AUCKLAND CANAL SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 11

AUCKLAND CANAL SCHEME

T RIVAL ROUTES DISCUSSED

.|SY ■ TEtBGBAriI—SrEOIAI CORIIEBPPKDEKT.) Auohland, December 20. At a general meeting of tho Onehunga Chamber of Commerce, last evening, Mr J E Taylor, of Mangero, dohvered an address on tho Manukau-Tamaki qanal route Mr' Taylor stated that for twenty years past he had interested himself in tho cutting of'a canal along tho Tamaki route. Tho system iho advocated was a low level canal, with only one riso, so that there would bo always'high water in tho passage, A canal connecting tho Manukau and Tamaki would not only, shorten tho distance between Auckland and Sydney, Mr Taylor said, but would lessen the journey by half for vessels trading \ to Auckland'from tho West Coast via tho North Capo. The increase m trado from West Coast ports for Homo steamers should be tremendous. At present tho Westport €oal Company sent annually fully 00,000 tons of coal to Auckland by steamer \la the North Capo, these vessels being limited to a draught of 22ft owing to tho Westport bar Between Onehunga and Now Plvmouth the Tnion Company handled about 5000 tons of cargo, and the Northein Company about 48,000 tons on the West Coast in and out With a canal' connecting the Manukau I with the Waikato river a considerable amount of revenue would be derived from that source, also with the canal, constructed a very large shipping trade would grow up around the isthmus, especially near Otahuhu, with all the kindred industries such as decks, wharves, shipbuilding, and railway sidings Thi project, of course, was a big one He (Mr Taylor) would like the Chamber to organise a party and go,over the route, besides which'he thought of inviting Sir Joseph Ward, Mr W. F Massey (Leader of the Opposition), and the member for Manukau, Mr Lang, to visit the site The distance between Auckland and the Manukau Heads via the Whau twentytwo miles, and via the Tamaki thirty one miles: but against the difference vessels would be able to travel for a greater distance along the Tamaki at full speed The Mayor, m inviting discussioa of the Bubject of Mr. Taylor's address, mentioned that when Mr Napier 801 l came out from Home he was asked by the then member for Manukau to 'report on the rival routes, and this unbiassed report to Parliament was absolutely favourable to the Tamaki route as being tho best and cheapest If Onehunga were situated in a similar position to Wellington instead of Auckland, thcio would be no ( attitude of blinded prejudice in connection with the Manukau, but the work would bti considered within twenty-four hours.