THE PANAMA ROUTE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 72, 8 September 1858, Page 2

THE PANAMA ROUTE.

The forttwing correspondence between H. Parkes, Es<|L M.P. for Sydney, and Champion Wetton, EsqL the Superintendent of the Royal

Mail Company at Sydney, has been forwarded to us for publication :—: —

Sydney August 4-ih, 1858. My deab Sib— l enclose copy of my resolutions as I propose to move them. I should be glad if you would supply mo with information on the best course for steam ships from Sydney to Panama and from Panama to Sydney, as you determined after your visit to those parts some time ago, also the reasons for the course you consider bet, with the number of days estimated for both passages. Perhaps too you would favour me with your opinion as to the size and character of ships to carry— say 100 cabin and 400 steerage passengers, which ought to be laid on in this trade ; and whether you think (privately) the Royal Mail Company would undertake it, with euch othor suggestions as may occur to you. I am, &c., (Signed) Henbt Pabkes. Champion Wbtton, Esq., <tc., &., &c.

Panama Eoutb. Eoyal Mail Office, Sydney, 6th August, 1858. My dxab Sib — Replying to your note of yesterday's date, enclosing a copy of tho resolutions you propose to move hi the Legislative Assembly this evening, and asking information in respect to the Panama Route, I beg to say that in the opinion of those best acquainted with the Pacific and with Ocean steaming, the only practicable couvse for steam ships to tato proceeding from Sydney to Panama is, in the first place to make a straight course hence to Cook's Straits, calling at Wellington to coal, thence on the arc of grand circle to Panama without further stoppage : the return voyage to Sydney should proceed direct from Panama to Tahiti, thence nearly due west for some fifteen degrees, when about a straight line must be made either for Sydney direct, or Wanganui, New Zealand. i With regard to the nnmber of days, you must not fail to bear in mind, that for traversing great distances inconsistent with regularity, or vico versa. If, as I of ocean by steam, a high rate of speed is found to be take it to be, precise regularity is of more importance than extreme speed, I am clearly of opinion that sixty days should be allowed for the through voyage from Sydney to Southampton. The sue of the vessels that should be built for the Panama service cannot be less than 1,800 tons to carry coal sufficient for the voyage. Engines 400 horse-power with very great boiler space, say equal to boilers usually fitted to enginos of 500 to 600 horsepower, and with furnaces constructed with especial reference to the consumption of colonial coal. Such a vessel should accommodate with comfort, if properly constructed, 100 first-class and from 100 to 200 ateerage passengers. Further, replying to your inquiry a3 to whether the Royal Mail Company would, in my opinion, be willing to undertake the Panama line, my impression is that the directors would do so, if the colonies are prepared to pay such a subsidy, which they, as prudent merchants and careful trustees, would consider a fair remuneration for the services to be performed.

1 may say that with tho experience the company has lately acquired, of the enormous expenses and insufficient revenue of an Australian steam line, the email number of passengers travelling between Europe and Australia, and the low rate of gold freight, it is plain to the direotors, as it must be to all business men, that a far larger subsidy than £50,000 per annum would be required to carry on the Pacific service with pay prospect of a successful result. Yours faithfully, (Signed) Champion Wetton. Henby Pabkes, Esq., M.P., kc.y «See., &C 7