The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 543, 16 January 1858, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday", January 16,.

Th c business-like appearance of out* harbour during the iastweek,andthesteadily increasing traffic which' has set. in of late mduces those who have' much' to do with the shipping to turn their thoughts towards

the improvements necessary in the Port ; for the safety and convenience 'of vessels trading1 with this Province* There are certain public works which, ought to be undertaken in the Port 6f Lyttelton for the benefit of the Province generally; Such improvements would benefit every class of the community directly. . If the Port got a high name among" shipowners for safety, convenience and ■ despatch, the freight of' wool and of other principal articles of export as well as of import!would be materially lowered. Fortunately for us, Nature has done its share in us with a splendid harbour; -with a little exertion on our parts. there wouldi be few whose advantages in; every respect would exceed those of Port Lyttelton. 1? ? » The principal improvements that appear, immediately requisite are,—another deep water jetty j at least a; couple of heavy moorings to enable vessels lying- alongside to warp off: on the approach of bad wea-' t'.e'; en I a better supply of water.: Without these, iwe are certainly deficient in the proper facilities which ought to be i found in such a harbour as ours. :

[: The present jetty has done good service, but: it is getting old and cranky now, and is not sufficient in any respect for the increasing trade of the "Province. > Another private;; jetty is being constructed; but neither will this satisfy the want now felt: A public i jetty running out near the Custom House Reserve, at the end of Dublin street; into sufficiently deep water to: enable largeschoonersand;brigs toilie alongsidev in fine weather, would iprobably answer the end required for some time * tor come. Heavy Imoorings laid down in good holdm£ ground would enables vessels to do this with; perfect safety; I We ■ should -like to knpw what such works might be estimated atf we understand :thatthei probable cost would not exceed our means, r

The other necessary which we have alluded to, viz., a supply of good water, might be obtained along1 the water: frontage with very little difficulty. Lyttelton has only got four public wells at the present time; one in the barrack yard,' one in the Custom House yard, and two on Norwich' Quay. For the use of shipping, as .weU-Asfas-tIK? Ko a Ul ? of the town, a further supply is needed. Reservoirs* in' tne gullies in I the. upper parts of Canterbury and * Oxford streets, and wells lower down but as high up as pumps could be worked, would appear to be the best means of meeting the present deficiency. We abstain at present from alluding to drainage and the formation of the main streets in the .town. We wish particularly to draw attention' to the means of improving the capabilities of Lyttelton Harbour ,as a shipping port. This subject concerns the Province at large as much or more than the Town of Lvttelton itself.