HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 64, 9 December 1931, Page 13

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

HUTT RIVER FLOODS / Margin of Safety STOP-BANKS’ HEIGHTS While the stopbanks of the Hutt River are considered sufficiently high to guard against normal Hoods, the members of the Hutt River Board at last night’s meeting made it plain that they did not consider the lhargin of safety sufficient against a repetition of the last Easter Hood. Members did not consider that dredging the mouth of the river would be an effective protection against such a flood. The discussion was started by a letter from the Waiwetu Ratepayers’ Progressive Association protesting against going for a loan, and suggesting that arrangements be made with the Wellington Harbour Board with a view to dredging the mouth of the river. In reply to a question from the chairman (Mr. E. S. Hewer), the engineer (Mr. 11. Sladden) said he was quite satisfied with the position at the mouth of the river and with the river ehauuel generally. “In my opinion,” said the chairman, “dredging the mouth of the river is not going to be a cure against dangerous floods. . If, in combination with certain conditions, we get a high flood with the peak at high tide, there will be danger. There will be no danger in the case of a normal flood. The board, however, wants to have a greater margin of safety, but there is apparently a large body of people who do not want that margin of safety. “The margin of safety between the Hutt Bridge and the Pipe Bridge is not as good as one would wish as far as the height of the banks is concerned The three-feet margin has not proved to be there. Last Easter at the height.of the flood the volume of water was gauged at 58,000 cubic feet a second, vastly more than had ever been gauged before. The floods come down from the hills quicker now, and are of much shorter duration.” Mr. C.. H. Chapman said that his 45 years’ experience of floods in the Hutt River convinced him that there had never' been the highest floods except three factors were in combination: wind and rain from the north; a change in the wind to the south; and high tide. Last Easter those combinations were not in evidence. Had they been in combination there is no saying what would have happened or damage resulted. "I agree with the engineer that the channel now is better than at any previous time,” said the chairman. ; “The 1 bed is much lower. 11 do not think it is a question of dredging the mouth, nor do I agree that deepening the channel' would stop floods if the three factors mentioned by Mr. Chapman were in combination. In normal floods we are safe. With such floods as last Easter coming at high tide there will be danger of serious damage.” The engineer said he did not contemplate to have to raise the stopbanks against a shallowing channel. “It must be patent to everybody,” said Mr. .Chapman, “that the river bed is lower now than at any other time in the memory of man. Logs are being taken out by the river staff that have been laying there for donkey’s years. The clerk, said that about 7000 cubic feet of metal were being taken out of the river every month. “The amount of shingle getting down to the mouth of the river is small compared with ■whit it used to be, said the chairman. NEW SURVEY MAPS There has just been issued new survey maps of Hiitt and Pctone on a scale of ten chains to an inch. They are right up to date. Even the new subdivisions of the railway property at Pctone are shown. Bus routes are plainly marked, as are the various district boundaries. One may readily see from the map how thickly populated Petone and Lower Hutt have become, as all the sections in the various streets are clearly marked. ■ . SCHOOL VISIT TO ZOO Next Wednesday morning the pupils of Randwick Road School, Lower Hutt, to the number of abdut 300, will pay a visit to the Wellington Zoo. SCHOOL AT TAITA The Wellington Education Board has under consideration the construction of an extra room for the Taita School. This room was practically promised by the Hon. H. Atmore when he was Minister for Education..-' ■

