CANAL RESERVES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXII, Issue 13515, 12 August 1904, Page 2

CANAL RESERVES.

WHY THEY WERE MADE IN CANTERBURY. WHAT THEY COST FIFTY YEARS AGO. It is opportune to not-o that the Canal\ Reserves near Christchurch, which have been brought before the public eye by the recent action of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, were set aside in the earliest days of lisation. They were purchased and appropriated by the Canterbury Association under a deed dated Februaryt.27, 1852. The Association’s largo funds word divided into six equal parts. One-sixth went into the ‘'Crown Account,” with which ihe aits of the settlement was purchased, two-sixths were used for emigration purposes, twosixths for ecclesiastical and educational purposes, and tho remaining sixth wont to a “Miscellaneous Fund.” It was out of this fund that the Canal Reserves were purchased. Tho principal canal reserve runs from tho shore of the Estuary, immediately opposite the mouth, to Cowlishaw’s Corner, making, a straight lino from tho Avon, to the sea. Part of it is a chain wide, and part half a chain. It comprises 28 acres 4 roods in all, and the Association purchased it for a total of £B6 ss. Another canal reserve rune from close to the Stsnraore Bridge due north to a spot, which is o Air hilly called Puvarekanui but which is now known as the Styx. Them are 45 acres in that strip of land, and the Association purchased it for £155. The Association secured a third canal reserve, running from tho Heathcole, dose at the river's source, to Halswcll. Its; area is r.ct down at 29 acres 1 rood 24 perches, and the price was £BB ■4. s. The Association was hound, by its letters patent, to pay current prices for all the lands it took, so that tho figures given may he taken as an indication of tee values placed on land near Christchurch in those times, which are now looked upon as remote. 'While the Association was in a taking mood it took ether lands .by tho same deed for wharves and ferries, and so on, paying altogether £920 3s fid for a total of "304 acres 1 rood'2l perches. But, according to a gentleman whoi speaks with a high professional reputation as well aa over half a. century s residence and experience in this province, taeso Canal Reserves were never intended for canals in the ordinary sense of word. He says that there was some hazy idea- in the minds of the founders that the strip running from Cowiishaw’f* Corner to the Estuary might bo used as a short-cut for barges." If a barge water-way was mado there, they argued, it would 1 obviate a lot of towing along the circuitous course of the Avon, and much time and trouble would be saved. The same idea, no doubt, was in the minds of the founders in regard to the “ canals ” between the Avon and the Styx and between the Hcathcote and Halswell. “ You must not suppose, because you see U so lines on the snap, the gentleman said to a reporter, " that those who laid out the province pictured vessels coming up great canals to Christchurch! jotting of the sort. The lines have nothing to do with canals, except that the* are called ‘Canal Reserves.’ They were never intended for anything larger than barge navigation, and it ifj doubtful if the ideas in respect to -ven that proposal were very clear.” Tie says that if a , canal scheme is undertaken, the best way would be to take it from the mouth of the Hcathcote to a spot behind Lancaster Park, where connection could be made by railway. Any kind of a canal north of tho Hcathcote I he regards as being out of tho question. He | points out that a canal to Cowlishaw’s Cor- j ner would practically lead to nowhere, and : would terminate far from railway commum- I cation. Another plan would be to improve the Heathcote and erect a new swingbridge, which would allow traffic to pass up and down, as in the days of old. In any case, however, ho is opinion tnat the ■ traffic would have to be restricted to small craft of 150 tons or so. He is positive that j the water in Sumner Bay is far too shallow j to allow largo vessels to lie there or to enter any canal that might bo made in that locality He savs that this defect cannot be remedied. “ You can make the canals on land but not in the bed of tho sea,” he concludes “ and, besides that, the bar is unsuitable for taking largo vessels into the harbour.” .. 'Mr Cyrus . Williams, engineer to the Harbour Board, in Iris annual report, written in February of the present v«ar, says :—“ The present inner habour can easily be made, to accommodate two or three times the present trade, and before any consideraDlo extensions are made thereto outside the preseiu moles with a view to increasing the water area, exhaustive inquiry is justifiable as to whether Port Lyttelt.cn is the most econo, mical place from which to deal with the trade, passing through Christchurch.