HUTT RIVER BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 82, 8 April 1910, Page 3

HUTT RIVER BOARD.

OPERATIONS EEVEEWED. SUCCESS OF BOOM GROYNE*?. A report upon the past year's opera* tions of the Hutt River Board was 'submitted to the board last evening by the board's engineer, Mr. Laing-Meason. Inter alia he stated that, as < members weie aware, repair? and upkeep of the liver-bank protective works in the lower reaches weie now comparatively small.. In the course of a summary of floods, he said that the chart record fou the past four and a half years, showed that for the half year, ended 31st March. 1906. thew- were no* floods : the -number of high and medium floods for the years 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910 were respectively:, 1 high, 9 medium, 2 high, 8 medium 0 and 8, 2 and 1 10. It would thus be s«en that for the last year tho floods had been much more serious than during any other period recorded. The works, however, were all in a sound condition, and no damage had been sustained. During the year the defence works had been increased by the erection of five additional groynes, and the extension of four groyne* previously built. The improvements were all carried out under tho auspices of the channel improvement, scheme, the upkeep of which had been small. Aftev referring to the highly satisfactory results obtainable consequent upon the system of cutting back th© Willow growth on the banks, the reporo touched upon the matter of the saving in upkeep effected by the installation of the boom groynes. The following table diowed the comparative outlay lor the three years since the initiation of the system.-— 1907-08, £798; 1908-09 £530 ; 1909-10, £255. Since March last year the difference in expenses waE such that the amount was less than ono half of th« annual cost involved before the installation ot the improved channel proposal, which was, incidentally, adopted by the boaid on his advice. Altogether there were some thirteen groynes of various lengths in position, including five laid during the past summer. The result of their working had quite exceeded his expectations, the river being straightened and diverted away from theold weak spots, affording much needed relief at various places notably at Chapman's and Jorgensen's. The cost of the boom groynes had been as follows: — 1908-09, £594 16s, 1909-10, £593 Is 6d., The cost per foot worked out at 12s lOd, a very moderate figure. The two trial groynes cost £280. The total annual cost had been reduced from £798 to £250, resulting in a net saving, when interest payments were taken into account, of £480. During the incoming season two additional groynes would require to be laid, together with an extension ot another, at an estimated cost of £240. . The five submerged groynes, the total cost of which had been £183 2s 6d, continued to show good results. No more, however, would be required' this year. Finally, he remarked, that the development of the scheme, if highest efficiency was aimed at, must De gradual and not unduly hastened. A tribute was paid to the work of the overseer his staff. Consideration of the report was' deferred, pending the distribution of a copy to each member of the board. The chairman, however, said that without going into details, he could say that the season had been highly satisfactory. Members would observe- that there was a request for a further outlay during the coming season ; the question^, however, could not be dealt with until next meeting night. Referring briefly to the report, Mr. Peterkin took exception to a statement to the effect that the works were all in good order, holding that he know of a stop-bank crossing that was from 15 to 18 inches below its proper level. The chairman and foreman combated this statement, and eventually it was left to Mr. Peterkin to point out to the latter the etc act locality of the de« feet ia question. OTHER BUSINESS. The members present at last night's meeting were the chairman (Mr Robert Stevens), Messrs. Orton Stevens, T. A. Peterkin, and H. Sladden. An apology for non-attendance was received from Mr. F. J. Pinny. In reference to the embankment on. the Mudgway estate, which a syndicate proposed to remove, the chairman reported having been interviewed by the | Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan). As a result of the conference he would advise the board to simply do nothing at all regarding the syndicate's proposal, and refrain from taking steps either one way or the other. The board had nothing to do, with the> bank, ao that it was a simple matter for it to say nothing about it. Members coincided with the chairman's view, the clerk also pointing out that the board had up to tho present acted' on the lines suggested. The foreman, in the course of his report, stated that the works, despite two recent heavy floods, were all in good order. The report was held over until next meeting.