PRINCE OF WALES TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17901, 5 April 1920, Page 5

PRINCE OF WALES TOUR

RENOWN'S PROPELLOR DAMAGED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. PANAMA, April 2. The Renown's propellor was damaged during the blasting operations in the Culebra Cut.—A. and N.Z. Cable. , PASSING THROUGH PANAMA. PANAMA, March 31. (Received April 4, at 5.5 p.m.) After a fair-weather run from Barbadoes, escorted by the Calcutta, the Renovgi reached the coast. Salutes' were exchanged with Colon. The resident British Minister, accompanied by the President of tho .Panama Republic, boarded the Renown, and was received by the Prince of Wales on the quarterdeck. Mr Harding, Governor of the canal zone, explained all the working operations to the Prince; Shipping was held up to allow the Renown to pass. A squadron 'of American airplanes flew overhead just before the Renown entered the Culebra Cut, now officially named the Gaillard Cut, after the engineer who had planned the work. It was reported that a large rock had been located in the bottom of the channel opposite Culebra village. It was found that only 20ft of water was over the obstruction. The work of removal commenced immediately, and eventually divers shattered the rock with explosives, and, moving slowly, the Renown passed over the spot safely, after a delay of three hours. It was - considered that the rock had been squeezed up into the channel by the pressure of the surrounding rock and N.Z. Cable.