HUTT RIVER BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 4

HUTT RIVER BOARD

The fortnightly meeting of the Hutt River Board was held last evening. .Present- Mr. W. T. Strand (chairman) and Messrs. C. Gostelow, W. H. Smith, and F. -Hewer. .. ■ - The Shandon Golf Club offered to lease a portion of Gear Island for a golf course. It was decided to reply that the board was reluctant to deal with any individual sports body for the use of any portion of the area, and therefore the board would have to refuse the offer.' It was decided to continue with the acquisition of certain native lands in the neighbourhood of the estuary, under the Public Works Act. The board's engineer, Mr. H. Sladden, reported fairly heavy floods on 3rd and Gth May, the former being the' highest for twelve.-months.'- Only.miriqr. dauiagc" had been done. Owing tq.jjstoqk „hay.hig , destroyed the board's willow plantations near groyne 13, a scour had-occurred, which made the work to be done at this place much more costly. The necessity of the board acquiring riverbank lands so that willow plantations could be protected was obvious, and no time should be lost by the board in purchasing the areas under consideration. The groynes at Andrews, constructed by Mr. Kershaw's gang, were functioning very well. On the motion of Mr. Smith, the Lands Department'• is 'to be requested to 'expedite the exchange of. certain lands adjoining the southern reaches of the river, so that the board can pursue a tree-planting policy in tho vicinity. - It was also, decided tliat the Railway- Department bo asked what route the railway.would take through the Taita' Gorge, so that'the board's policy of planting 10,000 pinus insignis in that locality might be carried out this season. The board decided to give special recognition to the gang of men workiug under Mr. Searle for the. excellent service recently rendered by them.'. .'•■■' . -- .' '. ■ . .--■■ t -.