SYDNEY TO LONDON IN SIX WEEKS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume I, Issue 14, 3 November 1852, Page 4

SYDNEY TO LONDON IN SIX WEEKS.

This is at preient Mr. Dunlop's prophecy, In his recent pamphlet on the advantages of the t*andtnn route to Sydney. It will soon be history. Wo venture tn assert that wilbin two yesrs large commodions Ocean Stcarueri, similar to thoic which y\y between Liverpool and the United Slates, will bring our mailt and a l»rgc portion of our panenj;crs in the short time of six weeks, all stoppages for coal, and the di'lny in crossing tho Isthmus of annma by railway, included 1 For this rou e tvo have always contended, and how any other thou'd liove ob'ninod the preference for tho transport of our mails is to us a matter of nitoniihment, teeing that the voyage ii about 1500 miles shorter than that by the Cape of Good Hope, and about 1000 miles less than the coune through Torres Straits. All other consider itluns of some importance in navigation, such as smooth water, favourable windt and currents, are also in it" favour ; und now that the railway acroit tho isthmus from the new town of Afpinwall (which is to supersede Chagrcn) to Panama, is approaching it? completion, it requires no (treat power of foresight to predict that this is the future mail route of the Auttralian colonies. The steamers of the Australasian Pacific Mh>] Steam Packet Company, which are to commence running early next year, will, at an inferior rate of speed, accomplish the communication, including nil stoppages at Tahiti and New Zealand, within 60 days. But if suitablo encouragemant be held out from tho Colonial Government there con bo no doubt but that the proprietors would be emboldened to coiistitict steamers equal to the best which now crois the Atlantic; end our distance from London wonld then be no more thai/' a six week's trip, pleasantly varied by calls at New Zealand and Tahiti, a rapid transit across the Isthmus of Panama, and a biief glance at the tropical vegetation of the West Indies. Sydney, by the Panama route, is the nearest point to Europe, being distant only 12,690 miles. (Adelaide, via Singapore and Batavia is übout tho same distance an to mrnsti ed miles, but not in retpect of time, owing to the many stoppages neccsnarv m tbnt line.) Milhournc, by the Panama routo, is 13,240 miles from London, to alto is 'George Town, Vnn Diemcn's Land. By no other line could llio important colony of Victoria and that of Vnn Dienien's Loud bo brought so speedily nnd "nfclr in connection with the mother country. The ronle via the Cnpc Is to Adelaide 12,800 miles anil to Melbourne nnd Vnn Diemen's Land 13 350 miles. Adelaide it the only gainer (except tho un. important colony of Swan River) by the O»po and lndinn Ilontc, while New South Wales, Victoria and Van Dicmen't Lind, which comprise a population of nearly 400,000, and which furnish an export (including gold) of nearly H millions sterling annually, ore placed by thnt line at a gicat diiad vantage. As regards potlal communication, we ore satisfied that by the Panama route tho mails would be delivered in Adelaide a week, at least, sooner, than by tho Capo or Indian lines. But then that city would not be the first and last point in the tteamer't programme. This we cannot help, but as the Homo Government are sure to maintain Tho slow and uieless lino, our South Australian friendt will, until the contract ig out, have all the advantages resulting from this arrangement of the 'Cape and Indian steamers. Meanwhile wo in "Sydney, and our friends in Melbourne must, in con nciion with Van Diemen's Land, insist upon steam vi» Panama, at ou/hearcst, safest, and most pleasant, as well as commercially advantageous routo to Europe. If the Australian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company it managed by men wisely duccrning the times— if the steamers be of the first class as to speed and size— if the arrangements as to first and second clasi cabins be duly considered and adapted to the comfort and purses of the middle classes— and if, in addition, they furnish accommodation for steerage passengers equal to that found in most tailing vessels, wo are satisfied that tbc Company will be as profitable in a commercial point of view, as it will be beneficial to tbo highest and best interests of the Australian Colonies. The subscription list of the proposed Auitralaiian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company was cloaed. The total of shires to be allotted was 12,500 of £29 each, and the number applied for was 40,253. It Is expected that the vcssols of the Company will commence running in tbe course of next year They arc to bo of about 1400 tons burthen, on the auxiliary principle, with 300 borso power.

We subjoin the following, as the opinion of the New Zcalander. " The intc ligenco received respecting tho prosperous state of the undertaking to establish Steam Communication between England and the Auitra* lian Coloniet by way of Panama, 1b too important to the intercuts of New Zealand to be permitted to pnsi without more particular noiice. All doubt of the success of the project bad been set at rest by the announced fact that— such was the attractiveness of it as an Investment of capital, that, Dot only was tho subscription lint of tho " Australasian P«cifie Mail Steam Packet Company" rapidly filled up, but there were applications for no less than 40,253 shares> while tho total number to bo allotted was only 12,500. " Now in nil this, we of New Zealand, mutt from our geographical position participate, and with the additional advantage of lying nearer to Panama, so that, if the pasnnge to Sydney be accomplished in ' six weeks, toe shall be brought within fwe weeks of England. This consummation, however, may not speedily be fully attained ; but even tbo slower rate —which may bo all we can look for at first-— will be au improvement in our means of communicti" tion in the prospect of which we may f>el elated nnd hopeful, * • * * We can imagine no good reason why the elected members for tbe Provincial Council, although not formally atiemblcd for busineti, should not act at the repretentatives of the people, bath in this case, and in opposition to the New Zealand Company's claim, by forwarding, in the semi-official and unquestionably influential tono they might most fittingly adopt, such statements o( encouragement in the oue instance, and of protest in the other, as they know would be in accordance with both tho iatensts and the wishes -' 'heir conslitutnth"