LOWER HUTT CITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1944, Page 3

LOWER HUTT CITY

EXTENDED AREA

UNOPPOSED PETITION

The Commission to hear evidence in support of the petition of the Lower Hutt City Council for a second extension of the city area sat at Lower Hutt yesterday. There was no opposition to the request. The chairman said that the Commission would not_ give an immediate answer, but he did not think there would be the slightest difficulty, as the evidence clearly pointed to the need of having the area under municipal control. The Commission was composed of Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M. (chairman), Mr. H. V. C. Mclntosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands, . and Mr. C. T. Buckingham, District Valuer. The case for the City Council was presented by Mr. N. T. Gillespie, City Solicitor. . There was no response to the chairman's call for any objections to the petition. Mr. Gillespie said the Commission would have a very much easier task than it had at the last hearing, when the petition was strongly opposed by the Hutt County Council, market gardeners, and individuals. The petition, he said, was largely the outcome of the activities of the Government Housing Department. The Hat area covered by the petition was likely to be closely settled within four, five, or at the most six years. The area proposed to be included was at present within the Hutt County. The boundary roughly followed the railway line on the west side of the Hutt River up to the southern entrance to the Taita Gorge, where it turned east over the river and ran nlong the crest of the hills north of the cemetery, beyond which it turned south, still including the hillside area, till it joined up with the old eastern boundary. Mr. Gillespie said there was complete unanimity between all parties— the Hutt County Council, the Housing Department, and the City Council. Given normal conditions, '.he whole area that could be used for housing would be closely settled. There was an area of hill land, but where it was too steep to be built upon, it would be used as public reserves. Mr. R. L. Button, chairman of the Hutt County Council, said that the council had unanimously decided that no reasonable objection could be raised to the proposal. The Hutt County Council would indeed like to be a party to the growing co-opera-tion which was being evinced between local bodies. He hoped, however, that the transfer would be the final one for at least a reasonable period. TOWN PLANNERS' VIEWS. Mr. R. D. H. Hill, Lower Hutt City Town Planner, described the very rapid growth of population. A borough had been formed in 1891 with a population of 1329, and for many years] showed a growth of 30 per cent, every five years, but more recently that growth had increased to 40 per cent, every five years. It was • estimated to be now over 27,000, and was expected to increase to 50,000 in 1949 or. if the present rate only was maintained, in 1953. Mr. Hill said he visualised a time when.both the lower and the uuper valley and the Wainui-o-mata area would be under one control, with a population of 190,000. Mr. F. C. Basire, Acting Assistant Housing Town-planning Officer, strongly supported the petition, stating that the demand for houses was such that it would take a good deal more land to satisfy than was provided by the proposed extension. The area would provides sites for 2200 houses. The Department proposed to build as rapidly as possible, and under normal conditions could do the job in two years. It was difficult to say how soon H could be done under present conditions, but it might be done in four or five years. There were no large areas left undeveloped within the present city boundaries except a Native area of 140 acres, of which the Department had not yet possession. Mr. E. A. Cuttriss, Wellington District Engineer for the Housing Department, speaking of the continuation of the Waterloo railway, said the rails had baen laid for nearly chains, formation and ballasting lor another 20 chains, and formation only for a further 30 chains. Given fair conditions, two miles of line beyond, Waterloo should be ready for traffic in three months. A mile and threequarters more of the railway had been designed. There would be stations at three-quarters of a mile apart. Building would be commencing in the Taita area within a week or so, and. during the summer operations would commence south of the Taita cemetery. Mr. H. Reynolds Bach, Lower Hutt City Engineer, spoke of the necessity of maintaining the city standards in the proposed extension area. The county could not be expected'to give the necessary facilities. The Government had constructed a sewer through the valley from the sea to 271 chains north of the Taita Hotel, and the whole length should be under one control. The county had no water supply for the area, but the city had made full provision for it in its new water scheme. This should be available in twelve months. Even in the meantime a limited supply could be given. The full supply would provide for fire protection. Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt, said the area would be served with sports grounds, swimming baths, library facilities, children's play areas, fire protection, and the other amenities ,of the city. He would give an undertaking that any market gardeners in the area Would not pay higher rates than at present; indeed, many persons who had come in under the previous extension had found they had less to pay for more facilities. He quoted four cases where rates under the county varied from £12 10s to £27 Bs, and were now, under the city only from £8 14s to £13 18s lid. Mr. Andrews expressed his appreciation of the public-spirited way in which the chairman of the county had met his requests. Originally, the Lower Hutt Borough comprised 3706 acres; 1800 acres were added at the time it reached city status, and the area now proposed will add 2444 acres, making a total of 7950 acres. The only local bodies with larger areas are the four main cities, the next largest being Wanganui City, 5726 acres.