SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1263, 14 July 1864, Page 2

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

[Summarised from the i.tttelton times, from the 14th June to the 12th. July.]

A meeting of the Fire Brigade was held on the 15th ult., at Bonnington's Rooms. The following resolutions was proposed by Mr. W.Wilson, and carried:—"That this meeting has unlimited confidence in the constitution, character, and energy of the present members and officers of the Fire Brigade, and while wishing to see its present efficiency extended to meet the growing necessities of the city, this meeting repudiates the idea of extending the present brigade by any other means than by an increase of its members, subject in all respects to the approval of its present Managing Committee." Several gentlemen spoke to the point, whether the extension of the brigade should be extended by itself alone, or in co-operation with the Committee appointed by the late meeting. A meeting of the Canterbury Musical Society was held on the 14th June. The report of the proceedings was read as also the financial, statement, both of which were of a highly satisfactory character. The following were elected: —President, J. C. Wilson, Esq., C.8.; Vice President, John Ollivier, Esq.; Conductor, Mr. Bonnington ; Treasurer, Mr. Jolm Bilton ; Honorary Secretary, Mr. Richard Davis. Twelve ladies and eighteen gentlemen were elected as new members of the society. A vote of thanks to the officers and committee of the past year terminated the proceedings. A sum of money will be remitted to England by this mail to be invested in the purchase of classical music. We have been shewn a model of a calculating machine, constructed by a man named Frazee of Pigeon Bay, who slates that it is Ills own invention. The machine, which is exceedingly simple, will give the area or cubic contents of any figure which can be traced to scale on paper, or the outside dimensions of which are known. It is peculiarly useful in calculating the contents of any uneven figure, such as a plot of ground with an irregular boundary, or the amount of masonry in the walls of a house, omitting doors and windows; or any similar operation. The pointer, as in a pentagraph, i 3 simply traced over the outline, and the result is read off from a card on the top. The machine will also perform ordinary arithmetical processes, or complex calculations in figures of any kind. For the convenience of such of the Synodsmen as are also members of the Provincial Conncil, the Bishop of Christ church, has postponed the meeting of the Synod until the 2nd of August. Mr. 11. L. Holmes has been appointed Secretary of the Local Committee of the New Zealand Exhibition of 1805.

The Kaikiuiui Hotel, Kaiapoi, was nearly destroyed by fire on the 18th ult. It appears that by some accident a burning log fell upon the floor, which was soon in flames. Fortunately, a passer-by saw the danger and gave the alarm. The fire was extinguished before any serious injury had been done.

Mr. George Sale, whose name is gazetted as Provincial Treasurer, is appointed also, in Mr. Bowen's room, Receiver of Land Ee venue, an office under the General Government. The duties of both oifiees have already been entered upon by Mr. Sale. The total value of rateable property in Lyttelton, under the present assessment amounts to £30,234, and a rate levied undev the powers of the Ordinance would produce £1511 lis at Is in the pound.

The annoyance so much complained of by the inhabitants of Gloucester-street and the visitors to the theatre, in consequence of the muddy state of the footpath, will shortly be obviated, ns asplmltc pavement is about to be laid down in that locality; the delay in doing so has arisen from the difliculty in finding a sufficient quantity of stone kcrbing, which is mueli in demand. The foot' path leading from tho corner of Cashel-strcet to the Town Hall (which at present is a sort of slough of despond) will also be siuiiiarly paved as soon as the works at the latter building are completed. At a meeting of the Board of Management of the Christchurch Hospital it was unanimously resolved, "That the Board of Management desires to record its deep sense of the important services rendered to the Christchurch Hospital by Silas S. Stedman, Esq., ;M.D.; of the assistance afforded the Board since it assumed the management, and of his uuiform attention and kindness to the patients." Dr. Stedman has since been elected Physician to the hospital. A child was accidentally poisoned in the neighbourhood of Riccarton, in consequence of a dose of laudauum having been inadvertently administered. An inquest was held at tho Plough Inn, Ricearton, and a verdict of accidental death returned.

A meeting of the members of the Mechanics' Institute was held ou tho 29th ult. Mr. C. W. Bishop occupied tho chair. The principal business before the meeting was tho election of ollicers and committee. Tho minutes of the last meeting having been read and continued, the fol. lowing gentloiuen were elected:—President, S. Bealey, Esq. ; Treasurer, G. Miles, Esq.; Librarian, E. B. Bishop, Esq.; Secretary, E. Penham, Esq.; Committee, Messrs. J. Minor, C. W. Bishop, J. Bowman, G. T. Chisnall, J. Ollh'ior, J. W. Slmckleton, F. C. Worth, G. Fletcher, J. Foley, J. G. llawkes, Jas. Johnston, W. Neeve, W. H. Phillips, W. 1). Wood, J. C. Brooke, J. Anderson, If. H. Prins, C. 0. Torlesse, C. Ward, J. W. Smith. Tho annual report was read and adopted. The financial statement was also read and adopted. An unanimous vote of thanks to the Treasurer, for his oflieient services during tho past year, was parried; as was also one to the oflicors and the mombers of the committee. i

The Hospital is an extremely unfortunate institution. Some time ago the Government handed over the management of it to the public. A Board of Management was appointed by tho Governors; by-laws were squabbled over, and tho appointment of officers was proceeded with.

