HUTT AND PETONE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7027, 15 January 1910, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE

AN UP-RIVER MENACE. FURTHER EROSIONS REPORTED. A movement has for months beeni afoot for extending the district under the Hutt River Board's jurisdiction some distance further north. The necessary proportion of ratepayers in the new district have petitioned, but to comply with the law it is necessary to present a further petition signed by two-thirds of the ratepayers of the old district. This involves about six humdred signatures being obtained, and as ratepayers are not sufficiently interested in the matter to mafce.it the occasion of a visit to the office the matter is "hung up." The adjustment, said the chairman of the River Board on Thursday night, is absolutely necessary to the safety of the lower part of the valley. One of the ratepayers in the new area, had taunted him bitterly a few days previously with the board's inaction, but until the signatures were obtained and the proclamation issued, the latter had no power to do any work or ask for a loan. A passage in the engineer's report read: "At Mason's Gardens I observed that the river had encroached some ten feet further and I expect to see still more encroachment this winter. The board will remember that this was one of the weak spots which called for. the proposed extension of the River Board district. There should be as little delay as possible in giving effect-to this proposal." After somo discussion the clerk was empowered to engage a canvasser to assist him an obtaining signatures. ISLAND OF STRIFE.

The government of Gear Island has recently been a bone of contention, and, if rumour speaks true, is likely again to be. The possession of a sufficient portion of it to run a road and water main, across is now a matter of dispute between two of the bodies concerned in the • main argument. Petone fought hard to have the new Hutt bridge erected in line with the borough's main thoroughfare. The boon was granted, but on condition <that Petone should provide access on the western side and should bear all costs and acquire all necessary lands in connection with the diversion of the , Wainui.-water r main • made necessary by ' the alteration in the site. The Borough Council invited the River Board to name a- price for the strip of land across Gear Island leading to the bridge—about an acre. The price named was £BOO, but this amount. was subsequently reduced to less than half. The Petone Council discovered that the mains could not follow the road Jine, but _ must run diagonally' across the section of the island until they joined the main line of sewers again. ; The council then conceived the idea of buying the whole of the land lying south of the-roadway —some three notified the River Board that former negotiations were "off," and that the land would 'be acquired under the Public Works Act., But the board has projects in connection with the island, and the .possession of • this southern corner is> a very, vital condition of their being carried out. A suggested railway extension would cross ■ this land. The members of the board visited the locality, and as.a result of the visit the following minute was adopted 0n... Thursday night: "With reference to the suggested acquisition, presumably by the Wellington ; City Council, of about three acres of the Gear Island below Jackson street embankment- for the purpose of laying pipes, 'as no formal application, was before the board it was not necessary to consider the .matter at present. The members, of .the board'.present were, however, of opinion that the board would be "unwise to agree to part with the land indicated, as it would" interfere with the board's scheme'of works, .and it did not appear to' be - necessary for the City Council to acquire the land in order to lay pipes." / HUTT; TRAMWAY-BOARD. . At a meeting of the Hutt Valley Tramway Boaf d. last evening it was resolvpd to arrange a deputation to the Promier, if possible, with a view;. to obtaining his assurance that the proposed loan of £85,000, if sanctioned by the ratepayers, 7will 'be forthcoming under the State Guaranteed Advances Act and to defer taking further steps meanwhile. ■ A suggestion of Mr J. T. Hawthorn's that an assurance be given that any sum remaining in hand after the laying of the curtailed route of eight miles would be devoted towards laying the Middle Waiwotu and Park Lane sections (excised from the original scheme), or, that in the event of no sufficient amount being in hand' ■those sections would be the first to bo addedi was agreed to. Mr Hawthorn said that a considerable of opposition had ' .been raised to the tramway scheme by reason of the curtailment of the route. He was conn-' dent, notwithstanding the contrary: opinions voiced' in the reports, that the whole original route (11J miles) be, laid, and the necessary plant provided for the sum proposed to be raised to do the eightmile .route (£85,000). Mr Hawthorn, tabled data relative to the working of the Wanganui tramways for 1909, and emphasised the fact that working expenses at Wanganui wore greatly less, in proportion, than those estimated by the board's ■ engineers.