A HARBOUR FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 80, 3 April 1906, Page 4

A HARBOUR FOR CHRISTCHURCH.

One. of the most enterprising an a inieresting projects ever laid before the public of this colony is the proposal to connect Christchurch with the sea by means of a canal. TMs scheme is by no means a new invention. Over fifty years ago, -when Christchurch -was first laid out, it was recognised that railway communication with. Lyttelton throng?! tlie Port Hills, even if practicable, would be alwayßlnore or less difficult and expensive. The founders of the city therefore took into consideration the possibility that some day a port might be artificially constructed on the sea side of Christchurch. With that object in view, they set aside the long strip of open ground running down from the East Belt to-ward the "Estuary, which is still known as the Canal Reserve. But when the Lyttelton Tunnel was completed, the canal scheme naturally felt into abeyance, and it lias been resurrected of late years chiefly because of the widespread discontent felt in Canterbury at the exorbitant freight charges levied on the Christchurch-Xyttelton railway. The possibility of finding some means by which Canterbury's trade could go to and from the sea without passing through the tunnel is very attractive to all Canterbury people who have no special interest in Lyttelton, and hence the importance , now once more assumed by this ancient and almost forgotten project of a Christchuf ch-Sunmer Canal.

The first practical steps in the direction o£ testing the possibility of the scheme lave been taken by the Lyttell ton Harbour Board, -which last year authorised its engineer to prepare a rei port on the subject of harbour improvements generally. Mr Cyrus Williams I devotes a large amount of attention to the question of forming a port or tidal 1 basin at Heathcote—that is to say, on the joint Estuary of the Avon and the Heathcote rivers about four miles from the centre of the city^—or "as'an alternative a port at Wilson?s Hoad—about three miles from the town and six miles from the sea. with which it would be connected by a canal. Contrary to most people's expectations, Mr Williams holds that the Wilson's Road project— which would fix the port of Christchurch on the Heathcote toward the south-east end of the city—is the better of the two alternatives. The engineer does not believe that "there would "Be any serious difficulties, through the sildng up of sand, or otherwise, at tTie sea end of the canal. After a careful investigation of the conditions that prevail at Siunher Bay, Mr Williams concludes that the work at this end of the canal could be done for considerably less than £400,000. The estimate for the complete scheme—canal and port with, all necessary formation woTks —is ,fixe.d at- £ 1,532,000. This is, of course, a heavy liability for any city to assume. "But Mr Williams reminds !his readers that the city and district are now paying hundreds of thousands a year .-more than they ought to pay for railway freights; and by an elaborate array of statistics he proves to his own satisfaction that with freights reduced from 7/ ■to 5/ a ton. t the canal could pay for itself within twelve- years; while with freights brought down to 3/6 per ton or half the present railway rates, it would be a financial success by 1921. This certainly sound -very promising, and we can be sure that the colony "has by no means heard the last of tie Christ-church-Sumner Canal..

The public opinion of ChrietchtiTch. so far ds it is expressed in the Jocal journals seeme generally to incline toward this experiment. The "Lyttelton Times" says that the whole question is one of cost and convenience; that if lurther investigation discloses the fact that Mr. Williams' scheme is too expensive, or that it is- not likely to be financially successful, it will have to be dropped; and that Ghristchurch cannot afford to construct a canal merely to be used as an argument in the public agitation against excessive railway freights. The "Press" observes that no one except, perhaps, persons interested in Lytteh: ton, can doubt the great benefit that' Christchurch would derive from having a harbour at her doors 5 if it could be obtained at a cost that would not undulyburden the district. 'Truth" points out that though the scheme is a gigantic one, it is not relatively so great as the project for piercing the Lyttelton Hills must have seemed "to the Canterbury colonists 40 years ago; "and if "this canal, is possible both from the engineering: and the financial standpoints, it ought to be made. Happily Xyttelton Har- 1 bour Board has taken the wise step of' submitting Mr. Williams' report to British consulting .engineers, who will pro-" nounce whether the scheme is feasible.' This, h"y the way, is a precedent which | our own Harbour Board would do well \ to take to heart, and follow whenever any important workjs involved, ;as in i the present instance, .wienljfcftey. are .on the verge of committing jis to a expensive and momentous experiment than the Sumner Canal. In mean- 1 time, can Sβ -ewe -that the: people of Canterbury will not.Jose sight lotl the alluring prospects held ;Mr. ( Williams of a port at their own doom! which would enable them tp evade fhe heavy impoeie flow levied upon th«m on. the tunnel line. ~...•-..' .-.- -:. ' L .