The public wero to bo trusted with their hospital and support it themselves, und tho Government were glad to get rid of an expensive institution. The subscriptions have not rolled in as anticipated, and tlio Board wanting money asked the Government for a donation, when (hey wore informed that tho balance of tho vote would bo paid up to May last, but no further aid must be expected. An expenditure of something like £4000 por annum has been initiated, but tho problem is, how can it bo met ? Tho Hoard of Management have resigned, and no doubt it will become* a nice question how tho hospital can bo huddled back upon tho Govornjnenf, Tho monthly mooting of tho Council of tho Canterbury Acclimatization Society was held on the 30th inst,, at tho Mechanics' Institute, at two o'clock, Mr. Weld, tho president of tho society, took tho chair. Tho following gentlemen were present: —Messrs. Cracroft Wilson, C. O. Torlesso, (1. Miles, Hill, Macfarlane, Avnsloy, Davie, and Packer. Tho minutes of the last meeting wero read by tho secretary and confirmed. Mr. Wold expressed his thanks for having been elected president of tho society; and staled that ho had sent to England for hares and partridges, both English and red-logged. The latter variety, though inferior to tho English in many respecti, ho considered would bo moro likely to succeed in Now Zealand, as their groat pugnacity would givo thorn a better chonco against the wekas. ifo expected them to arrivo about July, and ho would be happy fo plapo them at tho disposal of tho society, should the grpunds be in a fit stato to reecivo them. At tho suggestion of tl>« president, it was arranged that any member who should present animals to tho society should have, if ho wished, the first incrnqo from them. Mr. Aynsley moved that tho meetings be held for the present at two o'clock, in order to allow country member* to attend. Mr. Miles seconded the pro-

portion, which was carried 11cm. con. The secretary rend copies of letter* lie had sent to the Acclimatization Societies of England, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, and to Sir George Grey, arid ft l-ttor of thanks to Dr. Muller, of Melbourne, for his offer of plants from the M.lbourne Botanical Gardens. _ The meeting then adjourned to the Government Domain, in order t) see how fur the trenching and laving out of the grounds had advanced. Mr, Barker, thy Government Gardener, conducted the members round Iho garden.", and it win agreed by all that the work was going on most satisfactorily, and, when finished, would be a great acquisition to the town. The Government Grant in ad of tlv funds of Hie society amounts to .t;i,OW, arid the subscriptions proniiwd or received to about -i'l'/10. The custom of "clicking up" seems to be prevalent just now on the Papanui-road, at least two casis having occurred. Tne perpetrators of the outrage* hare not, ai yet, been detected. The block of burnt ground in Colombo street is about to receive florae building* which will far exre d in beauty and permanence the ihops which ware destroyed by f,ro upon it. The passer-bv may observe some very indifferent wooden buildings already up and open as shops at the southern end of the street: but these, we understand, aie

intended to be merely temporary in character, as the lease of the soil on which they stand has only a very short time to run. At-the northern end Mews. Mat son and Torlesse, J. C. Brooke and Co., and Awntissen have arranged for the iinmed'ute erection of their respective premise*, to be substantially built of brick with slate roofs, afler designs by Mr. fsury, Messrs. Farr and Cuff, and Mr. Mountfort, respectively. Other brick and stone buildings are, wo believe, in contemplation, but their details are not yet decided upon. The plans which we have seen exhibit a taste in design which will probably on their completion do much to relieve the observer of any regret for the late fire.

