CANAL-MAKING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 995, 9 December 1910, Page 6

CANAL-MAKING.

BIG AUCKLAND. SCHEMES, . ] (By Teleffraph.—Special CorreQDOndenO ■ Auckland, December 8. There is' a strong movement here is favour of cutting a canal through.. from Waitemata Harbour to the Mannkau,' and. another through from the, Manukau. Harbour to the Waikato Biver, and yesterday an important and . enthusiasfcio conference "ol delegates from the Auckland Harbour Board and the Chamber of Commerce, and from various Waikato and Manukau local bodies, was held at' Hamilton, when resolutions in favour of ■ the schemes were carried.. In the course of - some remarks; the chairman of- the Harbour Board (Mr. Entrican) said that when their retiring secretary and treasurer (Mr. J. M. Brigham) -entered the board's service 37 years ago the income of the board was .£12,000.' The revenue.had now increased to ,£120,000, having increased tenfold. (Applause.) In alluding to the board's endowments he said that when the I'reeman's Bay reclamation was completed .it would be worth a quarter of a million sterling. Ifthe board took the canal scheme in hand its country constituents need have little fear of having to pay any. fas'on account of the scheme. At present the board looked upon all the territory within 200 miles south of Auckland (half way to Wellington) as territory which should have its outlet at Auckland. Seeing, however, that the board had such won-' derfal .endowments as compared with Wellington, and the consequent lower-' rates, he thought that they should bo able to do business with some more than the. 200 miles. All that was needed was dumping facilities for wool and flax equal to those •in Wellington. When these were. provided, they should be' able to tempt ■ both wool and flax from much further south than the half-way house. (Hear, hear.) When the harbour improvements . scheme was, completed, at a total cost of', about. two millions sterling, therewould, said Mr. Entrican, be no better equipped port south of the line than Auckland. Two sea captains who had recently visited Auckland had expressed the opinion that there was no wharf in the Dominion so well equipped for handling goods as the Railway Wharf. When all tho wharves wore completed they would be able to fairly claim.for Auckland, not only the' distinction of being the premier port of the Dominion, but also that of the first port in Australasia. (Applause.)