SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

Evening Star, Issue 11677, 8 February 1902, Page 6

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

CHRISTCHURCH, February 8.

Tho idea of connecting Christchurch with the sea has been cherished here almost ever since the foundation of Canterbury. Quite early in the history of the province an area of land was set aside for a canal, but the project never got any further. Now there ia a possibility of its being revived. The merchants of Christchurch and the people of Canterbury generally arc in the habit of considering themselves very badiy treated :n the matter of (barges made by the Railway Department for carnage on the Lyttei-ton-Christchurch line. They point out that in the days of provincialism Canterbury built the tunnel through the Port Hills tnd la>d the line, and they complain that, taking these facts into consideration, the present rates are outrageously high. The question of a fresh port at Snmner, with canal communication to Christchurch, was, as the Press Ascociation informed you, discussed at the annual meeting of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, held on Thursday. The project was warmly received by some members and coldly by others, but all agreed that the idea of a rival harbor might be made a serviceable lever to persuade the Government to make a concession in the railway rates on the Port line.

Readers of the ‘Star’ will recollect, perhaps, that a few months ago the Rev. H. C. M. Watson, the vicar of St. John’s Church, Christchurch, died in Australia, whence he bad gone in search of health. The parishioners of that church have placed a marble tablet) to his memory in a niche over the pulpit. The ceremony of unveiling the tablet will take place to-morrow. The proposal to invite the Imperial Government to tend a batch of Boer prisoners to the Chathams is still being discussed here.