The Amoor has brought also the third and concluding portion of the Gas Company's plant. The first shipment arrived by the Indian Empire: the second, including all the mains, by the Ivanhoe; and by the present arrival the gasholder, cast-iron tank, &c., are to hand, making the complete plant for the works. The meters and fitting*, which are to be provided for public demand, will come out in the British Empire. The whole of the ironwork has been contracted for by Mr. John Anderson, of the Canterbury foundry, and has been supplied by Messrs. Cochrane and Co., of Staffordshire, who are fhe contractors for the Charing Cross railway bridge ironwork, the Clifton Bridge and other important works. It is worth notice that Mr. Anderson took this contract on the 13th July last year, undertaking the supply of the material within twelve months, which stipulation he has exactly fulfilled, and thereby shewn an example of punctuality under difficulties. The mains, stretching in all about three miles, will probably be laid in about three weeks, but it may be four or five months before the company will be ready for lighting up. We arc gratified to find that an artesian well has been, opened by Mr. Jebson for Messrs. H. S. Brown and Co.s 01 the Albion Brewery, Christchurch, upon their premises near the Lincoln roacf and Town Belt south, where these gentlemen are erecting a stone building for the purposes of a brewery. The result of the undertaking has been by far the most successful we have yet witnessed, and there is decidedly the strongest overflow of water of any of the artesian wells. The depth of the boring is eighty feet, while the pipes, three inches in diameter, extend to a depth of seventy-five feet six inches. We are informed that when the spring was first tapped the force of the water in the pipe was so great as to bring up stones weighing as much as four ounces and a quarter. The great interprovincial Telegraphic line has been sadly delayed in construction bv the failure of the contractors in Tasmania to supply the posts. We learn, however, that a sufficient quantity has now been contracted for at Oxford to erect the line at least as far a3 the Kakaia. Beyond that river southwards in this province, some difficulty may be met with in obtaining the right sort of posts; but as the engineer is now on his way to the locality,it may be hoped that something will soon be done. At the worst, we may look for the opening of the line through to the Bluff within six months: after which, we hope the provincial branches may be amalgamated with the main iine On the Ist July, Mr. W. H. Simms was elected a member of the Provincial Council for the district of Timaru. We notice that, for the convenience of the inhabitanti residing on the Ferry-road, the trains will stop at Hillsborough Station, near Mr. E. Garland's house, and that a ferry-boat is provided to take passengers across the river free, to meet the trains. As an instance of the desire of the Bailway lessees to meet the wishes of the public thia arrangement is noticeable, and will no doubt be appreciated.

The City Council's carts have been employed in conveying broken stone for the metalling of the streets throughout the city. Already the Ferry road and street as far up as the Town Hall, have been covered with stone of the hardest quality; and we hope that before another period of wet weather, such as the one we encountered some days ago, sets in, the metalling of all the public thoroughfares will be completed. Thea instead ot wading through mud knee-deep, we shall have the gratification of walking upon a hard and dry footway. The new offices in course of construction for Messrs. Aikman and Wilson, commission agents, High street, are

rapidly approaching completion. The building is being for the most part erected of wood, but the side-wall adjoining the row of houses composing the block terminated by Mr. F.ishi-r's store, is built of br.ck, thus contributing in a considerable degree to the safety of other premises in case a fire broke out in these new offices—a calamity which we sincerely trust it will never fall to our lot to chronicle. When the building is completed much will be added to the appearance of the corner of the two streets in which it stands. On the Ist July ilr. Kennawny gave an interesting reading to the members of the Heatheote Reading Boom.

He read the prison scene of Bichard 11., from Shakespeare; and also a humourous description of Canterbury lite, purporting to be the adventures of Air. Tether-rope, who, after a residence in the province, is supposed to return to England, and relate his adventures there. This paper was very amusing; and it is to be hoped will obtain the popularity which it deserves, for it is a pity that so laughable a production should remain comparatively unknown. The meeting was rather a numerous one. The Secretary read the report of the financial position of the institute, which was highly satisfactory. The next lecture will be delivered by Dr. Earle. "We are glad to observe that at last some action is being taken in connexion with this work. A number of men wore engaged yesterday in levelling the site upon which the Cathedral is to be erected, for the purpose of forming foundations. No doubt many of our readers will be rejoiced to know that there is every prospect of the building being shortly commenced. A special meeting of the combined representatives of the of the Christchurch and Lyttelton Fire Brigades, together with several gentlemen appointed on behalf of the public, was held on the evening of the Btu inst. in the Mechanics' Institute. The Hon. Mr. Hall and Mr. Ollivier attended to represent the Provincial Government and the City Council. The special object of the meeting was to draw up the heads of an Ordinance to empower the Brigades to perform their necessary work, and to enforce by law all desirable provisions for the prevention aud extinction of fires. The result of-the discussion was to the following effect: —It appeared that all precautions as to buildings, inflammable goods, water supply, or other matters for toe prevention of tire were within the power of any Municipal Council to enforce by their by-laws ; so also were in many respects tho needful provisions for the extinotion of tires, while in other respects an ordinance of the Provincial Council would be needed. But the most important power, that of ordering the destruction of property to stay the spread of a eontlagration. could not be conferred without an Act of the General Assembly. It was therefore decided to recommend for the consideration of the town authorities the heads of a bill so far as it might be within the powers of the Provincial Council to legislate. The heads of such a moasure were drawn up by the committee, to be embodied in a bill after receiving the assent of the City and Municipal Councils, The annual meeting of the members of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers' Association was held in the Lyttelton Hotel, on the evening of the 7th instant. The attendance of members was pretty numerous. The business for which the meeting had been convened was to eleot otlicors fop the ensuing year, and discussing various matters of importance. Mr. Buddenklau was elected President, Mr. F. !C. Tribe, Treasurer, and Mr. Parker Secretary. Mr. W. S. Moorhouse was re-appointed solicitor, to the Association. A long discussion took place relative to bringing before the Provincial Council at its next sitting the subject of the revision of the Public House Ordinance. Nothing definite was arrived at, and a committee, consisting of Messrs. Parker, lluddenklau, Morton, Barrett, J. Tomkins, Oram, and Lippard, was appointed for the further consideration of the matter. Before the meeting broke up, a handsomo silver tankard, bearing a suitable inscription, was presented to Mr. Parker, as a token of the manner in which his services to the association were appreciated. A man named Charles Hettdl was drowned in tho h*r. bour at Lyttelton whilst in charge of a lighter belonging to Mr. Graham. Ho had only recently arrived in tha province. A burglary was committed in a cottage in the oceupa. tion of a person named Hewitt; a gold watch and some ot her articles wcro stolon. The robber has not been arrested, but he is identifiable.

