INLAND WATERWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 233, 2 October 1925, Page 8

INLAND WATERWAYS.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. AUCKLAND WITHOUT CANALS. OLD-TIME PORTAGES. Auckland is admirably situated on an isthmus, with a big harbour at each side, and by its location has also opportunities for developing a wonderful system ot inland waterways by means of canals con- j necting the Waitemata with the Manu-, kau and to the Waikato River, also by way of Riverhead to Helensville, on the Kalpara Harbour. As far back as the days of the Waikato War the Royai Engineers surveyed a route for a canal across the Whau Portage to Karaka Bay on the Manukau. If these water connections were made it would open up hundreds of miles of sea and river, and enable goods to be conveyed at less cost than at the present time. A short canal at either Tamaki or Avondale (Whau Portage) would connect with the Manukau Harbour, and then another one would reach the Waikato River. That would no doubt follow the course of the old Maori portage near Waiuku. In the early days the missionaries taught the Maoris in the Waikato to grow wheat, maize and potatoes. They used to bring their produce down the Waikato River in canoes, and then carry it across the portage to Waiuku, where it was bought by European traders, who in return supplied goods wanted by the natives. One great advantage of connection with the Waikato River by canal would be the facility afforded for bringing coal down by barges at a cheap rate of freight. Another canal between the Waitemata and Kaipara Harbours would open up another 100 miles of waterways north of Auckland. This canal would, however, be a much bigger work, as it would mean cutting several miles, whereas connection with the Manakau Harbour is not a very big affair, as the distance to be dealt with between tho two* harbours is under a mile. On several occasions movements have been started to get water communication

with the Manukau, but matters never got beyond the stage of preparing plans and submitting reports. Years ago it was argued that if such a canar were formed, the cheap coal carried would result in the springing up of a number of industries in the vicinity of Avondale, on the land which would be reclaimed with the spoil excavated. Since then, however, oil fuel and electric . power have been introduced, which I means less demand for coal by factories. One thing is quite evident, namely, that if a canal is constructed it will have to be a private venture, as the Gov- | eminent can hardly be expected to • undertake a work to compete with the ; railways. | The value of inland waterways is I fully recognised in America. Quite! lately a report was submitted dealing with the economic aspects of a scheme for constructing a deep water ship canal to Sacramento. It is suggested this should start from some point lower ; on the Sacramento River, or on the, lower San Joaquin River, to a termi- ! nal marine port at Sacramento itself. I The conclusions arrived at in the report j are that a navigation canal with a deep water terminal in the heart of Cali- j fornia's great central valley, is desirable. It is suggested in the report that the depth of the canal should be 30 feet, so as to provide for large vessels.