HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1119, 5 May 1911, Page 2

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

e — HUTT RIVER BOABD. ' (From Our Special Correspondent.) A mooting-of-the Hutt River Board was held lost evonine, Mr. R. Stevens being in the -chair. Other members present wcro Messrs,'. H. Sladden, i. J. Pinny, and A. E. Roots. The chairman made reference to the loss sustained to the district by the death of Mr. E. J. Riddiford, who was a member of the River Board when it was first formed; It was resolved to, forward a letter of sympathy to the late Mr. Riddiford's family. , ~ ' Mr. A. Gualter, secretary to the Haywards Land Comnany, wrote ■ intimating that, as the board had extended its i river district and taken in part of tho company's laud, they (the hoard) should pay tho cost of the construction of the two groynes put in by the company, under the advice of the board's engineer. -Resolved that the board decline to undertake, any responsibility ponding a report from their engineer. In respect to various works recommended by Mr. Laing-Meason; engineer to the board, it was decided to adopt his report, with tho exception of n ferroconcrete structure which ho advises should be. erected in the upper reaches of tho river district, the erection of a turpentine boom-groyne being authorised in its place. The chairman, .in ppeaking on Mr, Meason's. report, stated that it would ho necessary to raise a loan .before all ths work suggested could be carried' out. So far as the opinion of the. engineer was concerned,. that„pertain work was necessary at" Chapman's Bend' in otdcr to prevent tho river from going back to its old course, ho (the chairman) did not think that there was cause for aluriu on that head. At present 00 per cent, of the volume of water wsio going down tliu new cut, and, although the hoard woro i desirous of seeing the whole of Mr. ' Meason's scheme for river improvement • oventually carried out, the present state I of the board's finances would not allow i this to be done.

Mr. F. Twomcy, lessee of Gear If laud, applied lo the board for an extension of his lease, which expires in September next, as under tho. present conditions tho dairy inspectors will not grant a license, and considerable expense will hnvo to bo undertaken before a permit will bo granted.—A. renewal was granted for two yearij, and one month's rent allowed for the improvements necessary, provided that they are done to tho satisfaction of tho board's overseer.

The overseer (Mr. E. Fisher),< in his monthly report, stated that the bouldorgroyno at 'i'aita had been completed, tho length being 135 feet, instead of 70 feet as originally specified. The total cost amounted,to .EH liss. :jd., or Us. 3d. per cubic yard, the estimated cost being 3s. 6d. per cubic yard. A boulder-groyne, put in by the Taita settlers, had been widened ami made higher at a cost of .filC Cs. Cd. Levels had been taken at the Taita Gorge, and forwarded to tho engineer (Mr. Laing-Meason), who had signified his npprovnl of same. Willi tho authority of (ho board, the area could l)o determined, and the quantity of material required for an embankment which tho engineer suggested constructing. Noxious weeds were being eradicated from tho banks of tho river along Black Creek, and il win recommended that noxious weeds on tho s'.op-bnnk be cut and burnt. During last month the highest flood-point readied-had been throo foot. A CHILDREN'S COT. The idea of Mrs. M'Donald's little girl Jean to establish a fund at Lower Hutt to endow the Children's Hospital, Wellington, with a cot lor Hutt children, materialised on 'Wednesday, when a baMinr was opened by Mr. T. M. Will'ord, M.l 1 ., in aid ot the fund. In his opening remarks Mr. Wilford referred ro tho praiseworthy object in view, and thanked, all who had assisted, especially Mrs.' M'Donald and her little children's committee, who had worked really hard; ;>lso Mcsdumes Lcechy and Maule, who wero responsible for collections. The bazaar was then open, and business became brisk. The stallholders were:— Fancy Stall: Mcsdumes M'Donald and Peterson, and Misses Mathews, Allnorr, Kiugdon (2), and Bimbell. Tea Stall: Mesdames Fisher andl'eareo, and Misses Cuff (2). Sweets Stall: Misses Mason and Hnyward. Bran Tub: Miss Thompson. Side Shows, etc.: Mr. Stevens and Mr. Chapman. Mrs. M'Donald expects that the funds will bo. sufficient to endow the cot for two or threo years,