A New Rout to the East.

Manawatu Herald, 3 November 1896, Page 2

A New Rout to the East.

A late cablegram reports that the King of Rouinania has laid the foundation stone of the new harbour works at Constanza, on the Black Sea. The harbour is to be completed in Ax. years, and it is hoped it will be the means of diverting the Indian and Australian trade, as the seaport is to be pub in communication with Oatend, via Vienna and Bucharest, by special express trains to compete with the Orient express. The spoiling of the name of the port is open to question, as the only place marked on the sea coast of Rovnoaania of any size is Kvistendjie. This would appear to bo a move " made in Germany," as that is the only country that is developing a trade with India and Australasia. The map will show that this proposed haibour will bs as convenient to Berlin, by rail, as any Indian port, and the sea route from the Black Sea to the mouth of the Suez Canal is tha Bame distance as that from Italy to the same place. Of course the route would not be of any advantage to the English or French steamers, nor do wa think it would be enticing to passengers, unless for a change. In case of an European war the port would be easily closed, as vessels would have to leave the Black Sea by the Straits of Dardanelles, and travel through the Archipelago in the JBgean Sea, and run between the islands of Crete and Cyprus.