HUTT DREDGING SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 12

HUTT DREDGING SCHEME

PLANT TO BE SOLD DECISION OF RATEPAYERS For the purpose of considering the report of the engineer! to the Hutt River Board (Mr. Laing-Meason), which proposed the abandonment of the shingle dredging scheme, a largely-attended meeting of ratepayers was held in the Lyceum Hall, Lower Hutt, on Thursday night. ’ Mr. W. T. Strand (chairman of the River Board), who presided, said it had been quite evident that in rejecting the proposal to raise the additional loan of J/5000 some eighteen months ago, the people themselves had demonstrated that they had not had sufficient interest in the project to warrant its The, board considered that the time had arrived when the river work should be dealt with comprehensively, and for that purpose Mr. Laing-Meason had been engaged to prepare a report. The report was divided into two sections, one portion dealing with the river work, and the other with the shingle dredging scheme. The board had decided at a recent meeting to carry out the engineer’s recommendations regarding the former work, while his suggestion for the latter provided the reasons for which the meeting had been called.

After Mr. Laing-Meason had answered questions, Mr. J."BraseH moved: “That all plant, machinery, and timber be sold as soon' as possible for the beat prices obtainable; that -the board commence at once to market the gravel from Kingdon’s beach by means of rail transit, to allow of a profit, including royalty, at not less than 2s. 6d. per yard, and the right of removing shingle from other places be granted to the general public at a royalty of Is. 6d. per yard, and to the three local bodies within the river district of 6d. per yard for shingle for their own use; that moneys collected for royalty and profit on gravel be set aside as far as possible to liquidate the dredge loan; that after a careful stocktaking and an estimate of expenditure and income are made, the board endeavour to carry out the proposed new works and maintenance out of the revenue.”

Mr. Judd seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.