THE CANAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15581, 3 April 1911, Page 8

THE CANAL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—At the present time it may seem inappropriate to put forth any technical opinions whatever in regard to the proponed canal; but, as the_ question has been asked with some frequency, and may be asked again, I venture to enclose "a circular and small chartlct plan sent to a number of master mariners recently in respect to the proposed entrance. A majority of the masters certainly coincide with the opinions of the engineers in having the entrance at Whitewash Head, but you will observe that one, at least, favoured an entrance higher up the coast, practically due east of the proposed basin near the soap works, and states his reasons. In the event of the entrance being so placed, it might prove feasible to leave the Sumner Bar alone and allow the river free access to the canal. By this plan Sumner would remain unaltered, and, if thought .desirable, the trading needs of the population at Sumner and Redcliffs could be served by a deepening of the bar for small steamers. There would thus be two entrances to the canal, the majn one being as indicated by the oaptain of the Sussex. Ido not suppose the importance of the question at this stage justifies you in giving it much prominence, but it would help to explain matters if a block could be shown in your valued journal which shows the position at a glance. The masters whose opinion would have carried the most weight, viz-, those in the Union Steam Ship Company, mostly refrained from committing themselves in any way.—l am, etc., OBSERVER.