FROM NEW YORK DIRECT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15156, 21 December 1914, Page 8

FROM NEW YORK DIRECT.

THE LORD ERNE AT LYTTELTON. The arrival of the steamer Lord Erne at Lyttelton, yesterday afternoon, marked an event of considerable importance in shipping matters, the vessel being the first to come to Lyttolton through the Panama Canal, and probably the first to come from New York direct. The Parley, which was at Lyttelton on the 2nd instant, was ■ actually' the fiiet steamer using tho new route to call at Lyttelton, but she mado Auckland her firat port, of call in the Dominion. The opening of the Canal_ hae caused the different companies participating in the American-Austra-lasian trade to alter their . itinexariee, and where Now Zealand porUs _ were previoaely made the final port' for discharging • operations they will in future bo toucbod at before those in Auetralia. ■

Captain Unwany who -ie milking hie first' vieit to the Dominion, stated that the Lord Erne left New York on November 3rd, and arrived at Colon, Panama Canal, on the 11th. A stop of two days was made for bunkering purposes, the etoamer then entering the Panama Canal by means of the locks which, raise 'vessels to the level'of-the lake. In ordinary circumstances, the journey from ocean to ocean should be made m about twelve m fourteen hours,, but, on account of a landslip in the famous Culebra. cut, the trip occupied' three days, the veaeel being held up for thie time until the channel was dredsred sufficiently deep to. allow her continuing to Balbon, at the Pacific end of the waterway. A further delay of about forty minutes wae occasioned by stranding in the channel that had. juat been dredged, but the vee»l wae ultimately towed off without mishap. ■ Captain TJnwaa was of the opinion that the Culebra Cut wou'd always bo a 6ource of trouble, ac tne huleon either eide se*m to bo continually eliding into the Canal. He thought also ihat the waterway wae opened for traffic rather prematurely, ac there was still a great deal of work to be carried out before mattcxß could be considered eatief&ctory. On the run across th* Pacific heavy eouthwent and nortu-weet galea were encountered during practically every <j ar o f tno past two weeks, the vessel bt-icg compelled to heave to on numerous occasions. f or eaye Captain Unwan, .arrival would in all probability have been made on Tuesday laet. After putting out the local portion of hecargo, the Lord £-rne will proceed to Duaedin, and thence to Australia. The Lord Erne is commanded by. Captain Unwan, who has tne following officers associated with him:—Chief, Mr R. McMurtv; wcond, Mr B. Lockhsrt; third, Mr N. "W. Hamilton; :aifd engineer, IU • Jamee Hud-

«sn: second, Mr G. U. Lendn.ni; tliird, Mr Jamee Skilion; fourth. Mr E. GrWbyT