COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PORT AND THE PLAINS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 304, 29 September 1855, Page 3

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PORT AND THE PLAINS.

(From our Correspondent.)

■•■■ A very numerous meeting was held at the Wiiite Hart in Christchnrch on Wednesday evening last, to consider the propriety of laying down a tram roiid to Stunner. His Honor the Superintendent presided. The Chairman said : Gentlemen, —I have convened this meeting in obedience to a requisition very numerously and influentially signed, to consider a question which is daily becoming of the utmost importance to the future progress of the settlement. It would be my duty on an ordinary occasion simply to open the meeting, and to leave it to others to express any particular views; but lam under the impression that something more is expected from me on the present occasion, and indeed I should be glad to take this opportunity of making a few remarks in laying before you the present state of the question, m iinly,with the view of getting rid of much misapprehension which prevails on the subject of the communication between the Port and the Plains. I wish first to say, in reference to my presence here this evening, that you are aware that it is not in my power to take any steps or to sanction the expenditure of any m mey, except with the full consent of the Provincial Council. If, therefore, yon should agree upon any particular course, the proper way to proceed will be by petition to the Provincial Council and the Government, and I can assure you th.it whatever the people by their legally,, appointed representatives shall finally determine tohavedone, I wili'use every exertion to carry into effect. The first point I will notice is an expression in the'requisition calling on me to convene this meeting—l mean, the "shipping port." I have heard that our friends in LytteN ton imagine that there is a covert design contained in that expression to change the Port from Lyttelton to Stunner, and they are naturally very jealous of such a proposal. Now I do not think it wise or desirable to pass over this as a disagreeable or a dangerous topic. It is far better to meet it at once. lam sure all this feeling will be dissipated by a frank and friendly discussion of the subject. I would, then, first lay down this great principle—that any attempt to bolster up a particular place as a shipping port which is not applicable for the purpose, is one which will prove utterly futile. The course of trade, at all events in a free country where trade is not subjected to arbitrary restraints, will-ultimately flow into its natural channel as surely as water will find the lowest level. All the artificial contrivances you will devise \vi:l not alter this law. I state this broadly, because I think doing so will tend to dispel this feeling of which I have spoken. I am quite satisfied that the site of Lyttelton has been well and wisely cht-sen, that it is the natural key to the Province, that however trade may be temporarily diverted from it, into that channel it mv.st and will flow at last. LooFing to the future—to the time when a great trade will be carried on byJarge ships witli .ill parts of the world, as will some day surely be the case ; to talk of abandoning a harbour like Port Victoria, in which the largest fleet of Kuch ships may lie safely aud discharge with facility, and in which ships are never wind-bound, in favour of a small river, with a narrow and dangerous entrance, with shallow water, not only on the bar, but throughout the whole hay into which the river runs, is to propound an idea which to my mind is wholly chimerical. We may ship produce at Suinner as a temporary expedient, but I am quite certain we must ultimately return to Lyttelton as the great port of shipment; and I think, Gentlemen, when our friends at Lyttelton consider this they may well be satisfied that the interests and the property and trade of Lyttelton are protected by the strong hands of Nature and Necessity. Holding this to be what we shall ultimately arrive at, the great work which this Province has to do is to open a communication between its one great Shipping Port and the inland country, and however we may be diverted from this object for a time, to that we shall come at last. It will always be found more convenient to ship goods at Lyttelton, where the merchants will congregate, where there will be plenty of ships, the Bank, Post office, and Custom House, than any where else, if we can only get ou? goods there cheaply and expeditiously. This then is the question to-night. First, —what is to be the great ultimate line of ■communication between Lyttelton and the Plains ; and 2nd, —what temporary expedient can be devised until that line

