HUTT RIVER BOARD.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 36, 13 February 1930, Page 2

HUTT RIVER BOARD.

The following reports were received from Mr. H. Sladden, the Board's engineer, at the ls^st meeting of the Hutt Eiver Board:— ENGINEER'S BEPOBT. All the works are in a satisfactory state. Sundry inspections have been made daring the month. George's. — Below the suspension bridge the short reach, to Page'a is fully satisfactory. The big weir and the secondary weir below in,'the-old right l»ank course have done their work well, and the willows and other growth have spread almost completely over the old course. Floods continue to carry sand and silt, steadily filling the old rig&t bank comae as desired.

Freedom from cattle has greatly helped the willows.

Page and Mitchell. —All is satisfactory, though the accumulation on the right bank opposite Mitchell's is tending to increase and to pusb. the main stream on to tfte willow and cable work at the top end of Bouthley's. Later a stone weir may be wanted at Mitchell's. There is now very little water in the left bank channel, which should soon completely close. Good accumulation is increasing at tie boom groins at Page's. s

The road fence erected by the County Council is assisting in keeping stock away and the willows have benefitted considerably. .

Boutley's and Barnes's —The boom groins are functioning well. A good spit is forming below the top one. The willow and cable work is satisfactory and is protected by a barbed wire fence. The spit on the rig»ht bank opposite to the groins tends to recede and flatten, thus improving the channel. " .

Above Pitaarthley's down to Andrews 's—Upstream from the August purchase the' old channel against the railway continues to fill and is well clothed with growth/ Inlet is well closed snd there is only a remote possibility of the river ever reverting to it. It can easily be dealt with if it theateris to revert.

From here right .down, as 'far as to.© two bottom boom groins at Giesen's' the channel continues fully satisfactory G-iesen 'a 1, -2 and 3 groins are entirely satisfactory' in results. Numbers 4 and 5 (bottom groins) have been slower in acting but aie quite satisfactory, ana the right bank channel should from now tend to fill. These two groins with the stone weir have, though severely attacked at their heads, held the bank from ot&er than minor erosion and have prevented the possible scouring of a big, channel into Belmont Extension. ' '

There is at present in this locality a shingle accumulation, causing a splitting, of the channel as usually occurs under conditions here obtaining.

- The left channel is approximately in the location of the ultimate channel, and attention'is now being given to holding it to. this position and at the same time permitting fluods to spread and to carry s&ingle and spoil into and to'fill Walker's and other old channels. Next season, say after May, a considerable amount of willow planting can be carried out on both right~and left! banks of the above reach. v : I may state that the conditions of this reach, as perhaps before mentioned, have responded splendidly to the artificial works and in a few years time I anticipate that there will be a permanently protected and stabilised channel, and many acres of reclaimed land, a considerable amount of which is now owned by t-he River Board. -

The channel is completely outside the Walker Island boom groin, the right and left channels joining just above it into a single channel. * .

A stone weir above Walker Island has been constructed to assist development of the channel and.to check a tendency to scour at the hea,d of the Island.

Belmont Extension —The recent big flood has greatly improved the filling of t&e right bank scour, and conditions are fully satisfactory. .

Stellin's Island —Boom groin and willows at head are fully satisfactory. A good shingle spit' with beach against Stellin Island upstream,from groin has formed. ■ ~ >'_.'.'

Kershaw's willow plantations Stellin

Island to Golf Links, have .taken well

and have withstood t&e floods quite 'well. Next season they should make good growth and will form a very valuable belt. Steady silting in Stellin

Channel down to Futter's is ) taking place.

. Head Golf Links—Conditions are quite good though. Kershaw's willows at bottom end of tie plantation for short length suffered rather severely in the flood. ■..,

Nothing having been heard "from the 'Golf Club and the general conditions 'having improved, '.the suggested boom groin is being held .over, and the-punt moved to lower reaches where required.

At railway, near Johnston's the river has somewhat imprpvedj down to bottom of Golf Links all is satisfactory.

Below New Hutt Bridge.—On both banks a,small amount more of cable and willow work has been carried out. All is satisfactory as far ddwn as MeAllum's lease, where however, the shingle accumulation is increasing. MeAllum's plant is at present not working, owing, I understand, to somewhat extensive repairs being required.

From Eailway Bridge down to tie stuary all is satisfactory.

"Waiwetu Stream, Clearing at Wyii-, drum.—-The contract is nearly completed .-..■"■;-■■.■. -V:

Amamotu Stream, White's Line to Waiwetu Confluence .-—Weed growth ■has been rapid and this in conjunction with' the higi rainfall this summer has kept the water level up? Weed clearink is in hand? There is a considerable amount of shoaling in the s&ort reach between the Wainm water pipe crossing and Gracefield Road, 'due to the Wainui pipes. Arrangements.have been made to- improve this so as to obtain, full benefit from the recent Waiwetu dredging operations.

Sundry-^—Cforif erences iiave been held with the Board's solicitor in respect to several matters that are being dealt with by him. ,