CANAL PROPOSAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 603, 17 September 1913, Page 3

CANAL PROPOSAL.

The committee appointed by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of collecting information that will give sume definite indication of the probable tonnage chat will bs carried through the WaikatoWaiuku canal on the assumption that the connection is also made with the Wait.emata, met last week. Mr J. W. Ellis presided, and there Were also present: Messrs Morton Gribble, Bell, Bond, Gwynne, Valder, Smith and Mason. Mr N. G. Gribble kindly consented to act aa secretary to the committee. The Mayors of Hamilton, Frankton and Cambridge, and Messrs Bell and Teasdale were added to the committee.

* In view of the conference called by the Auckland Harbour Board for 7th prox , it was decided to collect informatoin on the following matters: — S JMiles of frontage to the navigable waterways of the Waikato and Waipa rivers, with their tributaries, that may be served by the propjsed canal. Area of country (in acre 3) that ■would be served by the waterways The tonnage carried on the railways between Auckland and Waikato stations and vice versa and an estimate therefrom of the approximate freight that would bo water-borne.

The imports in tons received on the Auckland wharves for one year of manures, fencing wire, agricultural and dairy machinrey, galvanised iron, and an estimate based thereon as to the quantities likely to be carried over the waterways to Waikato.

The facilities th« canal would afford for distributing coal at various ponita in the Waitemata Harbour, giving the saving per ton which would be effected to each individual consumer in Auckland. The Hamilton and Cambridge boroughs are also to be asked for information as to the amount of Newcastle and Westport coal they would be likely to get by water.

New industries' the canal would assist such as quarries far supplying building stone, road metal, aand, kaolin, fire and other bricks, lime and limestone, etc. Promotion of the flax industry by providing cheap carriage to the ship's side in Auckland.

The amount of patronage likely to be bestowed on the river boats from firms in Hamilton, Ngaruawahia, Huntly, Cambridge, etc., providing freights were appreciably lower than by rail. The facilities provided for access of cattle and sbeep to the Southdown freezing works, Auckland saleyarda ana" abattoirs. The effect of such canals on industrial development in the Old Country and on the Continent.

It was stated that a proposal would be made by the Auckland Harbour Board for the setting up of a Royal Commission to determine the course of tha canal, and the interested bodies, allocate the cost of construction and maintenance, and arrange for finance.