THE PANAMA ROUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 705, 10 August 1859, Page 3

THE PANAMA ROUTE.

New and important .intelligence respecting this route, the esfeblishmijnt of which is likely to be "of so much advantage ta' New Zealand, is contained in the fcliowing article from the Melbourne 'Argus' of; Juiyi?•— '■ : ;.'- ■..',.".';,' £- '^'XC!'The question'-of a mail to Australia via Panama, so long arid'sp earnestly.debated, has at last been decided. The British.authorities seeni to be at last; acquiring a due sense-of the great importance of the gold colonies. '.Every new incident supplies fresh evidence, of the material assistance which the London money market receives from the large arid regular shipments of the precious "metal consigned from Australia. The war had produced early, in. May a financial panic, with its usuaK consequence —a drain of gold from the.Bank of England; but it was stated that the bank was. enabled easily to meet all demands, chiefly by the receipt of large supplies of gold dust from Melbourne. . It is evident that^the public mind of England has become fully alive not only to the necessity of closer and speedier intercourse vy'ith her Eastern possessions, but' also of affording them adequate protection. The Government have called for tenders for-the conveyance'6f ,ma^s .YJ* the Isthmus of Panama, ths Vessels to be 'despatched at such "times, with reference to the ser V j C e via Suez, as will make the mails fortiiightly. The .Peniiisular and_ Oriental Company 'h'ay'e likewise intinia^d their willingness* for jal'small increase in the subsidy, to'convey the Australian mail via Sriez, every fortnight. Great efforts are- made at the same time to establish the electric telegraph in connection with Indja and Australia'; , by the latest advices we learn that the cable; and the wire had reached as far asAderi, awd at the sanie time active measures are in progress to connect Java with the British possessions in India on the one hahd, and on the other with Australia via' Tpma; §traits, arid along the eastern coast of this continent. It is no less satisfactory to find it announced that the Home Government have determined to'establisha separate naval station in Australiarvm.deir,the command of an Admiral. Of these measures, that apparently nearest accomplishment, and respecting which we have fullest particulars, is the mail service vid Panama/ We published a day or two since a copy of the form and conditions of tender for that service, which, comprise the following details:—The contract will be for Beveh years, but it may determined \>y the Admiralty, in the event of repeated irregularities, or in c^se of any deliberate or.wilful breach of the conditionsV In the; lattei^bas^,' the 'contract may be terminated without prevtoiis notice.to the contractors and 'without compensation for such .determihatfbn. The^maximum■;'iime;76r.ibnveyin^'''theimaiUi.ft6m 'Great Britain to Melboume;a;nd tVom Melbourne to the Unite 3 Kingdom' respectiyely1, exclusive pf the ti-arisit across1 the isthnlu^ is fitty-fiye days, but proposals embracing a shorter time will receive favorable' consideration. '. The penalties.'are as 'follows :—£soo, in'ckse rt suitable vessel«is uot iready for Rea at the appointed time1; £100 for every sucr cessive day's delayin proceeding1 to sea; and £10 per' hour for every'hourconsuined on' the voyage beyond the stipulated time.' Thei'e'is the usual reservation,.that the amount of penalties in any one voyage shall not exceed the proportion of subsidy applicable to sucli voyage, and penalties for overtime \Vill" ri^t be enforced if the dWay can* be shown to have arisen from causes beyond the^ control of the contractors. A premium of £50 will'be given. fp'r every day less' than the: time stipulated for the perfonriance of the voyage.' Accommodation ia to beproyided' for an Admiralty agent inrcharge of the mails, but it ia^stipulated that the Cominial-

-•siohera of ,!.{he. Admiral"fc^ may substitute' for tlie ■-ageniimoseerjrp.m ihe Postroffice vv'iili an assistant J-? ?,9/t Pw^eUeri|;'ft)r-.wlib|iisa, suitable sprtjngiropin ;:te^^ie' tenders'. 1 will •jie:: t r(?r icived for a.sfi;vifie subsidiary to that, now, '^ existingf between "England-' aiid,,Pai,iatpa, ; . iiamel^,. ' bwtVveeni'Paiiahia and'the Australian^;,ports ri it-is. "_ highly prob.ablo tljat'run.de.i1 this reliUise-tlie.ißoJral M'ail.Conip;iriy,,'\vluch c/imes'the .mails to Panama,. ' T*_i|l 'become the'contractors jfor the.Ausjji^liun.line,'; "_ We trust thai; 'fh'e^ matfe may be so^arra'ng^d V: ..Tlie? Aastraiiahs'.'have.found that newc.co-nipanies.ar^,npt td be depended up.oni'but in. the casie of.an "<>ld ebm-j pan'}', extending itsTpperations .effici,ency,.w'ould'.'.be' secured from,tlie.titirfiit.,, ,',. „.,..,:,, ;„.!;.,.;,-. , „ ; ." If the. mother -'cojintry' .''deems, it' advisable, ovi, geiieral.grbunds.'andlifor the security, of jier Qpm-. ■ merep, 'to establish ,tli,e'.raeaps. of,'proinp i t, j cqmmuni.T. • •cation with, as well as.iji'av.filprotectioi)^for Au,'siira).ia,how much' nior.e shquld, the. colonists desire the, speedy^accprnplisWen^^ riiprnent .'the twelve,j^uWrbd'vthb-nsand' nnhabltailts «xf,ijiese"colonies;,are,.iu .a. most painful state, of anxiety as tb^evontk in which they are deeply• "infer-;. .fisted, and of they must remain,in ig'noranpe for nearly a.nionth. Cpin'paratively speaJdng,>^v;e, are .in greater danger than our fellow-countrymen at home, who are close to ..the scene of conflict. They must always be forewarned ;.but in the''event of a vrarwithany great,naval power, the squadron that is destined to attack us. may be two-thirds „of its. way out beforq the actual proclamation.of war; ,or; secret orders may be despatched to New Caledonia. - months in advance. At no time woiild the colonists be indifferent to .the exertions made.to .diimnish.the distance which isolates them so much from the rest of the world; but now, when life, and property in Australia may possibly ;tie flxgo^ed -to, imininßnt "danger, we venture, to; say . tha^ there is..no reasonable effort or reasonable contribution .which, the inhabitants. of Australia would ;grudge in: -prdejto.accomp.lis.h aivpbject so..yitai.l^:importani;.;;,. ; . „