THE CANAL PROPOSAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7328, 14 February 1902, Page 2

THE CANAL PROPOSAL.

A letter .published in a morning contemporary recalls some interesting particulars of a previous proposal to establish canal communication between Christchurch^and the sea. It will be news to many people that the project was discussed' as late as 1894. On that occasion the opinion of an expert engineer was obtained, and that gentleman's verdict was on the whole favourable to the scheme. He pronounced that a canal 'from Sumner to Cowlishaw's' Corner was a perfectly feasible undertaking-; but he appears 1 to have been less certain with regard to the harbour works at Sumner. He considered, however, that it would be possible first to -test the practicability of forming a harbour there, and' that the cost of doing this work would' not amount to more than £1500. At this point the subject was dropped, and was not revived until it was mentioned at a meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board held the other day. The movement, however, was not without its value. It disclosed the fact that for a very moderate sum it is possible, to ascertain whether a. harbour at Sumner is practicable, and it also furnished a rough idea of the cost of the canal itself. The next question to be answered is whether, the necessary £1500 will 'be forthcoming, or whether the matter will be allowed to lapse for another term- of eight years.