The-following fe weather forecast for 24 hours from nine a.m. this day: "Moderate to strong easterly winds, glass fall,rain prpbable,^ Recent callers at tfie Government Tourist Department have included Messrs. L. Gv Markeyy assistant town clerk of Mosman, Sydney; IL Conley, from Simla, India-j and R. H. DunmalL of Singapore. . . ..'.'. '" Staff-Captain Ward, provincial secretary of the Young People's Division of the Salvation Army, arrived in. Auckland .from the South this morning to make .final arrangements for the visit of Commissioner McTvie, who is to arrive on Saturday. Among the recent viators "to the Government Tourist Department -was Mr. J. J. Holmes, member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia. Mr. Holmes' party numbers eight, and they ! have just completed a tour of the "whole. colony. He expressed himself as particularly pleased •with the trip and scenic attractions of Xew Zealand, and also -with the travelling facilities afforded "by'the'Government Department. During ,their Auckland visit the party are staying at the Royal Hotel. The steamer Pelican left for the Three Kings at eleven o'clock this morning with the Queensland expedition which, is making another attempt to recover the gold lost in. the Elingamite, on "board. A new postal regulation provides that a duplicate of a lost or destroyed postal note may be issued after the expiration of six months from the date of issue of the original postal note, provided,.Jthat the number of postal note is" Known and the person claiming the amount can satisfactorily prove that "he is entitled to the same. When there is undoubted evidence of the destruction of a postal note, and the number is known, a dupli- ' eate may- t>e 'issued" fortlrwrfchl" '"The person to whoni a duplicate postal note is issued shall be required to give a guarantee in -writing to refund the i amount should the original postal note .he at any time paid, and no: payment of a duplicate postal note shall be made until the guarantee is given. The second group of Auckland celebrities. <as the. "Graphic's" special artist (Mr E. P. Hiscocks) sees them, - will come out in to-morrow's issue, .and the . likenesses are even .more striking -than those of the first collection, excellent as" they -were. It is a splendid issue alto-' gether, and "will "be perused with, interest. There is a brilliant article on Whangaroa as a holiday resort, illusJrated with a number.- of .beautiful -views, and among-..other subjects .that will catch the eye . are snapshots/ at • Avondale races, Permanent Force <picnic at Takapuna, citizens' ball to Admiral Fawkes and the squadron, searchlight carnival at Devonport, and several '■ pages of magnificent scenery printed in coloured inkMount Albert residents are soon likely to enjoy the security of fire brigade protection, the Road Board' having instructed the clerk to open a subscription list towards raising £165, -which' will meet all expenses in connection with , the formation and equipment of a volunteer brigade. An offer of -the Grafton fire-hell and tower ior £35, and & hose, reel for £10, las been received from the City Council, and the site for^a,station near the tram terminus upon extremely easy terms has been offered. "The matter, of the removal of the road -piers of ■ the Parnel! - Railway Bridge was brought up at -the Kewmar>ket Council last night. ,The Mayor, after reading the recent resolution arrived at by the conference of representatives of bodies interested, moved, "That the Council endorse the action of that .conference in its opinion that the whole cost of removing the piers should be borne by the Government." In moving this, he remarked ;that the Government was undoubtedly responsible for the existence of the piers, and should therefore remove Jjhem. Mr McColl, while supporting the motion, -said he thought it was hardly iair to lay the whole onus at the door oi the" present Government, as he himself remembered tendering for the construction of that same bridge, which was built 35 years ago. He did not think that one of the Ministers in office at that time was now in Parliament. The motion was carried unanimously. Tlie Mayor of Newmarket (Mr F. Bennett) was the recipient last night at the Council meeting of warm expressions of appreciation on the part of the • councillors for the manner he had carried out -his duties a3 Mayor of the borough. Councillor Davi3 expressed the personal hope that Mr Bennett would consent to stand for another term, as at the present juncture, with several important matters affecting "the botrough still undecided, no one, he thought, would be so capable of presiding over its business as its present Mayor, who had with such tact and -success guided the destinies of Newmarket during the past two years. This opinion was endorsed by several other councillors. The Mayor voiced his satisfaction at finding his efforts ron behalf of the borough so highly appreciated, and consented to reconsider his earlier decision not to stand for another term. Yesterday afternoon Detective ¥ahey arrested a- woman named Catherine Louisa Martin upon a warrant taken out at Christchureh in September, 1904, charging her with disposing of her business while she was an undischarged bankrupt, and absconding with the proceeds without making any arrangement with her creditors. Chief Detective Marsack applied in the Police Court to-day for the accused's remand to Christchurch, but Mr. Hackett, on the woman's behalf, objected owing to her physical condition. He produced a certificate from Dr. Purehas to show that she was to undergo a surgical operation as soon as possible. He suggested that if the creditors kne.\v the facts of the case the proceedings would be dropped. Mrs. Martin started a business on the' money received a3 compensation for an accident to her husband, and was in the hospital, "when the business was sold. Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., remanded the acc\ised to appear in Auckland on Wed- . nesday week, allowing bail in her own recognisance.

