THE PANAMA CANAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5734, 1 November 1905, Page 7

THE PANAMA CANAL.

(To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir,—With reference to your article, "A Coming Revolution,” in Friday's issue, some figures hearing on the probable diversion of trado routes likely to be caused by the completion of the Panama Canal, may be of interest to your readers. They are taken from “ The Key of the Pacific,” by Archibald Colquhouu, and refer to the proposed . Nicaragua Canal route, but would bo little affected by the change to Panama. The distances have been measured by the customary routes for sailing vessels and slow freight steamers, which do most of the trade. From tho figures given, 2000 miles must be deducted for steam vessels, which take the route by the Straits of Magellan, instead of rounding tho Horn. I extract only those figures of most interest to New Zealand:

The figures can hardly bo considered to portend ranch change in the trade routes to and from New Zealand. The distance from New Zealand or Melbourne to Liverpool by the Straits of Magellan is less than by the Canal. The high rates which must bo paid for passage through the Canal will tend to prevent cargo steamers using it, except when the saving in distance is very great. Convenient ports have far more influence in determining trade routes than distance, as is evidenced by the fact that in order to call at the Cape and obtain the advantage of the trade winds, the outward bound direct steamers to New Zealand call at the Cape and cover a distance of 1-1,000 miles, although the route by the Straits of Magellan is only 10,550 miles.—l am, etc., G. H. DOLBY. Masterton, October 27th. >

New York to— San Francisco ... Melbourne New Zealand ... Via Via Via Horn. Cape. Canal. 14,480 4,916 13,502 13,200 .10,000 13,550 14,125 8.680 Liverpool to— San Francisco ... Melbourne New Zealand ... 14,690 7,694 13,352 13,140 12,748 12,400 13,975 11,349 Again, comparing the respective advantages of tlio Suez and Isthmus routes, we have:— Liverpool to— Hongkong Melbourne New York to— Melbourne Via Suez. Via Canal. . 9,810 13,786 . 11,350 12,748 . 14,920 10,000 Comparing- the York and Liverpoo advantages of New Singapore Hongkong Yokohama Melbourne Via Suez Via Canal to to Liverpool. New York. . 7,958 11,578 . 9,810 ■ 11,038 . 11,765 9.363 . 11,350 10,000