ROYAL TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1920, Page 5

ROYAL TOUR.

TRIP THROUGH THE CANAL. HOW THE ROCK WAS CLEARED. By Telejraph.—Press Assa.—Copyright. Received ■ April 4, 5.5 p.m.

Panama, March 31. After a fair weather run from Barbadoes, escorted by the Calcutta, the Renown reached the coast and salutes were exchanged with Colon. The Resident British Minister, accompanied by the. President of the Panama Republic, bonrded the Renown, and they were received by the Prince of Wales on the quarter-deck. Mr. Harding, the Coventor of the Canal Zone, explained all the working operations to the Prince. Shipping was held up' to allow the Renown to pass. A squadron of American airplanes flew- overhead just before the Renown entered, the Culebra Cut, which is now officially named the fiaillard Cut, after the engineer who planned the work. It was reported a large rock had been located on the bottom of the chanqel opposite Culebra village, and "it whs found there were only twenty feet'of J water over the obstruction. The wdi'k of removal was commenced immediatety and eventually divers shattered the rAk with explosives, and moving slowly, the Renown passed over the spot safely after a delay of three hours. It is cinRidered the rock was squeezed up into the ciiannel by the pressure of the sfirronndpig rock formations.—Aus.rN.Z. Cable Assn.