THE WAITEMATA-MANUKAU CANAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 14 October 1903, Page 7

THE WAITEMATA-MANUKAU CANAL.

The statutory meeting of shareholders. in the Waitemata and Manukau Canal Promo- j tion Company was held at the company's office, Legal Chambers, Queen-street, yesterday afternoon, a very fair attendance of shareholders being present. A balanceBheet, showing the receipts and expenditure from incorporation, was , submitted and adopted. The secretary, Mr. A. J. Jurness, read a report from Mr. H. Atkinson, giving an account of the' progress of the survey now being carried out by Mr. Harrison, which was &3 follows:"I have the pleasure to report that, notwithstanding the unsettled weather, your engineer, Mr. _ Harrison, is making satisfactory progress with the survey of the canal route. This work has been carried out in a most thorough manner; besides taking the levels of the whole, distance between the two. harbours, cross sections are taken at intervals, on an average of about every 200 ft for about 10 chains in widtn. The object of the cross sections being taken so wide is not only to show the contour of the ground, to enable the best position to be fixed for the canal and the quantity of earth to be removed, but also to show where the excavated earth may ne deposited to the greatest advantage. In a few days it is intended to commence boring operations at as many of the cross sections as it is thought advisable, to ascertain definitely the formation of the country to the full depth of the proposed canal. The whole of this information will be shown on properly prepared plans, giving the exact contour and formation at each croS3 seeMon, which will enable an estimate of the cost of the excavation to bl arrived at with great accuracy. It i 3 not expected that anything will be met along the route that cannot be removed by present obtainable up-to-date appliances, at Comparatively small co3t per cubic yard. So far the indications aro that indurated clay or sandstone will be met with at the canal level from end. to end. If so, the forma- . tion could not possibly be more favourable, for the sides of the canal would then require bo. protection from the erosive effect of the wash of the vessels using the canal. One' , very important question has been settled, ;.namely, the difference in the height of water in the two harbours at high tide. Some j extravagant theories have been given that l there would be sufficient difference to cause I . almost, a tidal bore, and that locks would be j quite indispensable. Had this been so, it : would have added Very greatly to the first J cost of the canal, and afterwards to the I .annual cost of working, and considerable de lay to vessels using the canal.. However, Mr. Harrison has found, in taking the level of high water on the same day in the Manukau and the Waitemata, that there is only about 9in of difference. Of course, there must be added to this the difference in the time of high water in the two harbours (and this also it is intended to prove by taking observations over some period); the maximum difference will probably be about 4ft or sffc altogether, and this will bo spread over about six miles. Consequently, it would only cause a gentle current first one way and then the other, jiisfc sufficient to keep the canal clear of .sediment, without impeding navigation. The same care and procedure, will be carried out along the Avdridalp tidal creek.' This is to be commenced forthwith, arid in a few days it is the intention of your committee to employ someone to commence the very important duty of obtaining statistics as to the pre-i-sent and probable revenue to be derived from the undertaking, so as to be ready with the information by tire time the engineering portion is completed. The two will then be considered, and the next stop to be taken in the project the directors will then no doubt decide accordingly." The directors expressed themselves highly satisfied with the prospects of the undertaking, and no effort on their part will be spared to get the most reliable information obtainable,, leaving the question of carrying out the permanent project for future con" sideration.

It was resolved that the provisional directors, .viz.. Messrs. M. A. Clark, J. M. Mennie, W. H. Smith, L. D. Nathan, F. Jagger, R. Cameron, H. Atkinson, Thos. Fiulayson, J. J. Craig, D. .It. Caldwell, George Winstone, W. Bailey, W. B. Leyland. W. R. > Wilson, C. V. Houghton, and Chas. Hanson, be appointed to act as permanent directors for the ensuing year.