A SHIP CANAL TO CONNECT THE BANUKAU AND AUCKLAND HARBOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11619, 5 April 1901, Page 3

A SHIP CANAL TO CONNECT THE BANUKAU AND AUCKLAND HARBOURS.

" __ TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Kindly allow me to correct a verv serious mistake in your report of what I said yesterday at the conference between the Auckland Harbour Board and Chamber of Commerce.

Your report in this morning's Herald states "that I estimated there were about 11,040 yds of cutting required, and the highest land on the route was 40ft above sea level." What I did say was that I surveyed the route in January, 1894, and found the land to be cut through at the narrowest part of the Tamaki ' Isthmus, which separates the tidal waters of the Manukau Harbour from the tidal waters of the Auckland Harbour, was only a distance of 1144 yds at high-tide; and the greatest height of land between these two points -was only 27ft above high-water, or 40ft higher than water; as there is a rise of 13ft at spring tides on the Manukau side of the isthmus. ■

I also stated that my measurements were practically corroborated by Mr. Napier Bell, whoso recent report on this scheme was quoted in the House by Mr. La-wry, M.H.R., who read from it in the debate which took place on August 16 last on this question, as reported in Hansard of that date, as follows:—"There is one position in this isthmus, whore the distanoe across is 50 chains . (or 1100 yds) and the ridge of land about 40ft high above low-water, the soil, as far as can be seen, being soft clays." My measurements, taken six years before Mr. Napier 801 l made his report,'"arc exactly the same as to the maximum height of the land ; to be cut through, and only 4yds more than his in the 'length,- -which he gave approxii matoly.'. .•. .>■;-'*• JV:I wrote five articles on this question in the Manukau-Weekly Gazette of December 30, 1893,' to' January 27, 1894, copies of which I have before me, and from which I quote as follows, as they give the measurements more definitely:—"A day- or two ago I walked over the canal reserve near Otahuhu, and am : surprised at the facility with which a canal by this route.; could be made. I : measured; the distance between the two places where the water comes to at high-tide from the Manukau (on the west) and from the Waitemata (on the east), and find there are -but 1144 yds between them approximately, and tho highest part of the land between the two waters 27ft (at high-water), ami of this height there would be nor more than 300 yds in length. Beginning on the Manukau side of the isthmus, the first 364 yds rise from high-water mark up to about 20ft above that, then 100 yds more from 20ft to 27ft; then 300 yds continue at 27ft (the highest above high-water level); from 100 yds from 27ft down to*2lft, 100 yds from 21ft to 12ft, the next 100 yds from 12ft to Bft, and the last 80yds from Bft down to water mark on the Waitemata side, thus giving an average excavation over the whole 1144 yds in length, of just. under 17ft, to bring the cutting down to high-water level, and to this must bo added the depth of the canal below high-water mark." ' . < All other schemes than mine would make it necessary to excavate the same number of feet below low-water mark over the whole, soven miles of water, including the canal proper, that would stretch between tho Tamaki embankment on tho east, and the Mangere bridge embankment on the west, which means a difference of some millions of cubic yards less on my plan in excavating and dredging, and besides . many other advantages, it would afford thousands of horsepower from tidal action, which I have practically proved possible, and for which I have held a patent for the last seven vears.— am, etc . * . J. E. Taylor. - Mangere,; April 3, 1901.