of communication can be opened. Now we nave two lines of communication, by land and by water, and sleam applied to both, to water by steamers, to land by railway. Passing by the idea of the river becoming; the ultimate port of shipment, and speaking of it as ajmeansof communication between Lyttelton and the Plains, I ask you whether it has proved satisfactory? Gentlemen, this meeting being held to night proves that it is not. If it were so we should not be here. I believe myself the best is being made of it. The class of bouts now used are the best and most convenient, which can be got for the purpose; I mean, they are ihe largest which can be got up the river without great trouble and the largest which can get over the bar with safety, but yet they cannot do the work. It is thought that steamers will do all we want. I cannot but doubt this; first, the bar is often closed by the heavy sea, and delay to steamers is more serious than to sailing vessels, because of the expense and greater capital involved. Again steamers have rarely been used for, and have not cheapened the carriage of heavy goods ; they have never superseded the use of sailing vessels ; steam is so expensive that it has rarely been applicable except to light traffic and passengers; in short, for speed. However whilst freights are so high I have no doubt they would do a great deal for us, and will pay welt. Speaking then of the ultimate highway between the Port and the Plains, Ido not think steamers will be satisfactory. I come then to theland. If we could get a railway there would be no further discussion. Of course a railway would be the best thing. His Honjr then proceeded to explain why the railway laid out by the Commissioners had been given up. Ist, Because the estimate was £150,000. 2ndly, Because the tunnel was \% miles long, and would have to be constructed without the aid of shafts, and could not be done in less than 5, 6, or perhaps 7 years. It would have been working for posterity not for ourselves. We were then driven to the open road, and took the line recommended. His Honor entered at some length into the necessity of having a common road rather than none at all, referring to the times when almost the whole of the inland traffic of England had been carried on with great profit by means of such roads T have heanlit SHitlj-tllilt-tlic-CJwrcrtriiiciit-rtrc-gotirnrOn^ with the works on the Sumner Road in a sort of pig-headed determination to carry out a particular crotchet of their own. I admit that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction on the subject. I am glad, therefore, to have this opportunity of making some observations on the subject. Before I came to the head of the Government,my own mind was made up that it was the best line, and if then I had endeavoured when money came into our hands to force on that work, I admit I should have been open to much censure. But on the contrary, I laid down all my own opinions and wishes on the matter. I absolutely abandoned them all, and adopted what you must all admit to have been the right and prudent course. I proposed to refer the whole matter to a commission composed of the best engineers in the Province, and let us abide by their dcci- ; sion. After three weeks of very hard labour, -after carefully surveying the whole of the surrounding country, they came unanimously to the conclusion that in an engineering point of view, the present line was not only the best but ihe only line that ought to be attempted. I am sure you will admit that had the Government acted otherwise in the face of such advice they would have been open to the gravest censure. If we have erred, we have erred in the right direction, by submitting to the opinion of those most competent-to advise. Since undertaking the road, however, a new idea, that of having a horse tramway has been started, and the Government have given unremitting attention to the subject to see how it can be worked out. I lliink it will prove the real solution of our difficulty, it will do all we want, it will carry all our goods with certainty, and if not with* great, spepd, yet at no great cost, and I think it is within our means. Now I wish to state that the works carried on on the Sunnier road, will all be of use for this purpose. I am anxious to impress this on you, because it is said that if the road prove of little use, aU the money will have been waste.!, and perhaps the road will he abandoned f»ra railway or a better line ; whereas, I am persuaded that, whether it be load, tramway, or railway, all most go along the line we are constructing. Every thing we are now doing is for the permanent line of coinmuuicatiou. By getting- into Sumner valley, j

