THE WAIWETU RIVER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 104, 3 May 1923, Page 7

THE WAIWETU RIVER

TO BE MADE NAVIGABLE

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS.

Many old residents in tower Hutt will remember the flourmill. which occupied a position on the Waiwetu River near the present Hall-Jones Settlement. The mill was built at a time wh«C .small cargo boats were able .to' make their way to ft, but the great earthquakes which raised the land in the vicinity put an end to water access, arid the mill was no longer a payable proposition. Much water has run down to the. sea since those days, and now, at the initiative, of tho Hutt River Board, proposals are being made to make the stream once more navigable, if only to pleasure boats. Besides the great possibilities from-, a scenic and pleasure-giving, point of view, the cleaning of the channel is absolutely necessary to the proper drainage of the land comprising the upper water-, shed o.f the river, more especially the ffovernment lands known as the 'Wadiington Settlement. As various bodies are interested, a report was obtained from the engineers of the following: — Hutt River Board, Lower Hutt Borough Council, and Hutt- County CouncilMessrs. Laing-Meason. M.1.C.E., W. J. Barnes, C.E., ar.<J f. W. Gudby respectively— who reported as follows: —

"As instructed, the engineers appointed have made an examination of the: Waiwetu River from the mouth up to section 39. To Park N»e, and about 40 .chains up-stream, the river is fairly clear, being affected by the "tide to some extent, the principal obstruction being rushes; from this point 'onward as far as the mill dam on section 34 the river is badly overgrown with watercress and basket willows, growing in some places completely across the stream.

"The depth of water at the present time averages sft, and the total fall from the dam to Park road, a distance of 2 miles 60 chains, is 18ft, so once the stream is put in proper condition there would be sufficient velocity to assist in keeping a good fairway. . "So as to conserve the velocity of the stream as much as possible, it is proposed to clear the portions affected by the tide, Mid as far as White's Line, 30ft in width, and all-above 20ft, making the river, as far as Rossiter avenue, a distance' of 2i miles, available for boating. The portion above the flock mill dam is somewhat different, in that the water level is raised about 7ft to obtain fall for the water-wheel. This has had the effect of lowering the velocity of the stream through the Boys' Orphanage grounds, but that is not detrimental altogether, as if the dam were removed the stream would become merely a quickrunning brook and the grounds wc-uld lose a,lot of their present beauty. Pro-viding-Hhe water is cleared to the dam and the stream cleared as far as section 39, and sufficient provision made for the overflow in the rainy season, this portion should be thoroughly satisfactory in all seasons.

"Owing to the extremely varied density of the ■ obstructions, an exact estimate is impossible. After careful consideration, taking into account all factors, we estimate the work to cost as follows:—

Clearing 110 chains to White's Line. 30ft wide 275 To Flock Mill dam, 110 chains, . 20ft wide '. 247 To section 39, 50 chains, 15ft wide 100 Clearing willows 120 Punt and gear , 40 Contingency 68 £850

■ And the annual maintenance per annum .". £150 "We would recommend that the work be better carried out by day labour from the dam up-stream, and this should be done before the winter, the cost being under £100, and the plant for this portion of the work being available." The report was yesterday adopted by the Hutt River Board, and on the motion of the chairman, Mr. W. T. Strand, it was decided that the Lower Hutt Borough Council, tho Hutt County Council, and the Government Lands Department be approached with the object of each bearing one-third of the cost of cleaning the stream on the condition that when cleaned the River Board should maintain the work.