RIVER CONTROL AT THE HUTT.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1898, Page 2

RIVER CONTROL AT THE HUTT.

ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING. A largely-attended meeting of ratepayers of the Hutt Borough was held at the Oddiellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, last night, to receive the report of the committee appointed at Friday night's public meeting in connection with the formation of a River Board, the first meeting having been initiated with the object of preventing, if possible, a recurrence of the recent flood and its consequences. The Mayor (Mr. Fitzherbert) occupied the ohaii'j and called upon Dr. Purdy, who stated that as a result of the interview with the Colonial Secretary an answer had been received to the effect 4 that there appears to be no power to issue a proclamation abolishing a river district except on the petition of the ratepayers of the district, and that the Goveruor-in-Council cannot dissolve a River Board except upon a resolution passed by an absolute majority of such meeting, as "provided by section 22 of the River Boards Act. The Mayor said the position was that the old district, including Petone and Taita, would have to be dissolved and a new district formed. Petitions would be circulated to that effect. Mr. Ward desired to know what the intention of the proposed River Board would be, and was informed by Mr. Bunny that before anything else could be done it would be necessary to have the Board formed, and no soheme could at present be propounded. It was for the ratepayers to see that they were represented on a properly constituted Board consisting of the best men available. The Board might theu get the opinion of experts, but before it could spend any money it was necessary for it to go to the ratepayers for a poll to authorise such expenditure. The meeting would, therefore, not commit itself in any way by agreeing to the constitution of a River Board, but adopting such a course would certainly be the best means of haviug enquiries made with the object of preventing this repeated devastation of their land. Another enquiry was made as to how the rates would be affected. Mr. Bunny answered that there would be three classes of ratepayers —the first comprising those specially affected by floods, the next those not so directly affected, while thoye suffering least of all would have to pay the lightest rate. The tax was really a tax on the landlord, not on the teuanfc. Mr. Foster moved, and Dr. Purdy seconded, that the River District be dissolved, and a new one formed, and that the meeting sign petitions to that effect. A ratepayer wishing to know what the proposed new district would be, Mr. Scales explained how matters stood at present, as already reported in the Post. Mr. James Grove moved as an amendment, " That this meeting is of opinion that it is altogether undesirable that a River Board be formed until the flow of water in our rivers and the destructive current of the same is better understood, and that a committee be appointed to take evidence and make experiments with the view of arriving at an intelligent understanding of the whole matter, and devising protective works based on a scientific understanding of the laws that govern running water.** This amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and the original motion, on being put, was carried, only about ten voting against it on a show of hands. Mr. R. Orr could not understand why a committee suoh as the one that had been formed could have moved pis it had without bringing forward som« definite suggestion. What was intended to be done ? To conserve the river beds— or what ? The speaker alluded to the great amount of money that had been spent on the Hutt River on fruitless works, aud asked for a tangible idea of what the Committee intended to do. He did not wish to take a step in the dark, and wasl opposed to what was then being done. (Applause.) Mr. Foster thought the matter had been adequately explained. What was now being done was to take initial steps to set the machinery in motion. The ratepayers could appoint a Board, and it rested with those ratepayers whether or not that Board was to be allowed to work or remain idle. Dr. Purdy considered, with reference to what Mr Orr had said, that they did not want to hear about what occurred 40 years ago. What happened 14 days ago was quite enough for them. (Hear, hear.) It was a disgrace to residents of the Hutt that they should remain idle and do nothing to remedy the existing state of affairs. Each individual had a scheme of his own in a small way, but nothing could be done until the old River Board was abolished. (Applause.) Mr. Bunny regretted that there should always be some person or persons prepared to throw cold water on a proposal promulgated for the good of a community. The proposed River Board would bring up a soheme and submit it to the ratepayers, and then they could consider it. Mr. C. W. Brown defended his action as a member of the old River Board. Mr. Orr thought the Municipal Corporations Act might be s>o amended as to tfive Borough Councils the powers of a River Board, aud then the Hutt River district could be made to comprise the Hutt Borough and the Council would control it. He proposed a motion to that effect, but there was no seconder. Mr. Bunny moved that a separate River Board and district be formed. This was seconded by Mr. Pearson, and on being put was agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Pearson, Messrs. Forster, Bunny,. Scales, W. A. Fitzherbert, Moorhouse, and Dr. Purdy were appointed a committee to further the interests of the movement. A large number of those present then proceeded to sign the petitions previously referred to, and they will be presented to Ministers in due oourse.