INLAND WATERWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 155, 30 June 1916, Page 2

INLAND WATERWAYS.

CANAL CONNECTION WITH WAIKATO. CHEAPER COST OF TRANSIT. Air. J. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato, has given notice to ask the Minister for Marine whether the Government Ims had brought before its notice the great i increase in trailic which has taken place on the Wiiikato and Waipa Rivers, between Waikato Heads and Hamilton and Pirongia, and whether he will urge , Cabinet to revive the Harbours and Inland Waterways Commission, with a view to preparing the way for post-war action in opening up the inland navigable waterways of Auckland Province? ■ It may be remembered that a few years ago Mr. D. B. Russell brought before the business men of Auckland a , scheme for cutting a canal between the Waitemata and the Munu'kau, via the Whau portage, and offered, if certain - concessions were granted, to raise the capital in the United States to carry , out 'bhc work. For the last couple of years Mr. Russell has been British Resident Agent at the Cook Islands, but , 'being at the present time on a visit to . Auckland, he was seen by a representative of the "Auckland Star" regarding , this matter. ( "As 1 came up from Wellington," said Mi. Russell. "1 broke by journey at Hamilton. Of course the war lias put < aside all hope of raising money for such i a purpose at the present, but I am of i the same opinion still, that it is a pay- i ahle proposition, and I intend to renew i the matter when the time is suitable. My scheme was a ship canal between • Auckland and Manukau, but I have now I come to the conclusion that something i more than that should be done. The canal, when made, sliould be carried right through to the Waikato River, ■which would be then opened up for navigation by small steamers right up to Hamilton. The thnc lias come when such a canal is a necessity for the Waikato. The people up there are already making that river navigable, and ail that is required is to cut this canal to enable the produce to be carried much more cheaply by water to Auckland and goods sent in rrturn from this city. Previously I wasted all my time on the Harbour Board, which was a mistake, r as that body looked upon the canal merely as a luxury for Auckland, * whereas now it is recognised as a necessity for the Waikato. Consider, for * instance, the saving in the cost of coal if it were delivered to the city by T barges instead of by railway. That I alone would be a big saving annually to '* the citizens, as there would be cheaper freights and less cost of handling if the 8 coal were brorrjrht to the city by barges ? through such a canal. All that is re- . quired is for the people of ttic Waikato ' to awaken to the need for this canal. , Until that time, nothing can be done, and I am perfectly willing to await de- „ velopments in rlie Islands, to which 1 return shortly. Once they are ready to a go on I am still in the position to raise ? the rcqnisite capital at the eonclusion-of the war. c i 1