11l "ft Tecently issued Blue Book cori-! taining correspondence between tie! Colonial Office and various Colonial Governments -with reference to the efforts of "the Imperial Cancer- Beseareh Fund to"2assist the investigation of cancer throughout the Empire on a uniform basis, it is recorded that Sir H. H. Mc-i Galium, Governor of Natal, has iriti-i mated that his Ministers 'have directed that cancer is to. be included as a notifi-' able disease. An inquest was held a,t Oneaunga yesterday afternoon, lief ore Mx. S. Inike, into the-.circumstances touching the death of an illegitimate infant. fihUd, .aged three moniha, ,at .Mrs. Kvaois' jiursing home. After tearing the evi-i dence of Dr. Txesifider ;anud Mrs. Brans; a verdict of deatb-iirom-erncope "wft» Tβ-, JmnaHiL. . — — w > :.•-•• :■'"- ■ :

/The Hon. Jas. Carrell, ter ha^ postponed his. ■&£&?&* Auckland for Werhngton^^ The Fiji "Times" of \r„ , > Sunday laSt^^^uya, eS in he th HO c n ' W ' *Sa2R*-'----ceeded m the Government stS-^ 0 * nadi on a visit to the __m G _fe>to reports received by?h« v& °**t partment from the outlvin- • ?** J*ness of food prevailed ZnifL****gradually becoming'w'oX*£?£_*** sioner took with nee for distribution." *>*_ of (says the "Wairoa Guardi_£7 <**« propellor blades of the off have been fitted into the Tv A* **» having been sufficient™ "** suit. These blades, wSchwfe *> years of service on the mallyrmade out of a brass S belonging to a whaling veS£*P> at Mahia. The whales these cannon from the warshfiforf* nailing purposes instead of *S_s for all that.co_M.Wsaid.S_JS trary, may have seen service An accident occurred at _T»«__ Saturday last by which aS*"* Horace Jessop, son of Mr. j. with injuries. Jessop w_<, goods from a cart, and SijSfi?. foot on the step to take the horse suddenly started fo£w*_* Jessop fell. The wheel oftheSt2_S over the ? ower portionof the iE5' and though no bones are^brQteSßj x.^s~£_&fi* as can be expected A case heard by - the «K«___-• magistrate at some nnusual features.-: case were.summed up as ■time ago a canvasser called at fence of the defendants, wh^-f^ the wife and daughter piano, but that the been converted to that idea.*_H_n2? vasser urged -them to purchasestrument on the -instalment IprhS viz £s.down and a;e e_tamSS week. Before leaving,;he. said-.that order to save event of the parties'deciding.te _____* purchase, the usual agreeinenttottke a piano should be -signed.; The woman agreed to this; -on .^naition.-%at the agreement should : remain anoperativ. till she again T:eo__mhiri«Mt_a;witii the firm. Thepkno : w_shneroi ; .ordered, hence the-'actiontoiecorer the _JS, The magistrate gave judgment for ,th« defendants, -with expenses: amounthro te £2 7/7.- /:_/■/ : .y[i,: y -, ■ ".-■ f Dr. L. Cockayneinaaei -i_ryey.btt_S native bush at Riccartoh oh Thtiisdijj (says the- "CSiristchurch-.Press"), and; classified 60 different varieties;. A nuni'. her of trees were measured, and one |to< tara was found, to he. ;oyer Volt:!