Hutt River Board

Hutt News, Volume 12, Issue 9, 27 July 1938, Page 5

Hutt River Board

. —— ■ * The monthly meeting of the Hutt River Board was held on Thursday morning. Those present were Mr. F. u '. Jones (chairman), Messrs. Ward Pearee, J, Mitchell, J. W. Andrews and the engineer, Mr. H. Sladden. An application- for permission to establish a motor case industry on Gear Island adjoining the Pipe Bridge fronting Jackson Street was declined. Mr. Andrews objected to the proposal frdm an aesthetic point of view and doubted whether the Gear Island Empowering Act would entitle the board to allow any industry to be carried on on the Island. The chairman concurred with this opinion and it was decided to decline the application. An application was received for permission to sell a section of land within the stop-banlt for building a dwelling. It was pointed out that this was contrary to the policy of the board and the application was declined. It was decided to eo-operatc with a local factory in the beautifying of the Waiwhetu stream and to define the boundry. Reporting 011 the state 0- the river for the past month, the engineer said that for the last month the river has been somewhat above normal level, on the 28th ultimo there being a fresh of some 8 feet. No material damage accrued except" a small without at "Hewers paddock" on the Ejard's property, otherwise improvement accrued to many parts of the channel. At Seagers and Taita Gorge the steady improvement that lias taken place in recent years continued. The right bank spit is steadily reducing and the alignment and gradient of the chaanel are better than they have been during the existence of the Board. At Pago's and Eoutley's the channel development and the filling of the old channel are steadily taking place all as desired. At Dickie's (Board's Property) and Walker's Island. The channel continues to improve, the stone spurs and willow work having been fully effective. Some thousands of willow cuttings have been planted in the area which eroded about 2 years ago and has refilled. The Dexton channel is now completely closed and growth of broom and gorse has completely covered it. Silt deposits taking place in floods arc stead ily building this area into good land fully justifying the Board's purchase of it some years ago. At the lower end, at Hewer's paddock, a small washout scored some willows and some small pine trees. This is being attended to with willow and cable work. At the top end of the Golf Links the central channel is steadily developing as desired. This teach between the Golf Links and Melling is the last to be taken in hand in developing the actual ■channel to the desired alignment. Apart from establishing willow belts not much has heretofore been possible until the reaches above had been stabilised. The removal of shingle by the Company at Melling has largely improved conditions in this reach. From Melling to the Estuary conditions arc all satisfactory.