we get nearer to Port Victoria on a level than you can get at any part of the hi'ls, and thereby the real difficulties, the gradients, and the tunnel work, are very much less than at any other point. 1 believe that this will be the ultimate and permanent line of the traffic, His Honor then turned to the temporary crisis which the Province was suffering. 'Up to hist year we were an importing community ; we were now suffering really from a plethora of wealth. The amount of surplus produce had surpassed all expectation, and it had come sooner than was expected, so that means of export had not kepi pace with powers of production. There were two causes:—the great price of produce, and the fact of so much land having fallen into the hands of the labouring classes. The object ot the meeting to night was, to see if there could be any temporary relief afforded for the pressure. What could Government do ? I hare been told that the people look to Government for relief. I have even been told that I shall be held responsible for all the potatoes which rot on the Quay, and all the corn damaged on the Bar. Well, let me say what Government ought not to do. It ought not to interfere in any way with the carrying trade, or with anything which is the proper object of-commercial enterprise. It ought no more to export corn than to grow it. If it bought ships or steamers, it would next be called to plough the land, and with quite as ! much reason. The moment Government interferes with these things, which are within the reach of private enterprise, it dues it badly, and drives private persons out of the market, and: so the people become the sufferers. When, therer fore, I am told we ought to buy steamers, or boats, or to undertake to stimulate the carrying trade, I say that is the advice of men who have ill-learned the lesson of Government, and who would, if they had the power, injure the interests which they thought to serve. Government can only deal with matters in which the principle of competition does not enter, such as roads and public works, open to public uses. His Honor stated it was not within his province to lay any plan before the meeting. He would therefore state in conclusion what was being done. There were new store houses being built at the Quay and the Ferry, and the Government store at Sumner would be open to be let to re--celTe^-pi^Atii>a___A^rjLad JU passable for dray?, would be opened to SuTnnef Kntm-MjHs^ftf a few weeks, so a part of the produce would Kirn*" its way thither. You may say it would not be worth while to cart potatoes so far. But it would be better worth while to cart them to Surnner than to let them rot on the ground ; there would thus, at all events, be the three places for shipment and considerable stoveage accommodation. |If the meeting came to no conclusion, it will have had a great practical benefit. It will proclaim what we want; it will announce that we shall be in the market as sellers of produce, and it will, by publishing our wants, probably stimulate private enterprise in a great measure to supply them. His Honor concluded by thanking the meeting for their attentiou to his remarks, which he regretted had been It-ss considered than he wished, as he had been laid up by illness for three dayspieviously. Mr. Packer rose to move the Ist resolution. His Honor had rendered his duty an easy one by the very lucid statement he had made ; and he was glad to hear that Lytielton was intended to be the final point of debarkation. It was a great mistake to suppose that any feeling of hostility existed between the inhabitants of the Port and the Plains, upon this engrossing subject, nor was there any occasion for it. Their chief object here was to sjet away the produce of the Plains, and this was a matter of paramount in'eiest to them. The loss by means of the small boats heretofore running between the port of Lyttelton and Clmstcburoh, had been considerable ; and it had been most severely felt by private individuals; in the aggregate it had been of a most serious amount, he dared to say that it would in itself pay the whole cost of the proposed tramway. Then again, there was the loss accruing by the rotting of thfir produce at the Quay, or it was wasted by lying idle there. What "oilier remedy to this slate of things presented itself, but the proposed ,-oad —the tramway to the Shag Rock first, and liereafter to the port town ? It was absolutely necessary for every interest that this road should be at once formed to take off their produce. He bad made a calculation, and found there were 1000 voters on the lists. Now let each of these voters fake their share of government debentures, and the object was accoiu-

