THE MANUKAU CANAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13491, 18 May 1907, Page 3

THE MANUKAU CANAL.

V Sir,—Referring to last Tuesday'* discus- V. ' ' sioii on the, above subject, it is surprising'• |•' V to find some ol the members «nt:re.y cut"-, §■« of touch with the nectary requirement* ' of tho increasing trade of Auckland, psuticuiany a» regards thv.Wc®. .Coast of. tho North Island. The lato chairman of the - Chamber of Commerce and the mem who wished to have ihe master deferred cannot know anything of tho iarge quantity of cargo now iking transhipped at Wellington to ar.vo ih-i nrpfent railway charges between Onehtarja'and Auckland. ; and of other expense* thai would be saved ii tho two harbour., wtro cocnecrod as propoteo. Instead ot this .vorL b-jiig before the times, as stated si the meeting by one of the members, i: is. distinctly behind 1 the times to neglect the proteiuitoa of tho work from year to year, for il the canal had been coiupletcti 10 years ago a wry :arge amount oi business at primal lost to illv city trou'id have been retained, and very much increased. Considering th© present export front the Manukau, ar.d allowing for a smell increase, the intoifesi and 4, sinking fund on i,/>Xi,COG is assured. This is no dream of the future, but it would prove to bo a «pienui<J aasot for Our .Harbour Beard. The return cargo from Wanganui and ports up to New Plymouth would bo considerable; at the present tirao this is practically jest to Auckland .trade. There is also the Kawhia. Raglan, Kaipsra Hokianga, and Waiufcu trade, that' would pass through the canal If those ruomboM who dissent from the scheme or wish to defer it would take the trouble to make themselves acquainted with the volume of Business carried on in the districts named ana tho coat thay won Id be much astonished, and convinced of tho urgency of the scheme. The tacts already disclosed shew tnat a sound financial position is alreadyassured. E. H. PorrEaT