•__ ■ fcin cumferenee, 1 and a Mack :pine oyer l_ffc- ; Dr. Cockayne estimates that someofrtlai- : . adult .pines are under 1500. years ; o]d, ana that the -totara' _^crage v ;__*_i 10W or 1500 years.--" -.- - The Auckland Garrison:iß__4(t_l play the following aa~.ii_a Albert Park -on Wednesday eroung, commencing at ieight pinl-.-r-iaithj ü b> dependenta,". _R. B. oT&tw, " Popular- -Melodies,".- .De.Mordli; seles tion, "Stephen Adam -Bangs,'" arrange- - by J. . of Mine," J. Butch; '"Smithy in the Woods,*':!:_®c__*feif maTch, "A Franjeaa."-P.Murro Costti. Yesterday evening, at .tie > Ottßwhit •Methodist Church, Owen, who for some time pastiaijbep ministering to psrash|pners;_espe_i ; ,i>. the Manulcau-circuit, laday for Dunedin to tato'nip ; ____»< work, -was tendered ra vate-fctpry sMaaL There was alarge ; pers from the several district. '_&?< Saunders officiated ing the evening Mr. Owen waaawMw: recipient of a purse ;df friends of Otahuhu -places, as also one":_ro_-thefqalnwi people. Farewell speeches' mete ft* iivered, and the speakers ops in declaring that Mr. would retain lasting =appre-_it|raisrf;P labours. - ' •.•■■■„ VJ;;: A very serious case'; ; b?,vjs>f»iW .poisoning occurred at 22nd ult., Avhcn the family of HK Archer were prostrated' taking of a dish of irom meat kept over from "tte F* vious day. The. son Robin, fourteen was picked up Jn -in an unconscious condition, -»«'«* eldest daughter's ease.' was. critical. A nurse 'from-the; hospMi stayed with the stricken 'lattil^ <OK' ing Thursday -night, and on Trutay «• Baillie pronounced them out of da^Ei The extension of the-tablet to Auckland railways thas _ioW!beaiaß»| to Morrinsville. and a^j l tween this station and AueH * n< future be run on this system. lets have been in u_e as ? aT -* for some time past," and the have now been installed at ffirikiriroa, Ruakura, - and Morrinsvillei Eureka will not be used ipermanentiy, :at the other stations the system used on all trains. A trialof was made under the - Mr. T. Waite (District Traffic M«W Mr. Phey (Electrical. Johnson (Traffic Inspector)l officials who went thro_gh-Ay;a «P«T train, and everything working satisfactorily. W Jishment of this system. possible for two trainsto be_on tion of line at the same, renders tbe working; of a smgte lm%« safe as a double'one. ; In the suit brought in Winnie Bell against John A. for alleged breach of vpronuse, non (for defendant) made» offer/ He said that the.-""""Jg settled in five minutes ot would adjourn to rai's marriage office. " 6ail of the offer, and was awarded. £a» on .; « claim-for £1000 - • The annual meetmg«f Musical Society was when the-report was aoid it was decided to season on Monday, the 9th inst, and, e f or :th. ment is forthcoming, -f £?£& : oraat i. year; but, if not, to 39, innual meeting «m Jb? -- after rehearsal. The work J the final concert is MenddSDhn of Praise." •• . ' ; ._- __j« In another column our observe that an decfaon o , rf frSnvoltion of Met is to 2nd -May,' aad that 1 ' must be delivered .to the w not later ttjan 12 mat. • - ? ■»' -" *, a/^i