plished. He was sure that he rightly judged the feeling: of the meeting-, in saying that 12 months hence there would not be one then present who would nut regret that he had not takeu his fair share of the loan. It could be done in no other way than by a loan, if he looked at the present fiuancial state of the colony. The resolution was self-evident, and he would content himself by moving it, aud leaving it in the hands of the meeting. Mr. Packer then moved the following resolution :— '■' Iv the opinion of this meeting it is absolutely necessary that some regular, cheap, and expeditious mode of communication for the transit of produce for export and of imported merchandise, should be established as speedily as possible between Cliristchurch and Lyttelton ; aud that a railway worked by horses along the line of the Sunmer Road, affords the best which it is within the means of the Province to obtain." Mr. Gould briefly seconded the resolution. Mr. Hitcuins said the resolution spoke of a railway, but he desired to know whether it was wot contemplated to form a tramway. He could bear testimony to the efficiency of tramways. In a parish in which he had lived, there were several miles of tramways, and he had seen two horses running on them at the rate of 14 miles within the hour. There was no want here equal to that of transmission, it was paramount to all others. Interests were so mixed up in this colony, that it would be absurd to suppose that there should be any feeling of local antagonism existing in the promotion of a matter which was evidently conducive to the public good. As regarded" the difficulty oi laying down a tramway, it was really ideal' for lie believed he was quite within bounds when he said there was at least 10.000 miles of tramway already laid down and in active working. Rev. W. Wiixock said he was asked to give his assent to two propositions. To tr-e first they were all agreed, while to llie second, to which he would raise no objection, he hoped they were guided to it by experience. He desired to ask of thnse who were professionally acquainted with the subject what load horses would draw upon a tramway, and also the difference in the draft upon an iron or a wooden tramway. It was easy for non-professional men to jump at conclusions, but the meeting oug lit to'be guided by the opinion of practical men ; he needed this information before he could give his vote in farour of-the resolution before the meeting. Mr. Dobsox stated that the draft upon a dead level was estimated at 8 tons ;if there was an inclination greater power would be required. Upon an iron tramway 2 horses would diaw 16 tons, upon a wooden "tramway 2 horses would draw 12 tons. The road as laid out is a dead level to Sumner except at Moa Bone point where there must be a deviation The present road goes over the hill, but it 'is proposed to avoid that by going round the base of the hill. In answer to a question, How long it would tale to lay down the rails? His Honor said that a merchant in Lyttelton had undertaken to import ihe rails from England and that they would be here within 12 months. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. Ollivier then rose to propose the 2nd resolution. He would read it, " That the Sumner Road should be completed throughout, without delay, wiih the view to the construction of a railway along the line : but for as much us ihe portion of ihe road Ivin"between Sumner and Lyttehon is the most difficult and expensive, and will occupy a considerable time in formation, whilst fhat between Christchurch and Sumner is comparatively easy of construction, it is desirable that the'proposed railway should be fir>a completed throughout the latter portion of the line, (wooden laTls if practicable for the purpose, being used as a temporary expedient), whereby facilities for shipment at Sumner would be at once afforded, until the whole line can be opened to Lyttelton." J'hat resolution pledges this meeting to the construction of a rail or tramway, first from Chnstchiirch to Sumner, and from thence at some future day on to the Port. Before he asked the meeting to assent to this resolution, lie would venture to submit to them an outline of their present position, in order thai they might fairly judge of the necessity for such a work He held in his hand a statistical table which he had prepared alter the most careful attention he could give to the subject, and which he had shewn to a few friends whose practical experience was considerable, and whose opinion

strenstheued him in his supposition of its reasonable accuracy. They were disposed to think his figures much" nndeirated the matter, probably they did, he would far rather it was so, than, by adopting the opposite'course, bolster up his case. He was glad to see tliat there were so many men present this evening whose position and influence could check these figures. He would first read them, and then pass on to the subject contained iv the resolution.

Such then was the state of the agricultural interest nn ihe plains; allowing these figures to be underrated, it was a satisfactory statement, shewing; the issue of some four years of colonial life. The resolution before them asked their concurrence to a measure which would provide them with means to render this produce available. They had heard from His Honor in his clear and very lucid statement all that had been hitherto done in the construction of public roads. They had ample experience, too, of the value and insufficiency of the present means of transport for their produce, the'all-absorbing question still was, were they to rest satisfied with these things, or were they to seek a remedy in a matter of so muoh vital importance to themselves ? Here was a proof of produce to the gross value of £65,000 placed in jeopardy. He did not desire to raise any question of rivalry as between the Port town and the Plains: it was not now the question. They were there this evening to consider a matter in a great measure personal to themselves. What they required was the readiest means of communication with the place of shipping, whether that may be at the Shag Itock, at Sunnier, or at LytteHon. If vessels could come round to the Shag Rock and take away their produce, without loss of time or other personal loss to them, it was the one thing needful . They had no business with Port interests, or any other than their own interests now, but yet, while he altogether dissented from the principle which unfortunately prevailed elsewhere of looking a't"tbe interests of the Port and the Piains as antagonistic, he feared they could not fairly consider this subject, unless they met it upon its merits. It might suit some gentlemen in Lyttellon to ignore the rising interests of the Plains, but how long could they continue to do so ? He had always hoped that they might go hand in hand in the promotion of their common good, but it seemed that this could not be; he was constrained to say that Lyttellon seemed determined to believe that she had an interest of her own, apart from and beyond that of the Plains. If it was not so, why were the LyUelton men not there this evening? He looked around and could not see three among them belonging to the Port. Was this an evidence of their anxiety upon the subject of a communication that should be of mutual beneiii. \\hy were they not there ? The meeting Had been convened by public advertisement, and they ought to know, but if not, they must hereafter know, that it was a matter of such vital importance to them as producers, that no more time could }, c wasted in mere idle cavillings and vapourings. It was said that they were desirous of establishing a system which

