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Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 267, 23 May 1855, Page 5

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —In the report of the Provincial Engineer on the construction of the Sumner road, par. 61, I find this passage—" A reference to Captain Drury's report, and tbe chart of the entrance to the Sumner river will show that with the assistance of a steam tug, vessels of 200 tons may be brought into the river without risk or difficulty." Will the Provincial Engineer be so good as to inform your readers in what part of the report any such " show 7-' as a vessel of 200 tons being brought into the Sumner river without risk or difficulty is to be seen ? On reading the report carefully over, I find passages bearing upon the subject are these, viz. :—'"For such a small embouchure a bar of 5 feet at low water may be considered as a favourable entrance, and, in my opinion, with due care, may be made available for the purposes of transporting cargo in safety from Port Victoria to Christchurch." Again, " The great difficulty however in this river, appears to be getting out,'' and lastly, " I think the establishment of a small, short, substantial paddle-wheel steamer will be found an invaluable (indeed necessary) adjunct to the prosperity of Canterbury, aud there is ample room for such a vessel to turn. " Now, none of these passages support the fanciful idea of the Provincial Engineer, of which I should have taken no notice, but that it might possibly be mischievous. It would not be very profitable to the settlement to have the mouth of the river stopped up by the wreck of a 200 ton vessel. However, after all, Ido not suppose there is very much fear of a sea-serpent being charmed into an eel-trap by the Provincial Engineer. I am, Sir, _Tour obedient servant, An Enquirer.