SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1915, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1915. PHASES OF THE MOON. NOVEMBER. 30—Last quarter, 9.47 a.m. THE TIDES. High water to-day at 2.27 a.m. and 2.47 p.m.; to-morrow, 3.17 a.m. and 3.47 |).m. THE SUN. The sun rises to-day at 4.43 a.ui. and sets at 7.17 p.m.; to-morrow, 4.42 a.m. and 7ilS p.m. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Rarawa, from North, to-day. ICowhai, from South, to-day. Corinna, from Wellington, Friday. Rarawa, from North, Friday. ARRIVED. Nov. 28.—Corinna, b.s., 1271 tons, Scott, from South. TELEGRAPHIC. ARRIVED. Auckland. Nov. 29.—At 5.55 a.m., Kia Ora, from Hobart. Auckland, N'ov. 20.—At 1.20 a.m., Katoa, from Newcastle. Greymouth, Nov. 29.—At 5.20 a.m., Kowhai, from Now Plymouth. Auckland, Nov. 20.—At 9.10 a.m., Makura, from Sydney. Auckland, Nov. 20.—At 4.15 p.m., Boulah, from Newcastle. Wellington, Nov. 20.—At C.30 pm., Manuka, from Sydney. SAILED. Onehunga, Nov. 29.—At 4.45 p.m., Rarawa, for New Plymouth; passed Manukau Heads at 5.50 p.m. | THE CORINNA. The Corinna yesterday discharged 750 tons of general cargo. She sails for Wellington to-day and leaves the latter port again on Thursday for New Plymouth. PANAMA CANAL BLOCKED. The Panama Canal has been closed to traffic five times since its opening on August 15, 1914, but the present interruption is by far -the most serious. Auckland is already feeling the effect of the latest stoppage (says the Herald) as local merchants had quickly become accustomed to the much quicker voyage via Panama, as compared with (he old route. In fact, the steamers have often arrived here before the shipping documents, the latter generally coming through San Francisco or Vancouver. The steamer Riouw, reported on fire at Capetown a week or two back, would have arrived here weeks ago but for the Canal being closed, and (he Indian Monarch, which has been abandoned on fire, near St. Helena, was coming by the Cape route because Panama was blocked. This last slide is of such great proportions that it will probably take many months to remove ihe mass of earth that is now filling the cut. A survey of the slide area in the Oaillard cut reveals the fact that there are probably 10,000,000 cubic yards of earth in motion, which must be taken out by dredging operations before n permanent channel through the cut is possible. The rate of wet excavation is a million yards per month, and at this rate it would require not less than ten months to remove the mass which is now sliding into the C'nnal considerably faster than the dredges can take it out. It is said that often the Canal bottom bulges up to a height of 15ft above the surface of the water owing to the tremendous weight of the sliding hillsides. The area in motion is roughly calculated to be about 175 acres, which constitutes the greatest slide area in the history of the Canal. It extends 2600 ft, along botli banks of the waterway, with probably an average of 1500 ft. back from the centre line of the Canal. When the last mail left America there were 100 ships waiting to go through the Canal, and it was expected that most of them would shortly be ordered to their destinations by other routes.— Auckland Star.