would set aside the commercial interests of'ili G Port town. But was this a Tact ? They sought to lay down a train road from Christchnrch to Sinnner now, to communicate with a deep water traffic for vessels of a reasonable tonnage, th a j; would carry away their produce at once, and with regularity. What was their present means of communication? Was it not by means'of a water traffic ? They complained on this side of the hill, not of the road, but of the machinery of the torpid things called boats, which canie and went as it suited, and when it suited them It was this the producers were no longer disposed to tolerate, and if the merchants of the Port town desired to retain the trade of il )e Plains, if they would look to their indivithml interests, they would see that it would be wise on their part to remedy these defects. If they would not, then the Plains must care for their own ; they were not insensible lo the vast future attached to farming ; they could see .looming— in the distance, as a natural consequence growing out of it, and walking hand and hand with it, a great commercial community, and that community would hereafter be sealed in Christchurch. The resolution, however, went further. They had heard His Honor's statement in reference to the position of things as regarded the road. He thought they were pledged to complete the road to the Port town jis soon as adequate means were in their possession, and he was bound by that obligation. Its final completion, however, was not so much a pressing necessity as was that portion, that instalment of the roa:l they were there met to advocate. He then moved the resolution which he had read at the commencement of his observations. Mr. Bi«hop seconded the resolution. He liked it for two reasons, first, because it gave promise of ultimate communication with the Port, and secondly, because it was by means of a tram-road. He was satislied that it would be an impossibility to run teams upon the common road as at piesent designed. It was perilous for horses, but still more so for bullocks. Mr. Ollivier had truly told them how necessary it was that some means of outlet sh,ould be devised for the produce of the Plains and this he contended would be the best they could devise for their immediate wants. The excuse made by their friends in Port when asked to contribute to so desirable an object, was that they were only 5 per cent, merchants (laughter). They could not afford it, and they would refer the matter to their more fortunate friends the 25 percent, merchants. The 5 per cent, gentlemen treated the question with the indifference they would a bottle of yeast, but they would find that the produce of the Plains was in truth like the bottle of \ east, and would go off in spite of them (great laughter). Mr. Wilkinson asked how soon a wooden tramway could be laid down. Mr. Dobson said in about 4 months. In answer to Mr. Bridge, Mr. Dobson said that they intended to avoid the construction of.a costly bridge at the Ferry by taking the road for the construction of the tramway along the south side of the Heathcote. His Honob stated that a return had been handed to him by Mr. Webb, and also a valuable statistical paper from Mr. Hamilton, the contents of which he would read. Mr. Webb's statement showed that the amount of tonnage during the last nine months had been 1,397 10n.% which had left the Plains; it was a valuable document, and supported the statement which Mr. Ollivier had made. It seemed that the boats barely made more than a trip once a month upon the year's average. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Dr. Barker proposed the third resolution as follows:— "That if Government have not sufficient means at its disposal for the above purpose, a loan should be raised to such amount as may be necessary, in aid of the funds which may be available for the w^rk out of the Public Revenues." He could have wished first to ascertain the amount of funds at the disposal of the Provincial Government, and then the probable cost of the tramway, in order that they might have accurate data to go upon, and what amount of money it was proposed to raise by loan. His Honor said the Provincial Engineer's estimates had been made for the whole line of road from Chiistchurch to LytteUon, and, supposing the earthwork to be already done, it would cost £14,(100. Dr. Baiikeb assumed that it was important

