WATER BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 6

WATER BOARD

HUTT EIVEE STJEVEY

COIVIPLETI.ON ORDERED

Tho City and Suburban Water Supply Board met yesterday, tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. G. A. Troup) presiding. There were present Sir. Alex. Roberts (Mayor of Lower Hutt), and Messrs. J. M' K'enzie (Mayor of, Petone), H. A. Huggins (City Council), P. Bobertson (Mayor of Upper Hutt), and W. Dyer (Hutt Comity). . / The following report by the City Engineer (Mr. G. A. Hart) on tVic eon-' struction survey of the Hutt. Eiver water supply scheme, a3ked for at the last* meeting of the board, was presented :-—"Referring to' the discussion which took place at the last meeting of the Water Board as to the advisability of any further work being undertaken upon the surveys and plans of the' Hutt River scheme, which by, ■instruction of the board I was auth orised to undertake by minute of 10th September, 192P, it will be within recollection that I indicated to the board informally that it was desirable that certain work which had been undertaken'in pursuance of that, instruction in the way of survey and survey plans only should bo bi-oug11 to a logical issue. I expressed' the view in- reply to an informal inquiry that 1 "thought a.further three months' work was desirable in order to'make the work which has already been done of some practical value for some future reference. The only field work which,"it has. been practicable to undertake has been-the necessary detail survey work required to enable seleetiqp to be made of the site of the intakeand the route of the prospective main conduit which includes a tunnel extending from the proposed intake site, to the upper end of the main Hutt Valley. No work has been undertaken in regard to the* route for prospective conduits from the upper end of .the Hutt Valley into Wellington. . ' N■-,,'■.■ ENGINEER'S REQUEST. / In ■ view: therefore' of the-instruction of. the 10th September last to complete the whole of the construction surveys of the undertaking, I desire to have a formal minute of the board if aich is 'the ; decision of the board, .to amend the instruction of ■ the 10th Septeoiber last so that I have the necessary authority to curtail further investigation upon this scheme in the preparation of surveys arid plafis that it shall be lim-' ited to the prospective sites of iiitake and main conduit and tunnel route from that point to the.head of the Hutt Valley. "I can advise' the board that we can complete this section of the work (luring the present financial year so that it may be of praetica- value for further. reference if required. The work, which has already been done by to tihe present time is in\itself of little practical value." "GREATEST IMPORTANCE." •'.- It, was of the greatest importance, said, the chairman (Mr. \£. A. Troup), that the investigations and survey of the upper valley should be carried out. If, it came to any sale of land, the board could step in and take action. As far as the lower part of. the river was concerned, , the survey would be chiefly valuable if they jjrere going to acquire land, in whic'i case it could be bought to better advantage' than by and bye. , > • "The time is coming," said Mr; Troup, "when the Hutt,and Petone will all be in the scheme. I am not so greatly affected by the present.attitude of the Hutt and Petone .as some of the;other members of -the board. If they want, to stay out just now, they are right to 'do;so, but they must not stand in the way of Wellington developing any schemes. They cannot say that because, they stand out others must v tpo. Mr. M'Kenzie:"We do not say that." Mr. Troup said that a report should be received shortly, when it \Xrs proposed to let the board know what the city/contemplated. Members of -the board should all lay their cards on the table, and as long as he' was chairman that would be tne procedure. The survey of the hdad waters should be completed. . : -Mr/- Huggins asked if it would be necessary to acquire land for tho pipe line on the way down. : Mr. Robertson thought an easement was all that would be needed, in which the City Engineer concurred. ' . ■ Mi\ Troup pointed out that whether land were acquired or an easement secured, it could be done much more simply and economically soon than, in te:i years', time. , . Mr., Robertson moved that4he survey be carried out as far as the head of the Hutt Valley. ... * • The City Engineer remarked that they did not want to go further than that because the'railway might come in. • ■ ~-.': ; The motion, was carried, and it was decided not to go into the question of an easement from-that point down until the-survey was1 finished.. _■■■ ■