DREDGING THE MANUKAU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11148, 22 August 1899, Page 5

DREDGING THE MANUKAU.

ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT. MR. C. NAPIER BELL TO REPORT. The question of the dredging of the Manukau, which' is causing a good deal of interest just now, has advanced a stage further, and the Government has taken cognisance of the importance of the matter by instructing Mr. C. Napier Bell, the well-known civil engineer, who is at present in Auckland, to report on the matter. Mr, Bell is to visit the harbour and make an inspection of the channel today and to-morrow, and will immediately draw up his report and transmit it to Wellington, so that the question will doubtless be considered at an early date. Mr. Bell is to make suggestions an to what could he done to clear the channel. After completing this report, he leaves for Australia to carry out a considerable amount of work in Tasmania and other places, including New South Wales, where he has been engaged in some matters by the Government. At last night's meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council, the Mayor (Dr. Erson) submitted a motion urging the necessity of tho work being undertaken by the Government. He said a new aspect of the question of the possibilities of dredging the Slanukau Harbour had been sprung upon him as a pleasant surprise only yesterday by an old and esteemed resident of Auckland. Mr. William Aitken, now residing at Mount Eden, a gentleman who had spent many years in Auckland, and who had always taken prreat interest in the city and her resources. Mr. Aitken was mpst enthusiastic with reference to dredging the harbour, and while discussing tho question he produced a sample of sand gathered near Wharf, between Manure Mountain and Weeks' Island, which he had personally collected, containing fine specimens of gold and ironsand. He, the Mayor, had purposely brought this sample for the Council's inspection. Mr. Curtis, of Bewick, Moreing and Co., had examined the sample and stated that it contained eold worlh between £3 and £4 per ounce. Ho (Dr. Erson) trusted the Onehunga people would not start pegging out claims in the Manukau. as was done in tho South, until further information was obtained. They could rolv upon tho bona fides of such gentlemen as Mr. Aitken and Mr. Curtis, both of whom had declared the existence of gold in tho sample then before the Council. The motion submitted by the Mayor was adopted.