HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1227, 8 September 1911, Page 7

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

RIVER BOARD. The monthly-meeting of tho Hutt River Board was held last evening. Present:— Messrs. R. Stevens (chairman), Roots, and Sladden. The overseer reported that repairs to tho. river-bank protective works necessitated by the flood of July 25 had been executed. The flood had caused a largo accumulation, of shingle in the bed below the Lower Hutt bridge, and was likely to prove a menace to the protective works, lhe river had remained low through the month of August. Willow protective works,'to the extent of 13 chains, had been carried out alon» the scoured banks at Taita, and three boom grovues wcro to be erected at the same locality. Tho contract let to Messrs. A. Peters and' Sons for tho embankment works at tho Gor<re had been completed in a satisfactory manner. The tender of Messrs. B. I'. Broad. Ltd., Sydney, was accepted for the sunply of timber for groynes at Is. 7-Jd. per loot, the total price being Gs. 3d. The board granted a transfer of Mr. W. H. Gossc's carting contract to Mr. 1\ S. Simpson. Mr. G. Laing-Meason, in acknowledging a letter from the board, stating that his services for reporting on the damage caused by tho recent flood would not bo required, affirmed his opinion that an examination was desirable, and stated that he would not hold himself responsible for future damage. In discussing this letter, Mr. Sladden stated that he thought (hat the board should have more supervision over tho protective works by its expert. A largo sum of money had been expended on protective work—nearly JCSO,CO0 —and it was a serious responsibility for laymen to undertake the progress of the protective scheme without expert direction. Ho moved:—"That Mr. Laing-Meason bo asked to make six visits of inspection per year." The-chairman disagreed with Mr. Sladden, stating that, in the earlier years of the board's existence, expert advice was absolutely necessary, but now that it was only necessary to follow out a fixed scheme the board's foreman was competent to carry it out. Mr. Roots concurred with the chairman's view. Mr. Laing-Meason's scheme, he said, had been a great success, and, unless some exceptional circurastancs necessitated a departure from that scheme, there was no need for further expert advice. Mr. Sladden asked how laymen could know when on "exceptional circumstance/' hod arisen. Eventually consideration of the matter was deferred for consideration at a fuller meeting. HUTT FIRE BRIGADE. Tho monthly meeting of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade was held on Wednesday evening, Captain SI inn presiding. It, was resolved, on the motion of the captain, that, owing to the state of the finances at present, the Gilberd .firo recorder be discontinued. On tho motion of Fireman Strand, it was decided to forward the usual amount to" the Way Relief Fund. The Hutt Borough Council (replying to a letter) stated that they were prepared to sell a manual fire engine for £So.—deceived. Several members expressed dissatisfaction at the make of the new uniforms. The following officers were nominated for the ensuing year:—Captain: J. Sliim; lieutenants: G. M'llvride, Foreman Dnran; foremen: .1. G. Doran, B. Fleet; assistant foremen: E. Collet!., W. Dover - eaux, J. Fleet, J. Brooker. B- Fleet; sccretarv: Mr. 11. Baldwin; brigade surgeon: Dr. Hector; lion, auditors: Firemen Parker and Doran,