SYDNEY TO LONDON IN SIX WEEKS. (From the "Empire," Sept. 18.)
This is at present Mr. Dunlop's prophecy, in his recent pamphlet on the advantages of the Panama route to Sydney. It will soon bo history. We venture to assert that within two years large commodious Ocean Steamers, similar to those which ply between Liverpool and the United Stales, will bring our mails and a large portion of our passengers in the, short space of six trccJcs, all stoppages for coal, and the delay in crossing the Isthmus of Panama by Rrilway, included! For this route we have always contended, and" how any other should have obtained the preference for the transport of our Mails is to us a matter of astonishment, seeing that the voyage is about 1500 miles shorter than that by the Cape of Good Hope, and about 4000 miles less (ban (he course through Torres Straits. All other considerations of some importance in navigation, such as smooth water, favourable winds and currents, arc also in its favour ; and now that the railway across the isthmus from the new town of Aspinwall (which is to supersede Chagrcs) lo Panama, is approaching its completion, it requires no great power of foresight to predict that this is the future mail route of the Australian Colonies. The steamers of the Australasian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company, which are to commence running early next year, will, at an inferior rale of speed, accomplish the communication, including all stoppages at Tahiti and New Zealand, within GO days. But if suitable encourage-; merit be held out from the Colonial Government there can be no doubt but that the propn'elois would be emboldened to construct steamers equal lo the best which now cross the Atlantic; and then our distance from London would be no more than a six weeks' trip, pleasantly varied by calls at New Zealand andTahili, a rapid transit across the Isthmus of Panama, and a brief glance
at Ihe tropical vegetation of (liv "West Indies. We should he the nearest civilised neighbour lo California, Mexico, and (lie South American Republics; [Indeed! Does onr woilhy contemporary repaid us«// in New Zealand as sumu/cs '/ — Ed. N.Z.] and Ihe increased lapidily of our communication with the United Slates, as well as wilh Ihe olher American Slates would give a wonderlul impulse lo our trade wilh this important quarter of the world. Taking (hese circumstances iulo consideration, we cannot but congratulate our readers upon the proposed motion of that most useful, and practically as well as theoretically patriotic member, Mr. Stuart A. Donaldson, which has been placed on Ihe notices for Tuesday, 28lh September. We copy it in full for (he information of our friends in England, and in vindication of Ihd colonial character, which must suflVr in (he estimation of all common sense mercantile men, so long as they fancy us as a coiimmnily lo be satisfied with Ihe miserable abortion in the way of steam communication, with which we have been favoured by the Colonial Office; and which scheme, the latest, but we fear not the last insult lo Australia, we repudiate, as a job and a failure, the disgrace of which must rest with the British Government. Our language is not by any means 100 strong. After begging for steam for ten years, and humbly tendering our money in payment, the most roundabout line is chosen ; and Ihe first steamer manages lo arrive in about 93 days ' her news being anticipated by a sailing vessel, which beals her by nearly a week. Air. Donaldson's motion (of Ihe unanimous acceptance of which by Ihe Council we have no doubt) us an almost necessary safely valve to relic\c Ihe universal feeling of indignancy which pervades the whole community. It is as follows :—: — " That this Council, fully appreciating (he bencfils to be derived from the establishment of slcam communication with the mother country, which is now brought into operation by Ihe lines by way of the Cape of Good Hope and Singapore, lid dissatisfied wilh Ihe arrangements made by which Sydney, the residence of (lie GovernorGen erali and Ihe capital of the oldest and most populous colony of the Australasian Group, is wade (he last port of arrival and the firs/ of departure, resolves :—l.: — 1 . That on duly considering that all the advantages offered by each of the routes now established, and those which will reMill from the opening of the route by the Isthmus of Panama. 2. That as no Mail Contract will in all probabilily be given by Ihe Home •Government for the Panama line, and as that route, if completed, will unquestionably be accomplished within the shortest period ; and that as Ihe trade of Urn colony with Ihe island* of Hie Vacific, New Zealand, and North America, ivill be materially augmented and increased, and the means of transit greatly accelerated by the completion of that route, o. It is desirable that a contribution from Colonial funds be made in aid of the lino of steamers between Sydney and Panama. 4. That the sum of AGOOO per annum, for three years, be paid to the firsl steam company which shall establish a monthly line of steamers between Sydney and the Isthmus of Panama, by which Ihe course of post shall be brought between London and Sydney, under 150 days. li. That an address be presented lo his Excellency the Governor-General, praying that his Excellency will be pleased to cause to be placed upon Ihe Estimates for lS.'io, the sum of 1 6'000 -for this object: and thai a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by his Excellency lo Ihe Right Honourable Ihe Secretary of Slate for (he Colonies, for Ihe information of Her Majesty's Government." If we have aiiy fault lo find with this proposed motion, it is with the smallness of the sum proposed as a bonus to the Steam Company. .110,000 or i 42,000, or even more, would be money well laid out, and would in due lime be profitably returned lo the Colony, provided we secure, al once, a monthly communication wilh England for ourselves and for Victoria, more rapid and more secure than can be ensured by any olher route ; and that this is the case wilh respect lo the Panama line, may be made obvious lo the meanest capacity. Sydney, by the Panama route, is the nearest point lo Europe, being distant only 12,05)0 miles. (Adelaide, via Singapore and Balavia is about the same distance as lo measured miles, but not in respect of lime, owing to the many stoppages necessary in that line.) Melbourne, by Ihe Panama route, is 1.1,240 miles from London, so also is George Town, Van Dicmen's Land. liy no oilier line could (he important colony of Victoria and thai of Van Dicmen's Land be brought so speedily and safely in connexion wilh Ihe mother country. The route via the Cape is lo Adelaide 12,800 miles, and lo Melbourne and Van Diemen's Land 13,0j0 miles. Adelaide is the only gainer (except the unimportant colony of Swan Kivcr), by ihe Cape and Indian route, while New Soulh Wales, Victoria, and Van Diemen's Land, which comprise a population of nearly 400,000, and which furnish an export (including gold) of nearly 14 millions sterling annually, are placed by that line al a great disadvantage. As regards poslal communication, we are satisfied that by the Panama route the mails would he delivered in Adelaide a week, at least, sooner, than by the Cape or Indian lines. But then that city would not be the first and last point in the steamer's programme. This we cannot help, but as the Home Government arc sure to maintain the Mow and useless line, our Soulh Australian friends will, until the contract is out, have all the advantages resulting from Ibis arrangement of the Cape and Indian steamers. Meanwhile wo in Sydney, and our fiiends in Melbourne must, in connexion with A'au Diemen's La ml, insist upon steam ma Panama, as our nearest, safest, and most pleasant, as well as commercially advantageous route lo Europe. If the Australasian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company is managed by men wisely discerning the limes — if the steamers be of the firsl class as to speed and size — if the arrangements as lo first and second class cabins be duly considered and adapted to Ihe comfort and purses of Ihe middle classes — and if, in addition, they furnish accommodation for steerage passengers, equal lo that found in most sailing vessels, we are satisfied that the Company will be as profitable in a commercial poinl of view, asil will be beneficial to the highest and best interests of the Australian Colonies.
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New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 677, 9 October 1852, Page 2
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1,445SYDNEY TO LONDON IN SIX WEEKS. (From the "Empire," Sept. 18.) New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 677, 9 October 1852, Page 2
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