The Summer Road Proposal

When the Canterbury Provincial Council again assembled on 10th October, 1854, legislation defining the financial position of the province had been passed by the General Assembly, and this enabled the Provincial Government to proceed with its activities with a clear understanding of its resources. It was decided to undertake a scheme of immigration to supply the much needed labour, and to appoint an Engineer to plan and superintend the details of the various Public Works. Mr. R. J. S. Harman was appointed Emigration Officer in London, and Mr. Edward Dobson, Provincial Engineer.

Public petitions were presented to the Council praying immediate consideration of the question of providing a road between Lyttelton and the interior, and pointing out the serious obstacle the absence of such means of communication presented to the progress of the province and the development of its export trade. On 10th November the Council had before it notice of a resolution to the effect, that, after consideration of the various plans the Council was of opinion that the Sumner road, as recommended by the Commission, was the best under the circumstances, and that the construction of this road should proceed with the greatest possible expedition. When called upon, however, the mover of the resolution asked permission to withdraw it, and this permission was given.

Commander Byron Drury, of H.M. Survey Ship “Pandora,” reported upon the navigation of the Avon and Heathcote rivers, and in course of this report stated that, from previous knowledge of similar works, he was of opinion that the result of filling in the rocks at Sumner was very doubtful, and he did not recommend that work. He suggested, however, that navigation could be improved by the use of a small steamer (which could reach a point on the Heathcote within two miles of Christchurch). In submitting this report to the Council on 27th December the Superintendent stated that he did not conceive that the Council would wish him to propose any vote for the improvement of the Sumner bar in the course of the present year, but he had invited offers for one or more steamers to run between the Port and the Plains, with assistance from the Government. At the same time he requested the Council to consider again the question of constructing the Sumner road. The Commission, he pointed out, was composed of engineers of unquestioned ability, and their opinions were entitled to far more weight than those of any other persons. The Commission was unanimous regarding the best line of road, and it would be unwise to depart from the decision made by them after ample survey of the whole country. The Provincial Engineer had expressed the opinion that, by a modification of the plans, a road, sufficient for the needs of the province for a few years, could be provided for £12,000, and completed in one year, leaving to a future time the work necessary to make the permanent road of full width throughout. A detailed survey was necessary, but this survey would not be made if the road was not to be undertaken. It was pointed out that, if the summer was allowed page 50 to pass before anything was done, the province would suffer for another year the loss and inconvenience of the want of any land communication between the port and the inland country. In response to this appeal the Council voted £10,000 towards the construction of the road.

A survey was accordingly made, and an amended plan prepared, showing a much improved alignment, with the tunnel, 270 feet below the summit. Apart from the time required for the survey and the preparation of plans, the construction work was delayed owing to the want of labour pending the arrival of the immigrants from England.