PROFICIENCY PASSES Hutt Valley Schools EXAMINATIONS FINISHED The proficiency examinations have been completed in the Hutt Valley .primary schools. The following are the lists ot passes:— I’etone West. Boys. Proficiency.—Anderson. Leslie; Anderson, Norman; Anstlss, Claude; Brewer, lain; Bennie, Peter; Bennett, William; Brooks, George; Boswell, John; Cummoek, Maxton J.; Dobson, John; Howes, Milton: Jones, Kenneth; Law, John; Linney, Edward, Marshall, John; Mantell, Frederick; McGavin, Bruce; McEwen, Boss; Peterson, Charles; Steffenson, Robert; Stone, Leslie; Townsend, James. Competency. —Ashton, John; Bates, Kenneth ; Edhouse, Bernard; Galllers, Harry; Galllers. Frank: Knowles, Richard; Mantell, Charles; ’Whittington, Leonard. Girls. Proficiency—Apperley, Jean; Ashton, Edna; Beddie, Christina; Hignett, Joan; Henderson, Joyce; Ives, Doris; Lindop, Joan; McLaggan, Joan; Merrilees, Ruby; McTaggart, Grace: Milburn, Mary; Ninness, Gwen; Norman, Edna; Pattison, Isabel; ■Watson, Nancy; Young, Jo .v ce - , . Competency.—Boswell. Mary , Little, Madge; McGrath, Muriel: Mehaney, Alice, Taylor, Lois; Wong, Ivy. Petone Central. Boyt'. Proficiency.—Andrew, Ernest; Bourne, Duncan; Cresswell, Victor; Capstick, John; Croft, Donald; Dougan, Peter; Double, Phillip: Edney, Stanley; Fergusson, Kenneth; Garvltch, Max; Helson, Percy; Hadley, Trevor; Hadley, Ronald; Lanham, Norman; Lewis, Lorrie; Parity, Keith, Sawyer, David; Rowberry. Norman; Turkingtdn. Ken: Tompkins, Frederick, White, Albert; Winnie, Frank; Whitham, Roy; Wilson. Edgar. ~ . Competency.—Adams. Ronald; Clar j'; Adam; Flsliburn, James; Furnjss, Roy , Gibson. Ronald; Manson, Stephen; Ofsoski, Ray: Pettet, Harry; Turner, Bruce; Tyree, Ll ° yd ’ Girls. Proficiency: Anderson, Eeca; Ashman, Lydia; Bowden, Alma; Brennan, Nola, Cashmore, Connie; Clarke, Jean: Leopard, Stella; Leary, Olive; Loan, Ruth; McKay, Myra; Miller, Joan; Perry, Aera; Play’ter, Nancy; Pearce, Nerolie, Rainsford, Ethel, Richards, Joan: Reedy. Joyce; Sharon, Moira; Speers, Doreen; Thomson, Evelyn; Thornton, Norma; Vince, Marjorie; Whitcher, Muriel; White, Joan; Williamson, Joan; Reynolds, Ethel; Wales, Dorothy, Williams, Violet; Bates, Phyllis. Competency; Beard, Mollie; Fenton, Jean, May, Thelma; Lambourne, Jean; Pawson, Nola; Reid, Violet; Richards, Valentine; Grondin, Coral; Martin, Olive; Preston, Enid. Eastern Hutt. Boys. ■ . Proficiency: Allan, Arthur; Anthony, Ashforth; Barber, Stanley; Cameron, Donald; Clabburn, Garth; Cunliffc, Richard; Deas, Jack; Dowland, William; Foster, Richard; Foley, Douglas; Garner, Rex; Hooson, Clive; Hunter, Gray; Jenkins, Alexander; Larsen, Gordon; Muir, Ronald; Noble, Wilfred; Penhall, Howard; Perno, Charles; Phillips, Alastair; Pilbrow, Herbert; Powell, lan; Sherwin, James; Staples, Edward; Spencer, Albert; Whiteman, Owen; Wills, Roland: Wylie, Travis; Wylie, Arthur; Alexander, Hugh; Barrett, Lloyd; Cavaye. Desmond; Hedge, Hardy; King, Innes; Lamb, Norman; Lines, Noel; McLachlan, Douglas; Wiggins, lan. Competency': Cade, Melvyn; Mackisack, Jasper; Maunder, John; Chapman, Victor. ‘ Girls. Proficiency: George, Audrey; Hodgman, Mona; Louper, Jessie; Low, Beatrice; Lincs, Joan; Maxwell, Betty; Mouat, Iris; Moore, Hilda; Nelusen, Iris; Nicholls, Joan; Orr, Mavis; Richmond, Agnes; Walker, Joy; Wickham, Meryl; Burton, Rona; Bblland, Loma; Cavaye, Irma; Collins, Nancy; Gray, Mary; Gardiner, Marjorie; Hurst, Betty; Jackson, Lorna; Natuseh, Barbara; Phillips, Violet; Player, Nancy; Shaw, Ethel; Sissons, Marjorie; Sinclair, Edna: Tunley, Constance. Competency: Guise, Marie; Macfarlane, Morna. Walwetu. Proficiency.—White, Shirley; Webb, Lillian; Reid, Gabriel; McDonald, Margaret; Moyes, Jessie; Jones, Marjorie; Horlor, Elva; Grant, Helen; Griffith, Joyce; Gray, Phyllis; Gardner, Joyce; Emden, Dorothy; Dodd, Ethel; Cox, Caroline; Carter, Dora; Sullivan, William: Stewart, James; Renshaw, Peter; Mcßae, John; Mend, Leonard; Kemp, James; Joyce, David; HoasC, James; Hawkings, John; Dallison, Donald; Bralley, Frederick. Competency.—Trevethlck, Valerie; Scoon, Maud; Liver, Charlotte; Liver, Agnes; Fulton, May; Foote, Ethel; Ben, Elaine; August, Stella; Adams, Jeanette; Scorgle, Stephen; Limpus, Bernard; Gardner, Albert: Dodd, Kenneth. Randwick. Boys. Proficiency.—Carson, Eric G. • i Competency.—Johnson, Maurice H.. • / Girls..■ ■ , ■ Proficiency.—Hill, Violet M.; Graham, Lina J.; Scott, Lillian R.; Watson, Phyllis W. Competency.—Beasley, Euna C.; McEwen, Constance. Tills as the first year there has been a standard Vi In connection with itandwick scuool. Talta. Boys. Proficiency.—Hum, Dudley; Jones, Raymond; Skißerter, Colin; Healey, Warwick, Competency.—Bentley, John; wyiie, Hylton, Girls. Proficiency.—Kitchener, Benin. Competency.—Balls, Thelma; Eales, Susan; Eustege, Joyce; Hayston, Phyllis; Hewer, Lucy; Jacksou, Joan; Junes, Moira. Hutt Central. ■■ . - • Boys. ■ Proficiency—Balks, Thomas; Bartley, Douglas; Bold, Jack; Dean, Francis; Edr mouus, Robert; Elliot, Lloyd; Fordie, James; Harding, James; Hayes, Earl; Heald, Claude; Jones, Stanley; King, Eric; Lewis, Robert; McAuley, Allek; Morris, George; Reid, Roy; Reynolds, Howard; Roberts, Richard; Saxton, Frederick; Staples, Rex; Taet, Leslie;' Taylor, Ivan; Thomson, Ecuan; Webley, Gordon. Competency.—Savage, Frederick; Smith, WilnaUi; Wilson, Jim. Girls. Proficiency.—Body, Dossie; Clarke, Joyce; Crcnnell, Doreen; Dillistoue, Theima; Douthett, Joyce; Evalis, Zeta; Harris, Patricia; Harrison, Florrence; Hawke, Patricia; Heggie, Edith; Henderson, Jean; Lochore, Betty; Miller, May; Moran, Hilda; Page, Isabel; Page, Joyce; I'etherick, Freua; Powell, Dorothy; Rowling, Kathleen; smith, Ngaire; Stowers, Joyce; Triptow, Thelma;; Williams, Claudia. Competency.—Costigan, Doreen ; Moore, Joan; llouuey, Jean; Soulsby, Nellie. , Wilford. Proficiency: Baggott, Heunry Leonard; Haddy, Norman Wilfred; Noble, John Vernon; O’Connor, Walter William; Ahern, Maisle Sylvia; Harvey, Jean Petrie;, Page, Winifred Clara; Winter, Marjorie Helen. Competency: Gifford, Bruco Carlyle; Green, Joyce Elizabeth; Harding, Daphne Thelma; Longbush, Francis Aualr Joan; Martin, Florence Sophia. LAYING OF MAINS Who Will Be Employed? A position, unfortunate to the Petone unemployed, appears to have developed in connection with the preparations for the laying of the mains to Eastbourne in connection with the water and sewerage scheme for that borough. The Petone Unemployment Committee wrote recently to the Unemployment Board asking for a decision that the unemployed men for the job be taken from Petone, Lower Hutt, and Eastbourne in the proportion of the number of their unemployed. The Unemployment Board has replied that it recognises the work as being one for unemployed relief, but leaves it to the authorities to engage men in whatever way to them seems lit. The feeling in Petone is that the men engaged will be almost exclusively Eastbourne and Lower Hutt men.