On tho 9th instant, the chairman of tho City Council gave a dinner at tho Town Hall to several gentlemen of tho city. Amongst tho guests were his Honor tho Superintendent, tho Lord Bishop of the Diocese, Mr. Justice Greason, tho Hon. Messrs. Tancred and Hall, Dr. Donald, the chairman of tho Lyttelton Municipal Council, &c, Tho dinner was provided by Mr. Birusey, and Messrs, Kohlers' band was in attendance.

Messrs. L. G. Cole and Co., proprietors of Cobb's line of Telegraph Coaches, opened their new service on tho North lioad, as far as Kaiapoi, on the 9th instant. A six-horse coach started from town at 9 in the morning, and returned from Kaiapoi at 11 a.m. A second trip was performed in tho afternoon. Tho above is part of tho service to tho Hurunui, arrangements for which will bo completed about the end of this month. We observe that an early morning service from Kaiapoi to Christchurch is arranged for in addition to those already commenced. Tho residents on tho North Road ought to reap some benefit from tho competition now established on this line of traffic. A match botween the members of the Football Club took place on tho 9th inst., in Latimer Square. About forty gentlomon took part in tho game, which was vigorously contested. . „ , ~, _ . . The annual moating of tho Lyttelton Colonists Society was held in tho Town Hall, for the purpose of ellooting officers. Mr. S. E, Wright was •lected President and til# Bev. G. Crump Vice-Ptwidat for th« eniuiog yew. >

RISPOUT UPON THLI 111 VlCiisi AM I) PLAINt OF CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND. Christchurch, Canterbury, Now Zealand, aotii June, 1864. To the Secretary for Public Works. Sir,—l have the honor to report, for the infor niation of his Honor the Superintendent, that 1 havi now completed the investigation required to b< made by me under the instructions conveyed to me bv the Provincial Secretary in his letter. No. 816, oi March 26th last, viz:— INSTRUCTIONS. No. 1. To report upon the selection of the best site for constructing a bridge over the Rakaia, and the character of bridge best adapted to the case. No. 2. To examine the river Waimakariri, with a view to considering the desirability, or otherwise, of constructing large works to prevent its further encroachment on Kaiapoi Island. No. 3. To examine the Rangitata, with a view to advising the Government as to the best measures to be adopted to turn the creek, if such measures be advisable. In compliance with these instructions, I have successively examined the three rivers named, and have prepared such sections, surveys, and diagrams as seemed necessary to ft complete study of the special questions referred to me. This systematic investigation of each river soon made it apparent that they are all governed by one general code of laws, tinder which they periodically change their courses, and that the study of these general laws was indispensable to a right understanding of each special case. Indeed, I found it impossible to avoid being led into the examination of the general question of the origin of these plains, and the part which the rivers have played and are now playing in their formation. From their past and present history we can but judge of their tendencies for the future, and by comprehending the natural laws that arc in force, avoiding the danger of unnecessarily opposing them, and, instead, bringing them to aid in the objects desired. Guided by this view of the questions referred to me, I have collected all the evidence within my reach which tended to throw light upon the general question; and as that latter portion of the history of these plains and rivers which bear upon the present question (that is, the period over which the present laws have been in operation) appears to me very clear; I hope it will not be considered out of place if I state the general conclusion I have arrived at, beforfe I enter upon the details of the special cases

referred to me for consideration from an engineering point of view. THE PLAINS. The great plains of Canterbury, which lie on the eastern side of the Middle Island of New Zealand, extend from north-east to south-west for a distance of 100 miles along the sea coast, with a depth of from thirty to forty miles into the interior, where they are abruptly terminated by meeting the base of the mountain ranges, which ascend in mountains heaped on mountains until they reach, the perpetually snow-capped summits of the great Southern Alps. These plains slope gradually from the mountains to the sea at the rate of about forty feet to the mile for the first fifteen or twenty miles, at an average of twenty-four feet to the mile for the remainder. Between Kaiapoi on the north, and Tiruaru on the sou&, : are intersected by numerous rivers, which ttavel in tolerably direct lines from the foot of the mountain ranges to the sea. The rivers between Kaiapoi and Orari (near Tirnaru) have certain natural characteristics which

divide them into distinct classes. THE RIVERS. WAXSiAKAEIRI, RAKAIA, AND KANGITATA. Ist. The Waimakariri, the Rakaia, and the Rangitata, which take their rise deep in the mountain ranges, and are chiefly fed by the melting of the snow and the glaciers. BELWYN AND ASHBURTOX. 2nd. The Selwyn and the Ashburton, which are fed by the rains which fall near the base of the mountains. These are dry, or nearly so, for a great portion of the year, and at other times are formidable torrents. They occupy from a quarter to half a mile in width of bed composed of loose gravel and shingle, and within these limits they remain. AVON", HEATHCOTE, AND STYX. 3rd. The Avon, the Heathcote, and the Styx, placid streams of bright and very cold water, which flow steadilv within well-defined banks, and never vary materially in the guantity of water they bring down. They all take their rise within a few miles of the south bank of the Waimakariri, and are doubtless merely leakages from that river.

