Christchurch Ship Canal Scheme

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5068, 29 September 1894, Page 6

Christchurch Ship Canal Scheme

—^ TO THE EDITOB. Sib,— By direction .of the committee, I beg to enclose copy of a memorandum which has been forwarded to the Hon B. J. Seddon, Premier.— l am, &c, MAITLAND GAED'NEB, Honorary Secretary Canal Committee. [enclosure.] chistohubch bhip canal. The following memorandum Btates briefly a few of the reasons why it is desirable that canal communication should be established between Christchuroh and the sea, and that without unreasonable delay:— (1) O wing to the distance between Chriatohurch aud the Port, the trade of Christchurch has been diminishing for years past, and property declining in value ; and it is considered quite time to put a stop now to the diminution of the trade and to the decline in value of property in the place. (2) Although Canterbury has several out ports, from Kaikoura to Timaru, Ohristohurch is utterly unable to compete for the trade, on account of the double charges incurred bringing goods to and from the port. It is quite time that this disability was removed. (3) Grain and wool producers are put to very heavy charges if they wish the option of local sale or shipment. Warehouses on the canal banks would give them that option. (4) Manufacturers are in many j cases doubly handicapped by having to (bring raw materia), coal, &c, by rail to • Chriatohurch, and then Bend the manu- | factured article away in the same manner. j A great impetus would certainly be given to local industries were the means of shipment available at their very doors, because they would not be confined to local consumption, but would have colonial and foreign markets opened to them. (5) Because while the construction of the canal itself would for some years give Avork to a good many hundreds, the increase and impetus given to local industries would find permanent employment for a still greater number. (6) Because Christchurch having around it a greater expanse of open aud good country than' any other town in this colony, at any rate lacks only water frontage to make it by far the most suitable position for a, large manufacturing, as well as a distributing centre. (7) By dredging the rivers Avon and Heathcote valuable feeders for the port (by means jof barge traffic) would be provided, whioh would connect with the canal at Avonside and at the Heathcote basin. (8) Nearer to the mouth of ths canal, a large and very suitable port might be arranged for horse and j cattle traffic. Boat and shipbuilding, I fishing and fish-curing, soap and candle faotories, paper mills, the match industry, .rope-making, tanneries, engineering and fauch like establishments would find very suitable sites, nor would any j natural obstacles whatever exist to j providing good and easy railway ; accommodation for the whole dis- i trict. The meat-freezing factories could ■ find no more suitable locality than the \ vicinity of such a canal, as their handling would be reduced to a minimum. (9) The probable ultimate condensation of bonded stores at the Christchurch docks, would tend greatly to facilitate the work of the Customs Department. (10) Unless made now, land will probably be more difficult to obtain upon reasonable terms. (11) Although at first eight this might appear to take traffic from the railway system, i.e., so far as the Lyttelton branch is concerned, yet it is confidently submitted that the greatly increased trade of Christchuroh, aud its increased importance as a manufacturing and a distributing centre, , will very much more thau makd good to i the railway revenue auy diminution which might take place upon the traffic of the I Lyttelton branch. Christchurch, Sept. 28. j