THE TAMAKI PORTAGE CANAL RESERVE.

New Zealand Herald, Issue 6568, 5 December 1882, Page 5

THE TAMAKI PORTAGE CANAL RESERVE.

Ocp. recent reference to the probability of opening up water communication between the Auckland and Manukau harbours hy cutting a canal to the Tamaki River, or from South Whau to North Whau or Avondale, has excited some interest. In the notice to which we refer, attention was drawn to the rumour current tiiat the late Mr. Fail-burn, many years ago, had dedicated a reserve, two chains wide, between the Tamaki river and the upper end of the Manukau harbour, but that 110 evidence existed of any formal dedication having been made for ttiis purpose. We have since learned that the fact of a canal reserve having been made in the early days of the colony by Mr. Fairburn, is still remembered by very old colonists, aud one of the boundary marks on the south side of the reserve can still be pointed out, but that those who have purchased the adjoining land have helped themselves to the use of the reserve, aud included it within the liues of their fences. It is time that the matter were fully looked into, ami put on record in such a way as will secure the reserve being marked upon all maps which include that portion of the Auckland province. On Mr. C. Palmer's recent map of the County of Eden no mention is made of this reserve, though the one at the Whau portage is indicated. We have learned also that on several of the deeds of the property abutting upon the line of the proposed canal between the Tamaki. and the Manukau the canal reserve is marked. The following letter has been received on this subject: —" With respect to your article in yesterday's Hkhald l'e 'canal reserve' at Otahuhu, I cannot posit: .-ely say that the present canal reserve- has bec-n formally dedicated or not, but I have always considered that such was the case. That this reserve was laid off by the Government in the earlier days of the colony is beyond a 1! doubt, as it can be shown, not only on the map of the district, but 011 the ground itself. The width of said reserve is two chains throughout. A considerable portion of the land oil both sides of the canal has already been disposal of, giving the purchasers right of frontage to said canal, so that fact alone ought to settle the matter ; but in any case, I may say we are prepared to dedicate this laud at any time it is thought desirable to do so. The total distance across from water to water is little more than half-u-mi!e, with a uniform height of lc.ild of about fourteen feet. Ido not apprehend any difficulty in the way of scoria, as from the experience obtained iu sinking of wells in the neighbourhood, no rocks have been met with. The whole of tiie district from Manukau to Tamaki covers a buried forest, the trunks of which are to be seen projecting out of the banks on either side. In some instances the stumps of large trees are still seen on the mud fiats o: the Manukau standing as they originally grew. I am, Sir, yours faithtullj, John Faihmtiis, Otahuhu, December 1, ISS2."