Acensus taken on 15th May, 1856, showed the population of the province of Canterbury to be at that date 5,347 (males (3,095, females 2,252). The settlement was reported to be making great and healthful progress. It was proposed to borrow £25,000 for purposes of immigration and Public Works.

The term for which the Superintendent was elected expired in 1857, and Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, who had recently recovered from a severe illness, was asked if he would accept the position of Emigration Officer in London, on completion of his term. He accepted the position, but before he left New Zealand, a temporary road (called the Zigzag) was made over the Summit of Evans Pass, and Mr. Fitzgerald had the gratification of driving a trap over this road and declaring the Sumner road open for traffic.

The proposed tunnel under Evans Pass was never made, but the use of the Zig-zag enabled a regular mail service to be conducted over that route between Christchurch and Lyttleton.