The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-25 00:00:00

CALXIMNIAN CANAL -PARMA- !

ENTARY PAPER.
Caledonian
fort y-first Nreort the Commi for
' ledonian Canal has just been issued.ssi Itoners containshe a
Statement of the progress of the repairs during the year
181:11.t has elapsed, and which is described as in all respects
ts..llBfaet°l7- The following are the most important
'..4ageS t---
p%The commissioners are assured that there is every
thPecl, of their being able to open the navigation ut
° expiration of the stipulated period of three years,
4Pthe 25th of September next, although an important
clition to the works has been made, at a compara-
ely
recent time, in a new 'swing bridge at the Muir-
t° 1v
ren Locks. With ard to the execution of the
works „ g
has th solidity and excellence of the new portion
_ received the highest approbation, as well of military
rgineers as of the principal engineers of the boty:d. The
superintendence has been strict, as was rendered neces-
sary by the extent and variety of the works, as well as
t distance over which they are spread. In addition to
the services of Mr. May, the resident engineer of the
Bennoand the foremen under him, and the frequent
f inspection of Messrs Walker and Borges, those
coien have kept two, and sometimes three,assistants
.11slontly on the ground. The number of workmen
`l°Ployed has varied from 1,729 to 1.1)23.
"In the last report it was po nted out that the entire
restorationor of the Banavie culverts, involving an expense
F043;11/, had become indisputable. It has since b: en
ti advisable to make further alterations and addi-
ritoip,not originally contemplated; but these, though
Y conducive to the public convenience, will but
th_ c enhance the ultimate cost. The most important of
7111 is the substitution of an improved lock-sluice mu-
popmery for emptying and filling the locks, and of im-
di,tl pstans for oving the tes. These will
or ten
the time required fur passingga each lock by eight
tk ten minutes, thus effecting a saving of three hours in
:a lockage of the whole canal. They have conse•
4°l3ce very advantageously superseded the necessity of
aking a
passing place in the chain of the Banavie locks,
°
originally proposed, by which the passage of vessels
a. 1141 have been expedited only' in the case of vessels
—eiencilog and descending at the same time.
Air-tight cases have been attached under water to
ti9llll° of the lock-gates, to increase their buoyancy, and
roinish the friction upon the rollers.
lb" The sanction of the Treasury has been obtained for
quirt, Placing of a new swing bridge over the canal at
se",_ ,41" n Locks; the existing bridge has been repre-
inn:eo. by the authorities of the county and burgh of
and also by the officers of the commissioners
Righland roads and bridges, to have become in-
'euequate to the increased • traffic on the great northern
atll.do but it will suffice for that which may be expected
f to Gairloclry Lock, and will, accordingly, be tras-
erred th. hof
Will it er the new bridge stipulated format
Point by the contract. The cost of this substitution
not exceed 1,5001.
"The ready co-operation. of the commissioners for
Northern Lighthouses will enable the commissioners at
ofCeto place the requisite light at the western entrance_
Whilthe canal, as recommended by Sir Edward Parry,
e the erection by that board of three new light-
houses on Cromarty Point, and Craighead, in the Moray
Firth, in addition to that already placed at Tarbetness;
hare left nothing to be done by the Caledonian Canal
Commissioners for the further accommodation of lights
at the eastern end.

" The improvement of the access to the canal by
dredging the Mickle Mee Shoal in the Moray Firth,
has been pressed upon the attention of the commissioners,
V. well as the authorities of the royal burgh of Inver-
ness, and will be kept in view. An excellent chart of
the Moray Firth has Just been prepared under the autho-
rity of the Admiralty, and will be forthwith made avail-
able for the public.
• " The provision of steam-power for towing vessels
through the locks, is the last and most important ele-
Talent of success for the navigation under its peculiar and.
Well known circumstances, and the commissioners are
10
taking measures for accomplishing it with effect and
ee'oln3
44 respect of the claims for land and damages to
AMA
hon the line, the Commissioners have to announce,
they have received a. full discharge of the long-
ding demand of Lochiel, to whom they have paid
sum of 4,9511. 163 the amount at which his claims
weir
ascertained in 1835, and 1,9391. 10s. Bd. for inte-
rest thereon subsequently accrued. Of the other prin-
telPt,ll claims, that of Glengarry only still remains un-
su not in respect of the amount of the principal
I, ~4 due to him, but of questions which have arisen
~11,2 u the discharge and conveyance exigible from him,
;q which have been lately made the subject of a refer-
tiiiree to the Solicitor-General for Scotland. Two or
etie small payments for land taken or temporarily oc-
22t,ed or damaged during the last four years (including
`• for damage to Lochiel's land by the break of the
at ;,ert at Banavie, and 1201. for land-taken and damaged
tOOktlrt'Aut;.rustus), probably not exceeding in the whole
tape 4, 00/. , will, it is believed, finally close this kind of
74
ue.

ItA RAILWAY RETURNS.
ILWAy
L..La for Taarnc.—The following are the Total Receipts of Rail.
"4” " Past week—that is to say, up to the date to which the
e returns arc made, together with the receipts of the same
previous year:—

Last
week.

c •
,: ' f• le
to
8.5