OPEN THE LAKE.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 45, 11 November 1867, Page 3

OPEN THE LAKE.

(To the Editor of 'the Waiharapa MBitcuSY;) Sib,—-'Open the Lake 1" used to be the favorite cry of the settlers in ; thc Wairarapa. Now, " give us a railway or a tramway" is the higher aspiration ; but as the highest aspirations are sometimes 'the most difficult in realization, I wish to call the attention of Wairarapa people, ■and the public of Wellington to the original idea for establishing a cheapandeasy communication be tween the ■Wairarapa and the. principal market for its produce, and the depot for -all its supplies—Wellington. Your readers are aware that, between Feathcrston and the sea atPalliser Bay, are two large lakes, connected by a tortuous water passage, and'the lower one connected with the sea (at times) by an outlet which is sometimes deep and "open, and at other times sanded up and closed ; 'bat when open resembling ■ and constituting a good harbor up to a cercain.point, as that which forms the seaport of Napier. To keep this outlet ' open would require-great skill, and entail still ■ greater expense-. Now it is obvious that if the passage between the Lakes can be easily made navigable for flat-bottomed steamers of a very -light draught of water—there is an uninterrupted passage for small steamers 'f.tom inside the sandbank at the south end of the lower lake and the northern shores of the upper one near Featherston. The passage m question (on the authority of the-late Mr'Ashmo're, who examined it about seven.years ago), consists of a "Sluggish-stream, deep in places, shallow in others, and here and there obstructed by snags. This "gut" between the ; two'lakes opened tip, there would remain but one expensive difficulty—that is,-erecting-a -strong totara jetty outside the sandbank orspit which divides the lower lake from the sea. This jetty would then have to be continued as'a tramway over'tlfe sandbank into six feet of water in the lower lake. There is no engineering difficulty in this. A good engineer and a skilfulmechanic'coulddo it-easily. -1 expect that.. I shall be reminded of the fearful violence with-which' the "sea rolls in hero in a south-easter. I grant this,'but this would be met by the jetty being made stronger than the sea—as is the case at-Bombay, at Dover, and several places on the'horthern shores of France where jetties, often of wood, ai'e thrown out in ■'open roadsteads which give accommodation to shipping, and successfully resist the tremendous seas which -sometimes tumble in there. These were built when steamers were unknown; but now that we have steamers the worst that would happen to them would be fcfcatiri case of a heavy south-easter they 'would have to steam out to -sea, or perhapsstand' over to "Ti Kopi" till the gale abated. This might occur three times in a year more orless. It must not be forgotten that when there-was no f rWa'd to •Wellington TiEoprwas'the-shipping place for the Wairarapa. -The present tiftie is not unfavorable for such V scheme as I have sketched out. The Wellington Steam Navigation Company has perhaps too many boats and too little to do for them, and they might "consider it to their interest to sell two of them or run them them- | selves twice or thrice weekly to the Wairarapa ! bay—if'the.i jetty'were erected, the passage I between the lakes made clear, and a tramway from the upper lake to 'Featherston, Greytown, and Maste'rtonin existence.

It must bo understood that I can supply no 'correct data in support of what I advance it is a mere project, but quite as sound as those for forming the proposed tramway -or -railway, which latter I would prefer if the capital could be found to do it. ■ As regards making 'use of the Lakes as a means of transit 4 for goods"aud passengers in and out of the Valley the first step towards it is a’survcy “and an - estimate of the “ cost. Now till such survey is made, and as fancy estimates are the order of the day, there cannot, I should think, be -ady objection to my furnishing you with one as under Tramway over the sandbank and) v, 0A nnA small jetty in Lake j £20 > 000 ■ Jetty at the head of the Lake and [ ~ AAA tfaniway to 'Feathefstoh ) ”’ uuu Clearing from obstructions the ) AAri passage between the Lakes “ ,uw Storehouses and station ... 3.000 1 flat-bottomed steamer ... ... 6,000 Contingencies ... ... ... j,OOO Total... £38,000 One half of which to be supplied by the Government, the other half by a company, or the Government guarantee 6 per cent on the total amount. In conclusion, 1 think, Mr Editor, 'you will agree with me, that for the Wairarapa a cheaper and quicker communication with Wellington for goods knd passengers has become an imperative necessity,’and that if l the Provincial Council is not prepared to concede this in a really practical form during its .sittings next Session there is little hope'of ite beihg done for some years to come. s -I am, yours, Me., FAIRPLAY.