It is, however, with the first class that we are now particularly concerned. Being snow rivers, they are necessarily very fluctuating:, and are generally higher in the summer than in the winter, and appear to be more affected by hot north-westerly winds than by rain. They are generally fordable by persons well acquainted with them ; but in their " freshes" they are gigantic torrents spreading over shingle beds from one to two miles in width, and moving forward with a force and noise which convey ah impression of awe and grandeur. In their passage through the mountain ranges (a distance of from forty to fifty miles each), they cut out and carry down with them great quantities of the rocks, boulders, gravel, and land, of which the ranges arc composed. These they discharge through the gorges by which they debouch on the plains, and, carrying them down the river courses, discharge a portion into the sea, and deposit the remainder on the way, according as the force of the stream diminishes, either from diminished fall or increased widtli This material, as found in the river beds, is altogether silicious, and, from the great "water-wear to which it is subjected, is deposited in every variety of size and form, from impalpable dust to boulders measuring two cubic feet. This accumulation in the bed of the stream throws the water against the low banks which, being of similar material, are quickly undermined, and the river widens out until it has no power to carry forward any but the lightest portion of the materials brought down. Thus a barrier becomes heaped up fur several miles in length, raising the bed of the river above the banks and causing it to overflow. It soon cuts out a new course for itself, which it deepens and widens until the old one becomes completely abandoned and is restored to the plains, the new course becoming the true river. In time, this new course goes through precisely the same changes, and it again fills up and is restored to the plains. As the plains diminish in fall towards the sea, this tendency on the part of the rivers to fill up their beds increases, and in this way all these rivers are now so gorged that they cannot move the slungle forward beyond a point about fifteen miles from the sea. At this point each river must now overflow its banks and find a vent in new channels, unless prevented from so doing by considerable engineering works. The tendency of these rivers to leave their course depends, as I have explained, upon the force, which they can apply to keep the shingle in motion; and this force depends, first, on the rate of fall; secondly, upon the width ot the stream being confined "within certain limits, so as to concentrate the power of the water and cause it to travel with the required velocity. , , These rivers differ slightly in their volume of water, in the fall of their beds, and in the clasa 01 material they bring down ; and, therefore, to be able to say what are the exact conditions of inclination and width of bed, which would confine each to its course, and would enable it to carry the material forward, would require a much more elaborate and costly study than my opportunities have enabled me to make, and more than I feel justified in advising the Government to enter on at present; but I may give the general conclusions which I have arrived at, and which may be taken as approximately correct, viz., when the inclination of the bed is less than

twenty-four feet in the mile, the space over which these rivers can change their courses muse confined to within half a mile in order to keep the Thfa opin'ion refers solely to the cases wherethe river bed is composed of shingle and sand, as in the case of the llakaia and Rangitata-wl ere the river runs through silt and clay a much less fall s required, as in the case of the Waimakarxn near its m Ueiieve that these plains may be rightly viewed as the delta of these great rivers the mouths of which are at the gorges, through which 8 their waters from the mountain base; . y opinion, the evidences which we are abe . as to the formation of these plains ? thp P ß ame eighty feet at many places, show that the sa operations which we see now 8° ® _ working for a long period, and may cient to account for the whole construction of the

lower plains, without resorting to tiny complicated theory. To express this in a few words—the mountains are continually disintegrating; the debris is carried to the plains by the rivers, and there is distributed in the manner described. There are abundant evidences in (he old riverbeds, traceable on the surface of the plains, that each of these main rivers has changed its course several times. The Waimakariri seems to have been the most changeable, and for a long time past appears to have been moving north in each of its changes. It has probably, within comparatively recent periods, traversed the whole of the plain between the Selwyn and its present course, a distance of about twenty-six miles. These rivers are, therefore, only doing now what they often have done before, and will continue to do for all time until the mountains wear away., and are converted into hills and downs. I do not here profess to give an exhaustive essay on the geological questions involved in the study of these plains — that I leave to those who make such subjects their special study. I confine myself to drawing conclusions on the points affecting the engineering questions laid before mei With these general observations I shall now proceed to state the vievrs I have formed respecting the mode of treatment most applicable to each of these rivers, under all the circumstances, taking them in the order in which I have examined them. thk bakaia. This river discharges itself into the sea midway between the present mouths of the Waimakariri and the liangitata, being about forty miles distant from each. Since I made my report of the 11th April, on the subject of the proposed bridge over the llakaia, I have received the results of the surveys and levels, which I directed Mr. Ivitson to make, for the purpose of clearing up some doubtful points. These with the examinations I have personally made at various times have led to the following conclusions —(See Diagram, No. I)—viz. : That the best site for a bridge is one near that already recommended bv the Commission, and named in my report of the 11th April, and marked in the Diagram (No. 1) by

