The Manukau Canal.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue IV, 25 July 1903, Page 374

The Manukau Canal.

The committee of subscribers to the Waitemata - Manukau Canal scheme on July 16 conducted an excursion to the Whau Creek and along the the proposed canal route to Karaka Bay, on the Manukau harbour. A large number of representative citizens and public men had been invited to inspect the country and among those present were Captain Duder, Messrs Brigham, Hamer, Professor F. D. Brown, Messrs Leyland, Arch. Clark, Suggett, S. Vaile, Julian, Thos. Finlayson, P. Devore, Geo. Basley, Cameron, Dennison, Harrison, Milroy, W. R. Wilson, H. Brett, junr., Astley, Potter, W. Bailey, Kirk, Milroy, Houghton, W. H. Smith, Murdoch, Mahoney, Lambert, Wilkes, G. Winstone, Smeeton, Thornes, Philson. The expedition started at 9.30 in the Ruru, and proceeded up the Harbour to the Whau Creek. As the tide served, the launch had no trouble in navigating the creek as far as Archibald’s brick yards, but there it was judged advisable to take on board a pilot well accustomed to the eccentricities of the stream. The original intention was to get up the stream as near as possible to the Avondale bridge, and then cover the rest of the journey by drag or on foot. However, the tide had now turned, and it became necessary to land about J mile below the bridge. At the bridge the drags were in waiting, and took the party nearly as far as the tidal end of the "Whau creek. Thence the voyagers proceeded on foot, conducted by Mr H. Atkinson, whose knowledge of the country and familiarity with the project in all its aspects were of great sei vice to the party, and helped to make the trip both interesting and instructive. From the highest point reached by the tide on the Whau to Karaka Bay is, nerhaps„li miles, or rather less in a direct line. It was clear from the experience of the excursion that the Whau itself will require a great deal of clearing and dredging to make it serviceable for efficient transport. The fall of the tide is probably 10 feet or more, and though there is perhaps 15 or 16 feet of water in most parts of the channel at high water mark, this leaves a very small margin for an ebb tide. However, there is the Whau channel, a natural canal, already scoured out to within 14 miles of the Manukau. Beyond this point for some distance the proposed canal would follow the gully down which the stream has cut its way. The ground rises gently, and the course of the proposed work is very clearly defined. The only obstacle in the way is a ridge perhaps half a mile through, and rising to about 120 ft above mean sealevel in the middle. On the other side of the ridge a gully runs up from Ka rakn Bay in a line with the course of the Whau; so that for perhaps five miles out of the six miles between the two harbours the canal would simply utilise two long natural depressions, and the greater part of the work, outside dredging, would consist in cutting the ridge. It is satisfactory to notice that the character of the country seems extremely favourable for work of this kind. The rock is mostly a soft sand-stone, and the hard volcanic formations do not extend in that direction much beyond Mount Albert. Undoubtedly, even under such circumstances, the construction of the canal would be a work of great magnitude, but the gentlemen who inspected the ground seemed generally surprised that the natural facilities afforded by the proposed route were not better known and appreciated, and the excursion will certainly increase the interest that is already widely taken in this important scheme. The thanks of all concerned are due to Mr Atkinson and to Mr A. J. Furness for the promotion and successful conduct of a very enjoyable trip.