LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10241, 2 September 1909, Page 2

LYTTELTON HARBOR BOARD.

CANAL SCHEME CONSIDERED. (Per Press Association.) Cliristchurcli, September 1. At the Harbor Board meeting to-day the amendment for the adoption of the minority report re the canal was lost by 9 votes to 5. Mr J. A. Frostick moved the following further amendment: —"A very considerable sum of money having been expended for the purpose of obtaining expert opinion on the question of canal construction, and in view of the important issues involved, it is most desirable that the public should have all the effects- and conclusions placed before them from a clear and unbiassed standpoint, which neither the majority nor the minority report can be said to have conclusively set forth, excepting the main point that it lias been admitted, from an engineering point of view, that the scheme is quite practicable. The opinions of members on financial questions being so much at variance, without further and more thorough investigation it is quite impossible that a satisfactory settlement of the problem can be arrived at. It is therefore advisable that the whole question should be referred to a special committee to prepare within three months a financial statement showing—(l) the estimated cost of tne construction of the liec-esoa'-y waterway and harbor works, as given in the engineers' reports; (2) the probable revenue available for interest as compared with present-day nretlods, and costs from the ship's side to ware house; and (3) generally to-throw all the light possible on the financial aspects of the whole questions involved ; the committee to consist of Messrs Friedlander, Laurenson, Honfll, Hay, Taylor, Russell. Scott, and Kayc ; and that Messrs A. S. Biss (of Wellington), Peter Ban- (of Duncdin), and Holmes (of Auckland, accountants, should be engaged to sit with and assist the committee on all the points considered. In the event of the committee being unable to agree as to the report to be presented, three accountants shall be asked to make a majority report for the consideration of the board within one month after being asked to do so."

After discussion the matter w'as adjourned for a fortnight.