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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 2 (June 2, 1930)

History of the Canterbury Railways — How The Early Settlers Solved a Big Transport Problem — (Continued.)

page 49

History of the Canterbury Railways
How The Early Settlers Solved a Big Transport Problem
(Continued.)

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.

Forty-Six Years Ago. Mr. Neil Douglas, Stationmaster, Otautau, Southland, 1884 (afterwards Chief Traffic Manager in Western Australia.)

Forty-Six Years Ago.
Mr. Neil Douglas, Stationmaster, Otautau, Southland, 1884 (afterwards Chief Traffic Manager in Western Australia.)

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.

Pioneers of the Service. Mr. J. Campbell, Stationmaster, Winton, Southland, 1882.

Pioneers of the Service.
Mr. J. Campbell, Stationmaster, Winton, Southland, 1882.

Railway Necessary but Resources Limited.

This was the position when the Provincial Council met in its fourth session on 11th April, 1855. The Suprintendent, in his opening address, referred to the public misapprehension on the subject of the Sumner road. He stated that he entirely agreed with those who thought a railway between Lyttelton and Christchurch necessary to develop the resources of the province, and he believed that in a few years they would be in a position to undertake the work, but, in the meantime, they possessed neither means nor credit, public or private, for so large an undertaking. To undertake work far beyond their present means would be ruinous not only to that work, but also to future operations. On the other hand, the formation of a cart road from the Port into the interior would hasten the time when the province would be able to construct the railway, while the cost of the road was only a small fraction of the sum required for a railway. He was happy to say that, after careful and detailed survey and estimate, a road of full width throughout could be opened at a cost of about £12,000, and that the road now determined upon was the best that could be made. It was not only the cheapest in actual cost, but immeasurably the cheapest as regards advantages. Now that preparations were complete the work would be prosecuted with the utmost expedition.

The financial statement of the provinces for the year ended 31st March, 1855, showed the revenue as £29,028, which included receipts of £24,000 from land, and £3,450 from Customs. The expenditure was £19,118, and the credit balance on hand £11,703.

In closing the session on 10th July, the Superintendent stated that it was expected four ships with immigrants would arrive before the end of the year.

The Provincial Government had some experience of the extent of its credit in London, when, in consequence of some delay in the despatch of funds, it was found impossible to negotiate bills payable in the colony. But for the timely assistance of Mr. J. R. Godley and Mr. H. Selfe, the immigrant ships could not have been despatched.

Mr. Godley had returned to England when the affairs of Canterbury passed to the control of the Provincial Government, and he became English Agent for the province until he accepted a position under the Imperial Government. Mr. Selfe succeeded him as English Agent for Canterbury.

Tramway Proposal Defeated.

In October, 1855, a petition was presented to the Provincial Council by certain inhabitants of Canterbury praying that the Superintendent devote the sums then at his disposal for work on the Sumner road, to the laying down of a wooden tramway between Christchurch and the Shag Rock (Sumner), and that a Bill be introduced for the raising of a loan, by the sale of public debentures, the loan to be devoted to the completion of the Sumner road. Counter petitions were presented by the inhabitants of Lyttelton and Akaroa protesting against any such diversion of the funds available. A resolution was moved in the Council proposing the construction of the wooden tramway, but the motion was not carried. By a vote of 15 to 3 the Council declared in favour of the metalled cart road.

About this time the province had some disagreement with the General Government regarding the division of the land revenue on which page 51 the province mainly depended for its improvement works. Owing to the cessation of revenue the works were held up. The Council took the unusual course of referring to this dispute in the address presented to the Governor (Colonel Thomas Gore Browne) to welcome him on his visit to the province. Subsequently the Provincial Government was given control of the Lands Department in the province, subject to the payment of a fixed sum per annum for the purposes of the General Government.

Meantime there was grave public dissatisfaction at the delay in completing the Sumner road. Some excellent work had been done, but the tunnel under Evans Pass, which was the principal feature of the scheme, had not been commenced. There was a strong body of opinion in favour of employing steam lighters to convey goods between ships at Lyttelton and the various coastal ports. The wreck, on her first trip, of the steamer “Alma,” on the Sumner bar, somewhat discouraged this opinion, but the main opposition came from those having interests in Lyttelton, who saw the possibility of the diversion of trade from the port.

The Sumner Railway Proposal.

On 4th November, 1856, a Bill was introduced in the Provincial Council providing for the contruction of a railway from Christchurch to Sumner, to be worked by horse-power, and, further, providing for the setting aside of a block of land, from the sale of which funds were to be provided for the construction of the railway. This bill was rejected.

In consequence of the conflicting views expressed, the Superintendent addressed a message to the Council on the subject of the Sumner road. After reviewing the matter from its commencement, he stated that the work had been undertaken in good faith, and what had so far been done entirely justified the reports of the Provincial Engineer that the remainder could be completed within the estimate; but, in the absence of any clear indication of the settled views of the Provincial Council, he must decline the responsibility of proceeding further with the work. He therefore requested the Council again to take the whole subject of communication into consideration with a view to reaching a final and complete settlement of the question.

It was then resolved that a further survey be made to see if any other route could be discovered suitable for a road, over which light cart traffic could be carried, pending the completion of the Sumner road. The survey was entrusted to Mr. W. B. Bray, who reported, under date 18th December, 1856, that after long and careful examination he had failed to find any line that he could recommend.

(To be continued.)

An Early Railway Scene in the “City of the Plains.” Express train at the Christchurch Station, South Island, 1887.

An Early Railway Scene in the “City of the Plains.”
Express train at the Christchurch Station, South Island, 1887.