INLAND WATERWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1913, Page 7

INLAND WATERWAYS.

TAMAKI CANAL PROPOSAL. A paragraph in the report of the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association, submitted at the annual meeting of their membens.'this .afternoon, referred to the can-.il proposals for" linking up the AVaitemata and the Manukau Harbours. 'Proposals for connecting the two harbours had (it stated) been before the committee on 'many occasions during the past three years. In iDecember, 1910, the association was invited to send represcovttvtives to a conference held in Ha.milton on the subject, when the further general question of inland waterways was •taken into consideration. By reason of the Tcnewed interest in the question by the recent proposals submitted to the Harbour Board by the representative of an American syndicate, the committee had 'communicated with' the various local bodies interested in the Tamaki proposal, and had arranged for a further conference "to be held to-day. The Industrial Association had been advised that tlie following delegates would attend the Canal Conference: — Messrs J. 11. Ounson (Auckland Harbour BouTd), S. J. Nathan and J. M. Mennie (Chamber of Commerce). A. S. Holmes, J. Park, and G. L. Taylor (Onehunga and LALiuuknu' Chamber of Commerce), J. W. Ellis (Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and Frankton Town Board), A. Glass (Wadkato River Board), Jno. Roive, Crs. Dillicar and Kimpson (Onehunga Borough Council), M. R. McKenzie ('Manuka v County Council V.Campbell and Pitkington (Tamaki West Roa.rd Board), Jno. Bryant (East Tamaki Road Board), A. E. H-athaway and T. .R. GiH (Pakuranga Road Board). A. Lowe (Otaliuhu Ratepayers' Association), besides the members of the Provincial Industrial Association. To bring matters to a definite point. Mr Harbutt (president of the Industrial Association) moved: 'That this conference considers the time has arrived for some definite action to he taken towards the construct ion of a barge canal connecting the Waikato River with the Wa-itemaia Harbour." Air Harbutt urged that the construction of a barge canal was feasible and practicable owing to the immediate benefits that would accrue .to both town and country, whereas a more ambitious scheme for "a deep-water canal could not be faced for years. The barge canal would he cheaper, and would be of inestimable benefit, not only to the city, hut -to the farming community, who could thereby bring their raw products quieldv- and cheaply to the market. Mr Harbutt went on to say that the Industrial Association considered that it was within its province as an organisation to foster any movement that would ensure freights being transported as cheaply as possible. The question of water communication was one of vital importance to the industries of Auckland. The district was already very greatly favoured hy nature with excellent waterways, but connecting links were wunted before these advantages lying at our doors could bo utilised, lie remarked that by cheap water carriage the transport of coal alone from the Waikato would be a tremendous boon to Auckland industries, lt would be possible by two cuts to join up the Waitcmata, the Manukau, and the Waikato. At present the cheapest possible scheme would be the most, desirable, and for that reason the Association advocated the construction of a '"barge" canal. Mr S. ,1. Nathan seconded the motion submitted by Mr Harbutt. lie endorsed the soundness of the contentions of the mover, and reviewed the benefits that would accrue if the canal scheme, for v barge canal, could be carried into effect. Before the motion was ■thrown open for general discussion, it was announced that delegates, in addition to thr.se already mentioned above, were present from Mt. Wellington Road Board, Otahuhu Borough Council, and Mt. Roskill Road Board. The chairman of the Harbour Board was unable to be present. The motion affirming the principle of canal construction was unanimously carried. Mr McColl (vice-president of the Industrial Association) moved as follows: —"That, realising the benefit accruing from inland -water navigation lies in the cheapness of carriage, this conference would urge the Auckland Harbour Hoard to take active steps to construct a barge canal at the Tamaki. the small cost of which would enable inland goods to be conveyed at the •minimum of cost."