the letters E F. Below that point, the bed of the river lias become so elevated from heaped-up shingle, gravel, and sand, that it frequently overflows its banks, and as the plains on each side are in many places lower than the ordinary level of the water, it will have a constant tendency to do so. At the point recommended, the plains on each side are nearly on a level with the water, and above that point they are about ten feet higher. There is no tendency for the river to leave its course at present, at or above this point, and it can there be crossed by » bridge of a shorter span than elsewhere, and be effectually protected by a moderate expenditure in engineering works. STRUCTURE OF BRIDGE. I am further confirmed in the belief that the character of the bridge I have recommended is the one best suited under all the circumstances of the case, viz., one with a substructure of cast-iron cylinders, sunk on the pneumatic principle, and with a superstructure of wrought-iron. I am strengthened in the conviction I have already expressed respecting the impossibility of getting down either screw or wooden piles into the extremely compact gravel, shingle, and tightly packed boulders, which form the strata below the river bed ; an opinion grounded on all the opportunities I have had of examining into the nature of the materials, through the means of holes cut deep into the plains by the river in changing its-course, and by wells sunk in

many places. But I am still more strengthened in my opinion by the resultß_of thejittempts which have been made by the Public Works Department to drive piles in different places. From Mr. Thornton (Assistant Provincial Engineer) I have received a very interesting and, valuable return, showing the details of the work performed in driving the ten piles into the river bed at the ferry. PILES AT THE FERRY. This return is appended, but to the following points I wish to direct special attention: One of these piles took 247 blows from a ram weighing 32 cwt, falling 8 feet, to drive it the first 12 feet through the shingle, and 54, 60, 50, and 73 blows respectively to drive it through the I3th, 14th, 15th, and 16thfeet, Thenext3oblowsonlydroveit4J inches, when it split, and had to be cut off. Another pile required 107 and 124 blows respectively, to drive it through the lath and 16th feet, and a third was only got down 11 feet 7 inches with 303 blows. Though others went down more easily, all showed great resistance, and several received such an amount of hammering towards the end as to make it a matter of almost certainty to my mind that the shoes must have been broken, and that after about the 12th to the 15th foot, the apparent sinking of some of them is due to the rupture of the piles at the base, and the mere spreading out of the fibres amongst the shingle. Be this as it may, the experiment proves beyond a

doubt that it would be practically impossible to drive timber piles to a depth of 35 to 40 feet into the bed of the river. And no less depth will suffice, as the shingle is from time to time cut out by the torrent during freshes to a depth of 20 feet. The river also frequently changes its course, cutting out fresh ones to that depth over a width of nearly 4,000 feet at the narrowest part of the locality referred to. It was also found impossible in driving these piles to keep them upright or in position, as they appeared to meet with boulders, and then twisted round and leaned out of the perpendicular in their descent. These piles are composed of " stringy bark," one of the finest timbers grown in Australia, and would bear a greater amount of impact than any other timber in general use in England for similar purposes. These facts are, I think, even more conclusive in shewing the inutility of screw piles for this case. To sink stone or brick piers by coffer dams in such a situation may, in view of the enormous expense, be at once pronounced impracticable. It lias been proposed to construct a foundation by a causeway of interlaced vertical, horizontal, and transverse timbers, filled in with heavy shingle and boulders, and upon it to erect a bridge. I see every objection to such a course. It would be at best but a temporary expedient. It might last till the timber decayed, but it might not. It would not be less expensive than iron cylinders, which will be practically permanent, while it would offer such an interruption to the passage of the water as to cause a great tendency in the river to overflow its

banks for miles, and involve an immense expenditure ui works to protect the bridge approaches. Mr. Beetham informs me that when a few years ago he was engaged in the jPublic Works Depart* ment to drive some piles on the banks of the Waimakariri, he found generally that when they reached a depth of about 11 feet the resistance was equivalent to attempting to drive them through solid masonry—that the shoes broke and the piles were beaten into shreds. The evidence is now, I think, sufficiently complete to enable the Government at once to decide on the site and the character of the Kakaia Bridge. On my arrival in Canterbury I found that there was a popular belief that the Kakaia traversed the plains on an eminence several feet above the ground on the north side of its banks, which would cause the railway in approaching it from Christchurch to reach it by an ascending gradient. On looking into the facts of the case. 1 found that this impression was given by the position which the river appeared to hold witli regard to the plains on the north bank, as shown by t ie railway section; but that such impression was (rroneous. as the railway was laid out on a line that was not parallel to the axis of the plain, but ascended obliquely up it at a gradient of 10 to 15 feet a mile. Whereas if the section had been taken at right angles to the fall of the river it would have shown that the river was lower than the plain on each side, and that the gravitation consequently produced no tendency to divert the river from its course at the point where it was

