PANAMA V. SUEZ.

West Coast Times, Issue 204, 15 May 1866, Page 2

PANAMA V. SUEZ.

(From the Southern Cross.) The following letter, written on his return from Europe by Mr James O'Neill, M.G.A., being so frequently inquired after by gentlemen proposing to return to England via Panama, wo aro induced to republish it. The letter appeared in our columns about two years ago : — To tho Editor of tho "Daily Southern Cross.' Sir, — Allow me, through your columns, to offer a few remarks on the question which now engages so much of the public mind, as to whether the Panama or Suez routes, if efficiently carried out, would be most conducive to the interests of New Zealand. I have recently travelled to Europe by the Isthmus of Panama, and returned by that of Suez, and the whole time spent in the trip (including forty-five days on shore) was five months and a few days, a space of time sufficiently short to induce persons to visit the old country without any great detriment to their usual avocations. I have been three times by the Indo-Egyptian route, and I am persuaded that it will always be preferred by those who are not pressed for time, because the elimato to be passed through (with the exception o that of the Red Sea) is not so sickly as the climate of Panama or the West Indies, and because tho stations on the Suez route are numerous, affording to travellers an opportunity of witnessing objects of interest while passing through or touching at those Eastern countries where the manners and customs of the people are the same as they were in the days of Moses. There is no steam navigation company in the world with so large a fleet as the P. and 0. Company. They havo truly splendid steamships on tho lino between Suez and Ceylon, and their branch services are performed by boats gvory superior to anything we aro accustomed to sco on tho coast of New Zealand, which gives an amount of security beyond smaller companies that the mails can bo delivered by them with a regularity which could not bo expected from tho Intercolonial Steam Navigation Company. The Panama route is unquestionably tho natural routo for New Zealand ; but to carry out that service in a manner beneficial to tho colony it must bo done well, that is, by vessels of great power and speed ; because tho ships employed upon that lino ought to have great carrying capacity for fuel, as they will

have to trust more to their wheels than to canvas, for calms and variable winds will be constantly experienced in taking a direct courso between this colony and Panama. ..... Tho question now is, can Auckland do anything for herself in that direction ? I believe that she can. If the merchants would keep in view the advantages to bo gained by opening up a trade with Chili, Peru, and the other parts of South America, as well as a passenger traffic with the United States and England, a regular, constant, and inexpensive soheme could, I think, be organised, whereby a speedy and regular communication maybe kept up with England via Callao and Panama, and that in a shorter time than our mails take now from Auckland to Southampton via Sydney and Suez. The mails that will be despatched on the Ist of March will not reach Southampton until about 19th May next, thus giving eighty days, or three or four days less via Marseilles. Now, if a few smart sailing vessels, fitted with an auxiliary screw, were purchased for tho purpose of establishing a line from this port to Peru, bear in mind that steam would not be required on the passage from Auckland to Callao, unless for a very few days, when crossing the belt of calms, for by keeping well to southward after leaving New Zealand, strong winds would be got, which would take them to where it would bo necessary to cross the variables, after which th« trade winds would take them right into Callao Roads. The P.S.N. Company's vessels leave Callao on the 13th and 29th of every month, taking passengers and mails to Panama. The expenses of the voyage would be as follows :—

It will be seen by the above figures that a saving of three weeks in sending letters to England, via Peru and Panama, would be effected, and that possibly at an expense small when compared with the large subsidy i»hich we are to pay towards carrying out Mr Ward's contract. In proceeding by the Panama route I would advise passengers to bring English (not Sydney) sovereigns for expenses, as they can sell them for six and a half dollars each, which will enable them to get their passage at a lower rate. As the dollars of one State seldom pass at par in the adjoining State, no more sovereigns ought to change into silver at any one place than is absolutely necessary for expenses. January, February, March and April, are the best months for crossing the Isthmus, and if you value health, be sure to remain in the city of Panama on the Pacific side until thn steamer is quite ready to start from Aspinwall. The latter town, being built upon a piece of made ground, is always damp and sickly. The expense of living at Panama varies as follows : — At the Aspinwall Hotel, three dollars a day for board and lodging; the American Hotel, two dollars a day ; and the Railway Hotel, near the pier, only a dollar and a half per day. The Bay of Panama is very beautiful, but shallow near the shore, in consequence of which each company having steamers trading to the Isthmus has a steam tender to convey the passengers to and from the vessels. I did not see a waterman'g boat in the whole bay. The Pacific Company have a workshop and everything necessary at the Island of Toboga for repairing their own vessels ; the Americans havo a similar establishment on an adjoining island. Both islands are nearly twenty miles from the pier. The railway belongs to citizens of the United States ; they charge 25 dollars for crossing, and 10 cents a lb. for luggage above 501 b. There is no second class on the railway. The railroad is forty three miles long, and to avoid engineering difficulties, it winds round the base of the numerous hills on the Isthmus, the train often having the appearance of a huge serpent twisting and turning amongst vegetation the most luxuriant, perhaps in the world. Let a passenger have over so little time at Callao, I would advise him at once to proceed to Lima, which is only seven miles inland. There is a fine view of the city from Callao Roads, situated as Lima is in a valley of the Andes, about six hundred feet above the level of the sea. The cost of going up is half a dollar in the railway. There are five or six first class hotels in Lima ; the expenses at each are alike, that is, 1 dollar each night for bedroom, and food and wine just as i you order it ; 2£ dollars or 3 dollars a day will cover all expenses at the very best houses. If the traveller can afford time he can visit the cathedral, with the tomb of Pizarro in it, the clwrches, the museum (formerly the palace of the Inquisition) and tho Almada gardens in the suburbs, which will give the opportunity of passing over a magnificent bridge, which is built over a large and rapid river, a part of which is diverted for the purpose of conveying a considerable stream of water down the centre of nearly every street in tho city. From Aspinwall to St. Thomas ocoupies five days, where the La Plata, or other large steamer is ready to receive the passengers and mails. The passage from St. Thomas to Southampton is usually done in thivteen days,

Days. Auckland to Callao, about 80 Callao to Panama 9 Transit across tJko Isthmus by railTray 43 mllos „, X Aspinwall to South« ainpton, via St. Thomas ... 19 Hotel expenses, about Ist 01. £ s. 20 0 22 0 5 0 38 0 3 0 2nd 01. £ s. 12 10 11 0 5 0 86 0 2 0 59 88 8 65 10