HUTT RIVER BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 26, 1 February 1926, Page 15

HUTT RIVER BOARD

THE PEOTECTIVE WORKS,

A meeting of the Hutt Biver Board was held on Friday evening. Present: Messrs. W. T. Strand (chair), J Mabey, W. H. Smith, 8. Clendon, ana J. Mitchell. Mr. Sladden, consulting engineer, was also in attendance. Mr. W. H. George wrote stating that there had been erosion near his property. The engineer stated that in the autumn the willow planting would be continued in the locality' and that would meet the situation. It was decided that the work be carried out provided Mr. George pays half the cost. Mr. Sladden, engineer, reported on the Waiwetu stream clearing as follows:—The contractors are doing good work and have made satisfactory progress. They commenced at'the south end, where there was fairly heavy work. Though no portion has yet been completely cleared and logged, the water has been lowered to the extent of about 2ft at a point opposite Nainai lane. ■•. It was decided to ask the Railway Department to make a start with clearing the lower portion of the Wai-' wetu stream. The chairman stated he had been in touch with the beads of the Department, and he thought the work would soon be put in hand. The engineer, in bis report, stated he had made a. detailed inspection of the flood-prevention embankments. "At the left bank, Pringle's to Fry's lane, the bank is in good order. Eepair work is necessary at the back of Mrs. Johnston's, where foot traffic badly wears and breaks the bank. At the back of the convent some tracks have been worn down the outside by the children. Some netted boulders would prevent further damage. At the school tennis courts the bank just below thft ramp is badly pitted, evidently by children. It would bo advisable to ask the school authorities to keep the tennis court traffic on to the ramp, which gives the best access. At Buffs the bank and ramp, have been worn away. The face of the bank should be scarified with picks and built up with about 25 yards of filling. Prom the bridge to White's Line the bank is in good repair. Careful maintenance of the embankments is essential; equally essential is observation of high flood levels for probably a good many years, whilo the river conditions continue to altor. If such .be property attended to thera

need be no anxiety as to the safety of the district from flooding. Though there has been immunity from floods for some 25 years since the embankments were built, vigilant supervision is no less essential now than it was in the early years of the work." ,The chairman stated .that all the suggestions made in the I'eport should be carried out. He wanted the safety of the river to be their first consideration. Mr. Clendon complimented the engineer on his comprehensive report, and agreed that the work should not be delayed. The chairman moved that the works be put in hand at once and that Mr. Searle and his party be instructed to carry out the work. This was carried. The report on the shingle business for three months ending 31st December, 1925, was as follows:—Sale of shingle, £167 3s sd; royalties, £771 0s Id. ■•