TAKING THE RISK

Danger of Flooding RIVER BOARD COMMENTS The fact that the ratepayers turned down the loan proposals for £6OOO in no way minimises the necessity for further river and stopbank protection, was the opinion of members of the Hutt Biver Board when the question was discussed at last night’s meeting. The engineer, Mr. H. Sladden, stated that to increase the height of the stopbank at Moera was very necessary.. At last Easter flood the water was within a few inches of the top. He outlined a scheme whereby the Hutt River Board would be required to find £2209 and the Unemployment Board, under the No. 5 scheme, £2594. “I think,” he said, “the work is of sufficient importance to be put in hand almost at once. The Moera portion is the'worst of all.” Mr. Gostelow: .Two thousand pounds is more than we can find out of revenue. “I suggest that it be by bank overdraft, spread over two or three years,” said Mr. Sladden.

“Every single booth turned the proposals down.” said Mr. Gostelow. "By doing that the people said they are prepared to take the risk. Ido not know whether the board is justified in saying it can do the work in another way.” “We have not. anything like the safety margin we require,” added Mr. Sladden. He deprecated turning down the work altogether. “1 think it is a tragedy that the proposals were turned down,” said Mr. Gostelow, "but we pointed out the danger that exists, and in doing that we have done our duty.” “A flood, if it came over the banks, would set the Hutt Valley back for many years,” said Mr. Chapman. Mr. Leighton said the newspapers were apt to over-emphasise the seriousness of flooding in the Hutt Valley. They magnified the effects and he did not think it right. . , “I am inclined to think that the ratepayers, by their vote, have accepted the responsibility and stated they would take the risk,” said the chairman, Mr. F. S. Hewer. "Many times the board has made public the necessity for the work. If a flood comes now and goes over the Bank we can say we did our duty in telling the people the position. To find the money required out of revenue is beyond the board’s resources. We are cutting everything down to a fine point now. We reduced the rates slightly to help everybody.” , ■ Mr. J. Mitchell said the board could not do the work out of revenue. As far as the cost of overdraft was concerned, members pointed out that it would only'be the difference between 6i per cent, and the cost at which the loan could have been obtained had the proposals been carried. . ' , ■ x ,, “It seems to mo/ said Mr. Gosteldw. “there are only two courses , open—.the board should resign, or take it that the ratepayers have said they don’t want the work done.” i Mr. Leighton: I agree with Mr. Gostelow, much as I see the necessity for the work. . ' ■ , Mr. Chapman: The whole of the Hutt Valley will be discounted if a flood comes over the bank. It was resolved not to pursue the question in the meantime..