Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10611, 9 June 1920, Page 4

Qf tho vagaries of the Hutt river, Mr John Cudby, whose death is recorded in another column, could tell a great deal of interest. The river was fringed to tho water’s edge with dense and beautiful bush, and the stream was considerably deeper than it is nowadays, and was of groat use for navigation; large canoes and boats were numerous, and the Maori- regularly took produce grown in tho valley down the river and across tho harbour to Wellington city. Tho thick growth of bush helped to consolidate tho banks and confine the river to its course, and the damage began when the early settlers cleared tho forest clothing right down to the river’s edge. Tho banks then began to disin tograto and to fall in, undermined by the flood-waters, and presently tho Hutt river burst its way through lowlying portions, swept many acres of good soil into its current, and largely changed or obliterated the landmarks of the old Heretaunga, such as the sito of Fort Hichmond.