THE PANAMA CANAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 3

THE PANAMA CANAL.

Mr A. Moritzson supplies some figures in support of his contention that the Panama route is unsuitable, for New Zealand, and in support of his rebuttal of the statement attributed to the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie at Chrisitcburch to the effect that the Panama route would shorten the journey - between New Zealand and England to one of 18 to 20 day 6. * Mr Moritzson's figures state that th« distanos from Wellington -tar Plymouth; -via - Cape Horn, Rio, and Teneriffe, is 11,822 mites, and via Monte Video and Rio i1,Q25 - miles. Also from "Wellington to Plymouth, via Rio alone, is 11,830 miles. By, the Panama route the distance is, via Tahiti, Colon, the caaal, and St. Thomas to Plymouih, 11,365 miles, the difference in favour of the Panama route being thus 457 miles. The time taken by a 14-knot boat would be 37^ days, which may be Teduced by a 16-knot ' boat service in the Atlantic by one day and a-half. He also points out the distances by the mail routes, which are as follow :— From^ Sydney, via Suez, to Brindisi, 11,310 miles; from Sydney, via Panama, to Plymouth, 12,618 miles ; Sydney, via Vancouver, to Plymouth, 12,869 miles (third of this .distance is by rail) ; New York to Hongkong, via Panama and Honolulu, 11,633 miles; New York to Hongkong, via Suez, 11,580 miles; New York to Japan, Yokahama, via Panama, 9720 miles. . An olfl man who was arrested at Moscow for begging was found to possess a mansion in the most fashionable quarter of the tnwn.