TAMAKI CANAL

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 211, 5 September 1911, Page 7

TAMAKI CANAL

LOCAL BODIES IN FAVOUR. At Ellerslie last evening a large number of representatives of local bouies met togetner to discuss the proposed Tamalo canal. Hearty support of the project was shown throughout, and a resolution was passed approving the scheme. Mr. I. Wymcr (Mount Wellington Road Board) presided, and amongst tnose jjrecent were Messrs. J. E. Taylor, VV. E. Hutchinson and Charles Bagley (Auckland Harbour Board), G. Wilkinson and members of Ellersli* Town Board, J. Atkinson (Otahuhu), J. Fitzgerald, A. E. Hattaway and J. Campbell (Pakuranga), W. T. May, .1. Somerville, L. McInness (Paparoa), S. Lord and J. Gill (Howick), V. Andrews (Panmure) and S. Hamlin (Mount Wellington). Mr. Atkinson said the proposed canal affected a large number of people. The cheapness of transit of canals was well known, and it was a wonder to him that they had not availed themselves of their use before. The following resolution was moved by Mr. J. Fitzpatriek:

That this meeting of associated road boards, represcutiug many thousands of ratepayers in the Mauukuu. l'arooli, and Kden electorates, whose interests are adjacent to <l:e Tamakl lUver or the Monukai' Uarbour, expresses its strong desire that the system of locks and eiubauuments as advocated by Mr J. E. Taylor tor inland navigation, and adopted by Auckland lToviucial Industrial Association, and endorsed by public meetings at Mangere, l'akuranga, Waluku, and Otahuhu, snail be carried out for the great benefit of the public: and that the Auckland Harbour Board will co-ope-rate with the local bodies having control of tie Tamaki bridge, for this purpose, and with the Waluku district authorities for a similar embankment and lock at The Needles, thus making the complete system. This meeting desires, therefore, that a clause shall be embodied in the Manukau Harbour Control BUI, now being Rnbmltted to Parliament, empowering the Auckland Harbour Board and these local oodles to co-operate for those purposes, and that members representing these districts in Parliament be requested to give effect to this resolution. The motion was seconded by Mr. W fN fcinson, Who saOT tnat few people bad yet properly realised the advantages | of such a canal. J Mr. Taylor first spoke of the bill which -was at present before Parliament in regard to the control of the Manukau harbour. The important pa.rt of thp scheme was to impound the water, whibh could onlv be done by embankments and locks; it could not be done by a ferro-concrete bridge. If what; be proposed were carried out, it would ensure the canal route passing their way. An embankment bridge on the ClnehungaMangere road would cost abo'it 20,000, and the ferro-concrete bridge would cost about the same. The former wbuld keep the waters at high tide, and Kould permit of water carriage at once. A similar embankment bridge at Tamaki would cost about £IO,OOO. Mr. Wyman said a barge caial would be the first system, beyond do ibt, but a ship canal would come afterwards. Mr. Hutchinson thought thfa meeting would be making a mistak! if they passed the resolution. TV Harbour Board would probably withdraw the bill. They had at present no cont-ol on the Manukau side, and were not < onsidering the question of canals. Mr. Bagley supported tin previous speaker. It was decided when putting the resolution to th£_ meeting, that tl e Harbour Boa.nl delegates should not vote.- The motion was eventually carri;d without dissent.