proposed to carry the railway across it. The diagram, No. 1, which I have constructed from actual levels, taken to investigate this question, will, I hope, satisfactorily explain the real positu n of the river in this respect. . At the three different points at which it has been proposed to carry the railway across, called the «miner" "middle," and " u lower seciions, ant marked on the diagram A B, N (), L M, I have had levels taken which enable me to fix the exact direc tion and rale of dip of the plains at each point, and consequently to decide which is the natural direction for the river to follow, due only to gravitation. Ihc blue dotted lines C D, E F, fl I, «« el to the axis of the plain—i.e., they are at right angles to the direction of the greatest dip, «nd cross the plains on what miners call a " level course. The natural tendency of a body of water set fi ee at any point on these lines is to travel _ down the plains at right angles to them: and as the bed of the Rakaia is at right angles with this level course, the water will always flow down it, unless where it is prevented from doing so by being raised above tl • At and below the " lower section " the surface of the water, when the river is low, is above the average level of the plains, and is only retained within the jo-called course by running in a number of deep

channels, which are cut; out in the shingle, and separated from one another by high spits of gravel ami shingle. When heavy freshes come down the waters spread over the whole breadth of the bed, filling tip some of the courses, cutting out others, and overflowing the banks. All that portion of tin? Kakaia below the lower seel ion is liable to overflow its banks at, every fresh, and 110 works constructed there for bridge approaches would be safe without an immense expenditure in protecting works. At and above the "middle section " (12 F), there is as yet 110 tendency to overflow, and a total length of works of about 5000 feet, including the bridge and protecting wings, will, I believe, be found quite sufficient. The tendency of the bridge works, I believe, will be to give a permanency to the water-course by increasing the scour at and for some distance below them. TUK ti ANO IT ATA. I have examined this river with a view to considering the desirability of constructing works to return the southern creek or over-flown channel into its original course. I nm of opinion that no expenditure should be incurred for this purpose for the following reasons;— The water ha 9 left the old and taken the new course in accordance with the natural law which has been already described. The bed of the river is choked up by its own deposits, and has spread out to such an extent that it has 110 power to clear the way. If the works are constructed to prevent the banks being overflowed at the several points which form entrances to the present overflow-channels, the banks will certainly be overflowed at other points lower down, and a continued series of works along both banks to the sea would be required to permanently confine the river within bounds. I do not think advantages, at all commensurate with the outlay, would follow the construction of works for the purpose of saving a few hundred acres of laud of a very poor quality, and instead of going to a large expenditure, to control the river and prevent its interrupting the lines of traffic, as at present laid out, I advise that,they shall be diverted to a point higher up the river where it has no tendency to leave its course. With a view to finding such a site, I have had some levels taken, but owing to the very difficult nature of the ground they have not cleared up the question as satisfactorily as I could wish, a much more extended examination by levels and surveys would have to be made, than the time allowed to Mr Kitson enabled him to carry out. I think, however* a good site may be selected between five and eight, miles below Marshall's ferry to the west of the section EM, marked on plan No. 3. I send herewith a plan of the llangitata. No. 3, with a diagram marked on it showing the lines on which the levels were taken marked E M, F L, Gr K, and the position of the level course by the blue dotted line GL, which has nearly the same direction as those at the Eakaia, being N 27 deg. 30 min. E., magnetic. I also send No. 4, three sections. THE WAIMAKARIRI. I have now completed the investigation of this river, and am in a position to advise the Government on the points referred to me. The data which I furnish are unquestionable, and I hope, with the plans and sections herewith sent, to place the conclusions I have drawn from them in so clear a light that they will be easily understood by unprofessional persons. The descriptions of the other rivers, and the general laws by which they are guided, as contained in the foregoing portion of this report, will obviate the necessity of repeating much that is in this case common to the others, and will enable me to convey my meaning in much briefer terms than I otherwise could. Plan No 5 is a survey which has been made with great care, to prove by actual levels why the river has left its course, and what are its future tendencies. The results in this case, as at the Bakaia, are most interesting and satisfactory, inasmuch as they prpve beyond a doubt the trustworthiness of the system of investigation that has been adopted. It is clear that what has happened could have been exactly foretold by a similar investigation, and, therefore, that we can with certainty predict what change will next take place. The survey extends from about one mile to the west of where the northern branch of the river leaves the southern, to the sea coast on the east, and embraces as much of Ivaiapoi Island as is necessary in this investigation. An examination of the plan No. 5 will show that, from where the diversion commences, the old bed of the river for nearly four miles to the east has spread out to the width of one and a half or two miles, and consequently so diminished the force of the current that, during the freshes, all the materials brought down have accumulated in this space, and formed a barrier higher than the level of the banks on each side, rendering a change in the course of the river inevitable. The blue dotted lines represent the level course of the plains, and show that the river, in selecting the old course, followed the natural one due to gravitation, and that it would still follow in that course, if it had not been forced out of it by the barrier it has formed. On being diverted at the point where it has been forced to leave its course, its natural tendency was to travel across the island in a north-easterly direction enter its old course to the north of Felton's Ferry (see red course marked on plan); but it has been thrown more to the north by meeting clay banks, which resist the water better than gravel Now, however, the northern ptream is also becoming