to complete the line the whole way, hut still he was anxious to know the cost of constructing.a wooden tramway from the Quay to Snmner. There was a depth of water from 12 to 16 feet at Moa Bone Point; and there were, therefore, facilities for shipping of the greatest importance to their interests ; as great as any thai could be found in Lyttelton. They were asked, therelore, to give their sanction to a loan, for the purpose of effecting this object; all they needed to know then was the cost of getting into deep water. If boats, lying at the Quay, at Lyttelton, which had only seven feet of water, can take our produce to Wellington, surely there was no difficulty in the matter for boats lying at a deep water jetty at Sunnier. Mr. Dobson said the cost of an iron tram road from the Ferry to the Shag Rock, was £6,350; that included the Punt at the Ferry and he Ferry house. Mr. Barker resumed : Mr. Dobson had said it would cost about £6,000 to carry the road to the sea. There was £2,000 in the Provincial chest unappropriated to the construction of the Sumner road. That money/could be applied to the purpose, by a vote of the Council. The question they had to consider then was, could £4,000 more be raised ?—(Yes, yes ) If Mr. Ollivier's figures are right, and they were thought by many to be under the mark, there was produce at slake of the value of £60,000 ; surely so great an interest ought to be able to raise so small a sum. It was not a question between Lyttelton and the Plains ; but a purely personal one. How could this produce be got away to the sea ? They had this only to consider. It had been asked whether a wooden tramway was practicable, under present circumstances? He answered, yes. There was abundance of blue gum to be hud at Hobart Town. These trams laid down would not be lost, they would lay for years, and then form the basis for sleepers hereafter. Mr. Rowley seconded the resolution. Mr. Shawd asked if any estimate had been prepared of the cost of the tramway from Christchurch to the Shag rock? Mr. Dobson said, by reference to figures, he found the cost of the whole line, from Christchu eh to Lyttelton, was estimated at £24,000; but from Christchurch io the Shag rock alone, would in round numbers be £10,000, 'that included only a veiy small poiiion of the plant. The Rev. O. Mathtas thought his friend Dr. Barker laboured under a mistake in supposing the depth of water at Moa Bone Point to be so great as 16 feet. He had examined the charts, and found them marked only 7 feet at low water mark. He should be very well pleased to see the tramway finish at that point, but then a jetty would be required, as they could not load therefrom the shore; they could do so at the Shag rock. It seemed that only from 5 to £6,000 was needed for the completion of the road. That it was a matter of vital necessity to them all, had been shown by the statistics which Mr. Ollivier had read to the meeting, and which he honestly believed were underrated. What then was to be done ? They had shown their en ergy, they had shown what they were prepared to do when they resolved to come a distance of 16,000 miles to cultivate the soil. God, in His mercy, had yielded them abundance. They had a fertile land to deal with, at little labour, but they had now to say whether they were willing that that labour and that produce should be a waste, when, by so small a sacrifice, they could convert it to profitable account. All they had to do, was to pull together with a firm determination and a hearty <rood will, and they would overcome their difficulty. It was not likely he should do so, but many of them would live to see the Canterbury Province the richest and the greatest in New Zealand. He begged ,/to second the resolution. His Honor said that the amount required by way of loan would be about <£6.000 beyond the funds in the Government chest, to complete the wooden tramway from Christchurch to the Shanrook. Mr. Dobson, in answer to a question, said the wooden trains would last about three years, but the materials would then be useful for future lvpair. The resolution was then agreed to without a dissentient. Mr. Kussell proposed that petitions should be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, and to the Provincial Council, and that Messrs. Ollivier, Packer, the Rev. O. Mathias, and Dr. Barker, be requested to form a committee, to prepare the same, with power to add to their number.

Mr. Bhidgb seconded the resolution, and most heartily concurred in the resolutions. 'He hoped they would be unanimously signed, that they might show to the public at large that they were not apathetic in a matter of such vital importance. Carried unanimously. The Rev. O. Mathias proposed a vote of thanks to His Honor the Chairman. His Honor briefly returned thanks, when the meeting separated.

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