CHRISTCHURCH SHIP CANAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14143, 19 August 1909, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH SHIP CANAL.

[BY telegraph:—PßESS association.]

Christciicrch, Wednesday. The report of the committee set up to consider the financial aspect of the proposed ship canal to Christchurch .was discussed at length by, the. Lyttelton Harbour Board to-day, . and . the meeting adjourned for a fortnight, no vote being taken.

An old resident.of. Christchurch, who has many recollections of the early days, says that if the canal project were carried out great difficulties would be encountered before solid foundations were found for the walls of the canal. He knows from his own experiences that quicksands abound along the shore, from close to Sumner up to the end of the estuary. In former times, before even a' tunnel through the Pert . Hills was contemplated, except by persons who were regarded as irresponsible optimists, the road from Christchurch to Lyttelton ran along the water's edge past Redcliffs and into Sumner, and up over the Sumner Hills to the port. •In some places the quicksands were a very grave danger. On one occasion, when lie was riding from Christchurch to Lyttelton. he got into one of these death-traps at Fishermen's Point. His horse sank very rapidly, and- the more it plunged the - more it became involved. At last he managed to guide it in the right direction, and with a stupendous effort it got out of the sands and on to solid ground.

A meeting was held in the Hamilton Town Hall on Tuesday night in connection with the Selwyn centenary. Owing to the inclement weather the attendance was not large. Personal reminiscence's- of the great churchman were given by Messrs. W. A. Graham and H. Roche, and the Rev. A. H. Colvile spoke on the objects of the meeting, which were to provide funds for erecting the Patteson wing of St. John's College. An inquest on the body of James Whittle, who died very suddenly at Pukemiro on Saturday night,' was held at Huntly on Monday afternoon, and a verdict, was returned that death was caused by shock, resulting from an accident, sustained while deceased was driving in bits cart.