HUTT RIVER BOARD.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 49, 15 May 1930, Page 3

HUTT RIVER BOARD.

The regular meeting of the Hutt River Board was held on Tuesday, 6th inst. Present: Mr F. S. Hewer (chairman), and Messrs J. Mitchell, C. Gostelow, and G. A. Chapman. The Engineer, Mr H. Sladden, was also in attendance."

A letter was received! from the Shingle and Sand Co., Ltd confirming the arrangement come to with the Board's chairman with regard to the excessive working hours of their plant in Aiicetown. * •

The ckairinan stated that the Company had agi-eed not to work before 6 a.m: and not latjer than 8 a.m. As in the Board's, opinion the letter was not quite in accordance with the arrangements come to With the chairman, it Was decided to ask the Company for a more definite understanding.

Mi- Hewer reported on_the visit of inspection made by himself and Mr Chapman to the Awamutu Stream when they' met the Hon. Minister of Bailways, the member for the district and others. The Minister had stated his intention of calling a conference of the Department and Local Bodies engineers to discuss the matter with the Board's engineer.

Mr Chapman was of the opinion thai the size of the culverts were sufficiently large and were effected by tide. If the water was kept cleaned and if the Wellington pipes were lowered the trouble "would be obviated. The Engineer was of the same opinion andi pointed out that all the development work in that area had been carried out without conferring with the River Board.

Mr Mitchell said that there was a moral obligation on the Wellington City-

Council to remove the water pipes which obstructed the Awamutu Stream.

In the opinion of Mr Chapman never in the existence of the Board have the i Awamutu and Black Creeks been in such •;)O<L condition us at present. On the motion of Mr Chapman,.seconded by Mi- Mitchell it was agreed; to again request the Wellington City Council to remove or lower the water pipes which obstructed the out fall of the creek. Mr Chapman reported that he had investigated the claim of a resident of Elizabeth Street who hatl complained of erosion on his property. In the opinion of the chairman it was a matter to be settled by the owners of the land. Mr Gostelow said that the Board is not in any way responsible for erosion, except when it was caused through the operation of the Board's workmen. On the motion of the chairman it was agreed to advise the resident that the Board would not accept any liability in the matter. The Board '.s solicitor advised that certain firms who drained into the Western arm' had rights in that direction and the Board tould .take action if a nuisan'co wero caused. The Hutt Borough Council made application for permission to" cut a storm sewer through the Stop-bank at Wakenelil Street. '

The question of responsibility for keeping outfalls open was raised. It was agreed to point out to the Council that these drains necessitated a certain amount of attention and to ask if the Council would be prepared to payȣl per year per culvert for maintenance. Stokes Valley Ratepayers' Association asked for permission for'residents to use the old ford across the river north of the Manor Park Bridge.

It was agreed to inform the association that the Board had no jurisdiction over private land, but had no objection to the river bed being .used, but would not accept any liability in case of accident.

The engineer was asked to report on the advisability of carters removing shingle and sand for estuary lands.

Mr Chapman maintained that Clause 3 in the Gear Island Empowering JBiH, 1927 gives the board too much power. He eon-tended that an influ^nttiall body could "pack" the board and they could get the island for 50 years. "It gives the board too wide a.power and that is mainly why I turned! the Aero Club down,. The clause will defeat its ob'jeei;,'' concluded Mr Chapman.