PUBLIC WORKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1001, 14 June 1862, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS.

Railway.—The Railway Works have made steady progress during the last few months; the total length of heading driven being now upwards of 650 yards, whilst a considerable length of the tunnel at each end has been taken out to its full size. The contractors are quarrying for the tunnel front and bridge work in Heathcote valley a' very handsome stone, which forms a dyke four miles in length,'and which can be traced from the top of the Port hills as far northwards as the Heathcote ferry. Mr. Richardson, of the firm of Holmes and Co. has gone to England for the purpose of superintending the construction of the machinery ordered for boring the tunnel and to make arrangements connected with the. Railway Works. He will bring out with him, on his return, the iron work for the drawbridge over the Heathcote which has been contracted for by Messrs. Holmes & Co. according to the Provincial Engineer's designs. Telegraph.—The erection of the telegraph poles forms a new and very pleasing feature in the environs of Christchurch and Lyttelton, marking as it does a new era in Canterbury. We understand that the telegraph will be ready for use in about three week's time. The terminal stations are to be at the Government buildings in Christchurch and the Police office at Lyttelton. Roads.—There is little to remark upon the roads except that they are being formed and metalled in all directions from the Waipara plains to the Waitaki, an operation which has the effect of making them impassable during the winter months. No doubt the thorough poaching which the new embankments are receiving will tend to make them hard and firm during the ensuing summer, but the inconvenience to the public in the meanwhile is very great and the cost of the works must be greatly enhanced by their being carried on during the bad weather. Drainage.—We notice that a contract has been let for clearing the river Halswell, a work which has been needed, the growth of weeds having so completely choked the fiver bed as to cause the water to overflow the adjoining lands. The drainage of the Papanui and Rangiora swamps proceeds slowly, the low lands being completely flooded in consequence of the heavy falls of rain which have recently taken place. Towns.—The Town Councils at Lyttelton and Christchurch have each appointed its town surveyor and are slowly getting to work. In Lyttelton, little has yet been done, beyond repairing the metalling of the streets, but, in Christchurch the council have engaged Mr. Bray to report upon the leading drainage outfalls and have commenced a system of surface drainage in accordance with his recommendations. They have also appointed a sanitary commission to consider the best method of sewerage and watersupply which report may be looked for in a few days. The employment of scavengers for the first time in Canterbury to sweep the streets of Christchurch is worthy of note as the commencement of a proper system of sanitary measures. Timber and Fuel.—A commission has been appointed to consider the question of the best manner of giving access to the forest at Little River; the engineering difficulty being the crossing of Lake Ellesmere which skirtifthe base of the Peninsula hills for several miles. A company has also been formed for sending an exploring party to report on the best means of working the coal on the river Grey, preparatory to making an offer to the Government for leasing the oalfield resercves. The quality of this coal has been so thoroughly tested that the only points to be ascertained are the nature of the entrance to the river and the cost of laying a tramway from the anchorage to the spots most available for working the coal. It is impossible to attach too much importance to these projected undertakings, which, if successful will tend greatly to the prosperity of the colony by supplying its two greatest wants and affording ample employment to a very considerable population, besides retaining in the settlement a large amount of money which now annually goes out for timber and fuel to Wellington, Auckland, Yan Diemans land and Sydney. Whether we look at the Grey valley as a gold field, a coal field, or, as a source of timber supply, it is impossible not to see that the establishment of a settlement there would greatly increase the trade of Canterbury. Holding, as we do, the key to the whole of that district, the working of the coal field would give us the whole of New Zealand as a market.