choked with gravel, and in each fresh the water rises over its southern hanks, and would probably before now have cut a new course across the island but for the embankments which have been constructed by the Public Works Department. There is no doubt that it will ultimately follow its natural tendency, and before long follow the course indicated, unless compelled to do otherwise by considerable engineering works. I have considered the different methods by winch this might be effected, but find that each would involve such works of magnitude as to induce me to advise the Government not to make the attempt, but to leave nature to work out her ends, and even to stop the present annual expenditure, in the construction of dams along the river hank, on the north side of the Island, which practically only amount to the Government indemnifying the farmers against injury to crops, which are not worth the money to save them; while such works only postpone, but will not ultimately avert the encroachments of the river on the Island. The consequences of leaving the river to follow its natural course will be that Kaiapoi Island will be cut in two, a certain quantity of land will be destroyed, and the present communication between Christchurch and Kaiapoi township will be impeded by the new river course. It may be several years before all this may take place, but that it will ultimately do so I have not a doubt; and, therefore, I consider it would be unwise to attempt to carry the railway across the island, but that it should be constructed more to the east, between the present river course and the sea, crossing the river at the Kaiapoi township. If it is considered the duty of the Government to indemnify the owners of property on Kaiapoi Island against losses by the encroachments of the river, I should then recommend that they be paid compensation in money as the injury occurs, rather than spend money on works to protect land, the value of which is insignificant when compared with the cost of effecting permanent works. The ordinary rond traffic communication between Kaiapoi and Christchurch may bo maintained by constructing the railway bridge so as to carry ordinary traffic, 01* by building another bridge similar to Mr. White's (at Felton's Ferry) across the new river course when it has definitely established itself. The latter would probably be the most convenient and economical plan to pursuo. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. I think it desirable, before closing this report, to make a few observations which naturally suggest themselves to me on consideration of the facts which have been collected, and which I hope may tend to their future utilization in inquiries that may be pursued in the same direction. The diagrams of the plains, taken at the Rangitata and Kakaia (Nos. 1 and a), indicate that the level course lies in a direction of 25 ® to 27 ® east of the magnetic north, "while those at the Waitnakariri, a* shewn on plan No. 5, shew them t) be 15® 30' WClt ot' the magnetic north, at a point west of Kfrfupoi Island, and that they gradually alter until they assume a direction of about 100° west of the magnetic north. In all these cases the rivers are travelling exactly at right angles to these lines of level courses, as marked on the plan by blue (lotted lines, only changing from them when their beds became so clogged by shingle that they cannot remain in their courses, and they then follow the nearest line which will still enable them to flow at right angles to the le /el courses. Further investigations carried out on the same plan, will clearly indicate what direction any one of

these rivers will follow when it overflows its banks at any point. There is a prevalent impression that if the Waimakariri should overflow its banks on the south side at certain points west of that to which my survey refers, its tendency will be to travel in the direction of ('.liristchurch, and that possibly in a heavy fresh its waters might join those of the Avon, and cause serious havoc in Christchurcli. I cannot say whether there is such a tendency or not, but 1 think so serious a question should be investigated, and I therefore recommend that the contour iiim of levels marked on plan No. 5 shall be extended from the Waimakariri at intervals for 20 miles further up its course in a southerly direction, and connected with the lines taken at the Rakaia and the levels about to be taken for the Great Southern Railway. These levels will not only decide the question whether any works should be entered upon for the protection of Christchurcli against an impending calamity, but they will aid in many important questions regarding the formation of these plains and the tendencies of the rivers generally, and will form a most valuable record as a basis for investigation for the future, and a means of drawing conclusions on the changes that will take place hereafter. I find that many surveys and lines of levels have been taken over these plains from time to time, but I have been unable to find that they have been taken in such a systematic form as to tend to definite conclusions, or recorded in a manner which enables the whole to be reviewed in one comprehensive plan. I therefore advise that all levels hitherto taken shall be recorded on one general plan, and that future investigations shall be carried out on the system which I have adopted in the investigation of these main rivers. The constant tendency of the Waimakariri in its changes to go northerly, as evinced by the indications on the surface, would lead to the conclusion that there has been a steady upheaval of the land in the neighborhood of Banks' Peninsula and south of it.' I offer this suggestion for the consideration of the Government Geologist, who will have further facts to work upon when the levels I have recommended are taken. The surveys of the Waimakariri have been conducted by Mr. Crawford in a most satisfactory manner, and I recommend that he shall be employed to complete the proposed levels. 1 have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, W. T. Doyne.