Naples, Port Said, Suez and Aden. As regards Colombo, two days are usually spent there to allow the passengers to make the trip to Kandy, a night being spent at the latter place. For further infomation I would suggest you see Mr Hampton, Orient Line, 5 Fenchurch Avenue, London, EC, who would furnish you with a place of the Otranto, and other informative matter relating to the trip.If you subsequently decide to take the trip I will send you a list of things required on the trip. It would be advisable to book the single cabins London to Sydney, as early as possible, as there is a limited number and the Agent says there is bound to be a rush on them after Xmas. I would suggest that I choose a couple of suitable cabins close together, for us both without delay. A deposit of about £25-. each would have to be paid, but the Agent assures me that, If through any mischance either, or both of is, cannot take the trip the money will be refunded. Kindly reply at your earliest. Kindest regards Sam

2

item

Janes, Herbert Charles,
Hunt, Samuel,
Orient Line,
P & O,
Canadian Pacific Railway Company

CORRESPONDENCE, holidays, civil ships, RMS Otranto, Aorangi, railways, Luton New Bedford Road, LUTON, Paignton, Australia, Australia Sydney, Adelaide, Australia Melbourne, USA, New York City, Canada, Montreal, British Columbia Vancouver, New Zealand, New Zealand Wellington, Auckland Region, London, Gibraltar, Port Said, Aden, Naples, Aden