EFFECTS OF THE PANAMA CANAL ON NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6307, 29 April 1882, Page 6 (Supplement)

EFFECTS OF THE PANAMA CANAL ON NEW ZEALAND.

Writing on this subject, Mitchell's Maritime Register remarks:—" The opening of the caual would do more for 2v re\v Zealand than for any other of our Colonies. It is possible to land mails there in 38 or 40 days from this country via San Francisco, and thenea by the Pacine Mail Steamship Company's boats. Those conveyed by Brindisi and Suez take six or seven days longer. When the Pacific service was first established the mails were transported across the Isthmus of Panama, and then reshipped for London ; but the vessels were frequently delayed from quarantine and other causes for some weeks, and consequently the route was not popular with passengers. When the canal has been constructed, there seems no adequate reason why the old route should not be adopted once more. As compared with the Suaz Caual route, there will be a saving of 1155 miles, while the distance between New York and Auckland will be 3000 miles less than by Capa Horn. If the United States should hereafter modify its tariff, the Americans niay easily seize a portion of our trade with that Colony. In any case Sew Zealand will for the future be far less dependent upon Australia than she has hitherto been, and a great impetus will be given to her trade generally." The British Trade Journal, another high authority, also expresses a similar opinion. The opening of tho canal," it says, " will* probably more favourably affect New Zealaud than any other of our Australasian Colonies, lor years past it has been seen that the safest and speediest mail line between England and New Zealand would be across tlfe Pacific, and at the present moment the transportation of the English mails to New South Wales and New Zealand is effected via San Francisco, and thence by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's boats to New Zealand. By this means the mails are landed in the Colony in from 38 to 40 days, while those going, via Brindisi and Suez do not arrive under 40 or 47 days. When the Pacific service was first established, a line of steamers ran to the Isthmus of Panama, the mails were transported across the Isthmus, and then re-shipped for London; but the vessels were frequently quarantined and delayed some weeks, and the route was badly patronised by passengers. Under these circumstances the mails were sent via San Francisco. But considering the abbreviation of distance which will result from the opening of the canal, it seems not at all improbable that the mail service will, before many years are over, resume the Panama route, as the difficulties which formerly stood in the way will be removed. The distances from Liverpool to Auckland, and from New York to the same port,'are as follow :—Liverpool to Auckland: Via Suez Canal, 12,70G milesvia Gape of Good Hope, 14,073 miles: via Gape Horn, 12,057 miles ; via Panama Canal, 11,u49 miles. New York to Auckland: Via Suez Canal, 14,037 miles; via Cape of Good Hope, 14,00 a miles; via Cape Horn, 11 SOO miles; via Panama Canal, 8940 miles. Considering that New Zealand is a Colony with immense _ resources, as yet practically undeveloped, it is safe to assume that the openinoof the new canal will affect her very favoui° ably. Her productions "will be exported to Great Britain more expeditiously, and she will be much less dependent on the other Australasian Colonies than she has 'hitherto been. It will be noticed that the distance from New York to Auckland, via Panama, will be nearly 3000 miles less than by the Cape Horn route, and it is impossible to foresee what effect that may have in the way of diverting the trade now carried on' between England and Ne\v Zealand, should" the United States tariff at a future date undergo considerable modification."