157

REPORT FROM THE PROVINCIAL ENGINEER

TO

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CANTERBURY,

ON

THE PROGRESS OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE YEAR 1862-1863.

(Laid on the Table of the Provincial Council, July 29.)

Office of Public Works,
Christchurch, July 1st, 1863.

SIR,—I have the honor to report upon the progress of the Public Works of the Province since the commencement of the financial year, and at the same time to offer a few suggestions with regard to future works.

I.—WORKS OF THE CURRENT YEAR.

1. The auditor’s comparative statement of estimates and expenditure will furnish a clear idea of the amount of public works completed during the last nine months; whilst the returns furnished by the district engineers of the unpaid balances on outstanding contracts will show the extent of the works still in hand, for which provision has to be made in framing the estimates for the ensuing year.

2. I have the satisfaction of reporting a satisfactory progress in the works of the Moorhouse Tunnel. On the 30th ultimo, the workings extended to a length of 1087 lineal yards, viz., 541 on the Lyttelton and 546 yards on the Christchurch side of the hill. This is 49 yards less than two-fifths of the whole length, a result highly to the credit of the contractors, considering that two years only have elapsed since they commenced operations, and that the works were carried on during the first year under great disadvantages, in consequence of the rush to the Otago gold-fields and the temporary suspension of our steam communication with Melbourne. On the Christchurch side the north tunnel front has been built of the Heathcote Valley grey stone, and the brick lining has been carried through the soft ground to its junction with the rock, a distance of 186 yards. With the exception of a few chains at the Lyttelton entrance, and of some doubtful ground near No. 3 shaft, which will probably require partial lining, the tunnel has been taken out to its full size to within a short distance of the faces of the headings.

3. The works on the plains are in a forward state, the whole of the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch being ready for the permanent way. Two hundred tons of rails have arrived per Metropolis, and a future consignment of rails and chairs sufficient to complete five miles of line may be expected to arrive during the present month.

4. The wharf at the Ferrymead station is in a forward stage of progress, and the timber is being cut for the station buildings at the contractors’ steam mills in Pigeon Bay.

5. The preparation of the contracts for the buildings at the Christchurch Station has been delayed in consequence of the demands made for the land required for the site of the Station, it having been a question whether the site first proposed should not be abandoned. These claims, however, having been settled by arbitration, the contracts may now be prepared and the works put in hand at once, so that the line may be opened between Christchurch and Ferrymead early in the ensuing spring.

6. The first locomotive, contracted for by Messrs. Holmes and Co., has been delivered at the Ferrymead station in good condition, and the rolling stock now being manufactured to their order at Melbourne, is in a forward state, and will be ready for delivery in August next.

7. Mr. William White, of Kaiapoi, who during the last session of the Provincial Council obtained permission to lay down a tramway from the Little River bush to Christchurch, has commenced operations at various points between these places, but as he has not deposited any plans or sections of the proposed line, I would strongly urge that he should be peremptorily restrained from entering upon any of the waste lands or road reserves, until his plans have been submitted to and approved by the Provincial Engineer.

8. The telegraph between Lyttelton and Christchurch has been working in a very satisfactory manner ever since its erection. The report of your telegraph engineer will inform you of the financial results attendant on the opening of the present line, and of the steps which have been taken for the construction of the line to the Otago frontier.

9. It may be proper here to observe, with regard to the Telegraph Station in Heathcote valley, that its importance is not to be estimated by the amount of public messages received, but by the facility which it affords of communication between the Railway Offices in Heathcote valley and the Public Works Offices in Christchurch. In cases of tunnel accidents also the power of summoning medical assistance without delay is an advantage which alone is worth the whole cost of maintaining the station.

It would be impossible in this report to give anything like a complete account of the works that have been executed on the various roads throughout the province. It will, however, be well to point out what has been accomplished in the improvement of the principal lines of road since the date of my last report.

10. The works on the Sumner road have progressed steadily for many months past, and, with the exception of some portions of the flats which still remain unmetalled, the road may be said to be finished from the old Heathcote Ferry to the summit of Evans’ Pass, from which point to Lyttelton the road is under the charge of the Municipal Council of that town. The saddle at Evans’ Pass has been lowered.