Chapter II.—The River.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 315, 7 November 1855, Page 3

Chapter ll.—The River.

" I think the establishment of a short substantial paddle wheel steamer will be found un invaluable (nay necessary) adjunct to the prosperity of Canterbury, and there is ample room for such a vessel to turn. A small tug would answer admirably."—Capt. Drury's Report on the Sumner Bar. The two rivers known as the Heathcote and the Avon, have a common mouth in Sumner with a narrow entrance between a sandspit and a reef of rocks. Outside the reef is a bar with a depth]of water varying according1 to the prevailing winds, but never less than five feet at low water spring tides, with a rise of tide varying from five to seven feet.f From a survey' made by Capt. Drury, R.N., it appears that there is ample depth for vessels drawing nine feet water to a short distance above the Shag rock, about half a mile'inside the bar, and as soon as the perch * has been placed at the end of the spit as recommended by Capt. Drury, there will be no difficulty in bringing in the small Sydney and Melbourne traders with a steam tug, which to use Drury's words, " would answer admirably." " It would however be imprudent to attempt to^bring injury vessel exceeding 50 tons bur- • Nony ready for erection.

then under canvass alone, as the set of the tide through the reef across the channel, and the danger of the wind lulling suddenlyjat the very moment of taking the bar, render it at all times hazardous to get out any vessel depending entirely on the wind for the]propelling power. % f^Above Surnner the rivers form a large estuary known as the mud flats, the channels through which are narrow and circuitous. The] Avon passes through the town of Christchurch, but is shallow, and is only suited for a barge navigation. The Heathcote at the point known as Christchurch Quay,|is only two miles from Christchurch; there is deep water all the way from Christchurch Quay to the commencement of the mud flats at Heathcote Ferry, and the navigation might be gradually improved so as to bring brigs and large schooners up to Christchurch Quay, as the lift of tide is considerable, and the mud flats are composed of blue clay through which a more direct channel might be. cut without fear of its silting up again. Above Christchurch Quay there is a gravel shoal extending for a considerable distance, and affording a safe ford at low water. This would seem a priori to be the proper spot for carrying the main road across the river which could not be bridged lower down, without interference with both the present and future interests of the navigation, We may briefly sum up these remarks as follows, viz. :— The Sumner Bar is not safe for vessels of upwards of fifty tons under canvass alone. With a steam tug vessels drawing nine feet water may be taken with perfect safety to a little above the Shag Rock at Sumner, but no further. The Avon is only fit for a barge navigation. The Heathcote, being a tidal navigation, may be so improved as to allow any vessel that can cross the bar to come up to Christchurch Quay, and consequently no fixed bridge should be put across the river below that place. Chapter lll.—The Road. "The Sumner road, as ac present laid out, has alone, under this head, in auy degree met with our approval."— Report of the Lyttelton and Christchurch Road Commission. According to the concurrent testimony of all the engineers and surveyors who have examined the country, the only practicable route*!ibr a cart road between Lyttelton and Christchurch is by Sumner valley and Evan's Pass, and the road now in'course of construction is that recommended by the Lyttelton and Christchurch Road Commissioners, with some slight modifications, which appeared desirable on a careful survey of the ground, and which have received the approval of the chairman of the late Commission. The most difficult work on this line, A'iz., the building of a sea-wall and embankment under Simmer cliffs is now nearly completed. The rest of the work is simply a question of time and money, and presents no engineering difficulty. From Heathcote Ferry to Sumner Valley the road is laid out. on a level, except a short rise at Moabone Point, and it givos lour miles of road frontage to a valuable district on the north slopes of the Port hills, which is at present quite inaccessible for carts. Even if the Sumner Road were not required as a through-communication to Port Cooper, this portion of it will always be wanted as a local road for the accommodation of the district ; and whatever ultimate mode of conveyance may be adopted for getting rid of the produce of the Plains, wh-Tther^by a horse tramway or by a locomotive railway, nothing should be done which would prevent settlers from driving

their own teams between the Ferry Road and the head of Sumner valley. From the head of Sumner valley to the town of Lyttelton, the Suruner road is simply a shelf notched out of the hill side, openingl up no country, and being simply a through communication. Although there will be passing places at every few chains' distance, the steepness of the ground renders the construction of a wide road impossible, and. it is questionable whether the narrowness of the road and the length of the tunnel, will not be sources of risk to persons carting with horses that have not been trained to the road, in which case the traffic will fail into the hands of regular carriers, instead of producers carting their produce into Port with their own teams. Should this prove to be the case, there isno reason why this portion of the road should not be appropriated as a tramway to the exclusion of ordinary traffic, if it should appear that a tramway would be of more use than an open road. We may thus pass the following verdict on the Sumner Road :— It is the best line that could be found. It will not be safe for persons driving horses unused to the road, and the traffic will therefore fall into the hands of regular carriers. The portion of the road between the Ferry and Sumner opens up a valuable disHct. and will always be wanted as a local road. j The portion of the road between Sumner valley and Lyttelton can only be used as a through communication, and no public injury would ultimately result from appropriating it exclusively to railway traffic.