PROGRESS OF CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 402, 13 August 1859, Page 6

PROGRESS OF CANTERBURY.

The "Lyttelton Times" of the 23rd ult. reviews the public works which have been undertaken and completed in that Province within the past year.

The works (it says) still progress, and there is every prospect that the present activity in immigration and public works will increase with our growing years and resources.

To begin with the entrance to the province. The harbour accommodation has been very much improved. The Government jetty has been extended fift} r yards and a T head built 20ft. by 30ft., on which two large cranes have been working for some time past. Vessels of 200 tons discharge alongside, and the speed and facility of loading and unloading are equivalent to a large increase in the means of coasting communication. During the past year a private jetty has been run out by the Messrs. Peacock in the centre of the beach, far enough for brigs and good sized steamers to discharge. The " Queen " steamer and other large craft may be constantly seen alongside on their arrival from other ports.

The navigation of the rivers Ileathcote and Avon has been rendered much more safe than formerly by means of beacons at the entrance of the estuaiy, and stakes across the mud-flats and up the river Ileathcote for some distance. Vessels of 70 tons now come up that river without difficulty to within two miles of Christchurch. Several new wharves have been erected and are in the course of erection along the river from the ferry to the quay. The beacons and stakes are kept in repair by contract. The river Avon has not been neglected. Weeds and cress have been cleared away, and a canal is being cut to avoid the bar at the head of the estuary. This last work has been taken in hand by the Government, the original contract having been given up. We may mention here that two steamers, the Planet and the Mnllogli, are now working between Lyttelton and Christchurch by the Ileathcote, and that a steamer has been ordered by a company to work on the Avon, and is expected to arrive before long. So much for communication by water. Road communication has progressed rapidly of late, and although the Avorks in this department have been and are likely to be very costly, yet we may congratulate ourselves on the progress in means of transit throughout the province. A heavy amount of traffic has sprang up on the Sumner-road, although it is in a very unfinished state. The four miles of road from the ferry to Christchurch have been thoroughly formed and metalled heavily. The north road, with the exception of a short portion at Papanui of which the drainage is not complete, has been metalled up to the eighth mile, and from the 14th to the 18th miles, near the south bank of the Ashley. From this there is a good dray track up to the Weka pass, all necessary cuttings having been made ; and the road through the "Weka pass is in progress. There is nothing to prevent a dray from travelling with ease from Christchurch to the northern boundary of the province. The works between the eighth mile of the north road and Kaiapoi are delayed for the decision as to the biidge over the Waimakariri. Through the town of Kaiapoi the road i 3 being formed and metalled, and an embankment is in hand across the swamp between the town and the race-course. At the 15th mile, the Rangiora road branches off from the North road, and from that point is formed and metalled for four miles, that is, up to the 19th mile from Christchurch. A more direct communication between Kaiapoi and Rangiora is in progress across the great Rangiora swamp. The work is begun at both ends, and when completed will open up a fine agricultural district. Looking to the southward of Christchurch we find that the Lincoln road has been thoroughly metalled to the fifth mile, and surveys have been made with a view to carrying this road on into the Little River districts. If we could manage to lay down a

tramway in this direction, we might obtain from the Lake For>yth district and the hills pi" the Peninsula an almost unlimited supply of timber for any necessities that may arise for years to come. A wooden tramway would probably be a good investment to keep the money in the province which is now going out of it for timber. Between the Peninsula and Ilarcwood Forest there is no lack of timber on the confines of our plains ; we only want means to avail ourselves of it. The South road is metalled to the fourth mile, or up to Riccnrton Church; and all along the line for 1-30 miles to the Otago frontier this road is in various states of progress. Along most of the distance between the cultivated country round Christchurch and Timaru, a dray may travel with ease by the help of a few cuttings. The proper line of road avoiding creeks and swamps is being marked out by a plough line. To the south of Timaru heavy works are in hand, including a large amount of draining, bridges, and culverts. Amongst the main or arterial roads we must for the present class the bridlepath between Lyttelton and the Ileathcote Ferry, From the Ferry to the foot of the Port Hill the road has been widened, and the metalling will be completed in a r.-eek or two. A large quantity of metal has been broken near the summit to macadamize the bridlepath over the hill.

Besides these main roads, many of the district roads on which there is much traffic have been put into good working order. A large extent of bridle road has been made this year, which will open a great deal of country where cart roads are not yet attainable. The surveys for draining the Rangiora swamp of 10,000 acres have been completed, and a contract has been taken for cutting a main drain through, at a cost of about £4000. This work will be commenced at once. Through the Papanui swamp to the north-cast of Christchurch a large drain has been cut from the River Avon up to the North road, a distance of nearly five miles, and branch drains are in hand. These drains will increase the available agricultural district round Christchurch to a large extent.

In Lyttelton great improvements have been made during the year in metalling the streets and building culverts. Three new public wells have been sunk, which yield a plentiful supply of wafer; and other public works are being energetically proceeded with. Christchurch presents a marked change from the great extent of private buildings which have been erected during the past year. The main street has been heavily metalled, and other streets arc being similarly improved. Bridges have been built, and the new Government buildings are rapidly progressing. In Kaiapoi, Akaroa, and Timaru, great improvements, similar to those in Lyttelton and Christchurch, ore in progress. Churches and schools are springing up all over the country.