NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE PANAMA SERVICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume V, Issue 110, 16 June 1866, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE PANAMA SERVICE.

[From the Sjidius;; Umpire, May 7.]

■ The Panama and Australian Mail Company's steamship Kaikour.i was signalled off Cape Otway .at six o'clock ou Saturday evening, being then, as the telegram informs us, fifty days from London. This fine steamer would m all probability have arrived m Melbourne early yesterday morning, and thus have accomplished the quickest; passage oil record. Such a commencement as this augurs most favourably for the success of the Panama line, for if the first ship, under most favourable circumstances, could run from England to Melbourne m 51 days, the distance being, approxiininately, 16,000 miles, there can be no reason to doubt that the shorter voyage of 7,200 miles from Panama will be performed m the estimated period of 25 days to New Zealand. As the long passage across the Pacific has hitherto beeu the main ground of doubt os to the success of the pioneer voyage over twice that distance. * * * * *

Seeing then that the speed undertaken for tlie shorter trip between Panama and Australia was fixed at a minimum of ten knots, the practicability of the service, within the period stated has been fully demonstrated already. The whole of the four vessels intended for the service on the Pacific side of the Isthmus of Panama are now, m all probability, quite ready. The Rakaia was launched at Fairfield on the 31st day of January List, and the Mataura at Millwall on the l"th February. An article which we republished a short time ap,o from a San Francisco paper, expressed some doubt j whether tho ships of the intended American line between the Isthmus and Kanawaga would not be the first at sea, but the arrival of the Kaikoura decided that question. It is known that the Atlantic part of the Panama and

Australian service is to be performed by the West India. Mail Company, who have a powerful fleet available for the purpose ; so that all preliminary difficulties are now overcome. There is thus renewed cause for satisfaction that the votta of the Assembly, on the faith of which this great undertaking was entered upon, -were adhered to m the last session of the local Parliament. * * * The immediate prospect of regular communication via Panama is a source of earnest congratulation, and we hail, with the utmost satisfaction, the arrival of the pioneer ship that is destined to open the line, after a voyage half round the world with a speed unparalleled m the history of Australian voyages. The Kaikoura will be heartily welcome when she steams into Sydney harbour, and her arrival may be fairly regarded as the harbinger of an intercourse that will be fraught with vast benefits to the whole community.