HARBOUR EXTENSION AND CANAL SCHEMES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 222, 12 June 1908, Page 7

HARBOUR EXTENSION AND CANAL SCHEMES.

. (BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL' CORRESPONDENT.) . Christchurch, June 11. ~ In.foivorsation to-day .with a member of tho , Press ' staff, Mrj Albert. Kaye, president of the Chamber of Commerce, claimed that the; report by tho English consulting engineers,;on.'the.. harbour. • 6xtensi6n> ana canal schemes, was distinctly favourablo to a dock being . formed at . Heathcote. Mr. Wilson distinctly states that lie has' only dealt with the question at issue from an engineering and navigation aspect, and altogether apart from tho questions of landing facilities and haulagd. : Hence his approval of a harbour being formed-at Gollans Bay. At tho same time, ho distinctly,, states that tho construction of a canal does'not present any insuperable engineering • difficulties, and ho disposes of many of-tho difficulties with which tho project was thought to bo'surrounded.' .. . 1 •'

"To my fflind," Mr. Kayo continued; "the harbour at Gollans Bay would be an entire mistake., The site is at: the foot of.prac-. ticaliy precipitous cliffs,. and all tho lovel ground would have to be acquired by reclamation; and even then, when formed, the tidal area would be very limited. Tho distance from Lyttelton (two miles) would make it exceedingly expensivb'and difficult to successfully work. Tho present drawbacks to Lyttelton,as,a port would bo intensified. The extra.two miles, of haulage,'and the division of Lyttelton as a port into two ports,as .it were, would "considerably hamper the speedy working of'vessels, and absolutely necessitate the making of another tunnel to cope with tho increased traffic. On the if the wharves and docks, were ereqted at Heathcoto, tho adjoining 'land could bo purchased at comparatively low cost, and become the site of a largo number of warehouses in years to come, Should such a schemo bo carried out, no doubt tho merchants of. Christchurch would build their distributing stores at Heathcote, and the stores could be landed direct into the large sheds. A largo road traffic would spring up to carry the goods for tho four -miles between Heathcote .and Christchurch. By this means merchandise would bo delivered very much more Quickly than at present, and without those extreme delays that so ofton oceur with tho present system. It is high time, that some steps wero taken in getting relief from the heavy and; extortionate, charges that we are every now and again met with in connection with-the present tariff .between Lyttelton and Christchurch. Tho first outlay may .'seem largo, yet I am thoroughly convinced that it will berecognised in year's to come that ,tho saving tliht would be made by having the port so close at '■ Heathcoto would fat more than compensate for tho interest that would have to be paid on any loan..