HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 October 1908, Page 9

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

WANTED: A SCHOOL. Apparently Petone is not the only plaw to have trouble in matters of education, foi Lower Hutt lias a difference of opinion with tho Government. Tho grievance of tho latter town, however, is of a different nature from that of Petone. Briefly, the position is this: The Government have purchased a section of land in King's Road, Eastern Hutt, at a cost of over £2000, for school purposes. The present school wan built to accommodate '400 pupils, but last ■ month's roll showed a total of 507. To meet tho additions, tho committee rents a skeleton cottage for use as an infant schoolroom. In addition to this, secondary education is given at tho lato Dr. Wilford's residence on tho Hutt Road. The Government now wishes to add to the accommodation of the present school, and not to make use of the new section, but tho committee say that tho position will be cxactlj tho saxno in another month's time. This, it is contended, would further delay-any possible chance they have at present of getting a building erected. A lot of pupils livo 011 the eastern-side of the river , but they are not sent to school as they havo to cross the bridge, which is rendered dangerous for them by the heavy traffic. It is also a considerable distance from Dlackbridge, Waiwetu and Belle Vue. Tlia School Committee met recently and, on the motion of Mr. 11. J. Jenkins, it was unanimously decided to call a meeting of householders at an early date to impress on the Department the necessity for at once proceeding with the erection' of tho school on the nowly-purchased site. An endeavour will bo made to get the local committee to attend the meeting, and Mr. Wilford and .Captain M'Donald will bo asked to be present.- - ' - MELLING SUSPENSION BRIDCE. -'The''Melting Suspension Bridge—for pedes* tiians and vehicular traffic —is approaching completion. It spans the Hutt' River at the foot of Camp Road, and goes over to Western liutt. It is of great convenience to tho residents of the northern end of the borough, as they can use it and get'.to a train 111 the morning which conveniently stops at that point, although there is no station, thus" saving a walk of at least a mile and a half. The only tiling required to complete the structure is the making of the approaches, the co3t of which was to be contributed by the settlers and landholders in the vicinity. sit is understood that all that money has now been received, and the approaches will, be immediately gone on with. On the eastern Mdc, an earthen embankment will bo erected, and on the western sido tim-ber-will be used. Mr; H. Rix-Trott (Lower Hutt' 136rougli Engineer) expressed the opinion at the last meeting of . the council that the job was well and economically done. PETONE RIFLE CLUB. The Petono: Riflo Club is, states tho secretary, llr. E. Johnson,' numerically the largest in.tho Dominion, having a membership of about 70. Recent additions to the club are— Messrs. Mellor (the South Australian crack), Gay (from Dumbarton, Scotland), and J. Tanner (Ivarori). Tho club has a fine range, and. it. has been decided that a Wednesday squad should bo inaugurated, and the first shoot of tho new squad, which numbers about a dozen members, - will take place to-, morrow afternoon, the shooting to be for a trophy presented by Mr. Arthur Ballinger. Such a satisfactory state of affairs is very pleasing and reflects the greatest credit on tho officers concerned.

SOCIAL AND ATHLETIC CLUB. ■ The Hutt Valley Social and Athletic Club is holding a grand ' gymnastic carnival shortly., All told, • there will bo about SO performers, including ladies, and tho entertainment will be added to by, a team' from tho Wellington Y.M.C.A.. ■All.are very keen on tho work, and the gymnasium is. run purely by honorary oflifiiiils," 1 of which'Mr; B. H. Parker is instructor,' "•

The Petone .Commercial Club has made out plans and. called for tenders, for a "new building,, but it has been decided not to accept any of the tenders. Now designs aro to be .submitted, with a view of getting a better, building. . Mr. E. J. P. Jeffs, a lottor-carrier at Lower Hutt, who has been down with appendicitis for a few days, was sent to tho Wellington Hospital on Thursday, and he died at the institution on Sunday after an operation, Deceased, whoso parents resido in Wellington, has been in this district for about twelve months

The Dominion has appointed a resident correspondent for Petone and Hutt. Notices of meetings, correspondence, etc., may ba left caro Mr. J. W. Powell, Petone.-. The l'etono Navals go into their annual training camp on Friday next at Fort Kolburno,' Ngahailrahga.

- The Rev. A. M. Johnson, • vicar, of St. Mark's, Wellington, delivered an address on "The . Church and Social Problems" to members of- the St. Augustine's Church Men's Sooicty, .Petone, last evening. Tho sum of £100 has been cleared from the bazaar recently hold at Petono to reduce the debt 011 St. Augustine's Church. Tho amount of indebtedness remaining is about £800. ■ , 1 •

The Hutt; Chess Club has closed its season," and is looking forward with a hope of seeing a still stronger membership next season, which will commence 011 or about March 2, 1909. ■

A one innings Cricket match between Up-, per Hutt and Silverstream was played on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Upper Hutt by 46 runs. Silverstream made 45 (Chote 14 and Dixon 10) and Upper Hutt made 91 (J. Mabey 26, Hutchens, 22, Polling 15, and J. Paul 14). Dixon and Fouroo bowled' well for Silverstream, as did M.M'Crossiii and J. Paul for Upper Hutt. .. At last night's meeting of the Hutt Bon ougli Council the question of tho appointment of an-assessor in tho compensation case of T. P.. Allen v. tho Hutt Borough Council, a claim for land taken, was dealt with, and Jlr. W. G. Foster was appointed 111-the event of his being unable to undertake the position, Mr. G. T. London will 1 bo chosen.

Mr. George Leonard Dovine, who died last week at Levin, aged 23, was youngest son of-Mr. and Mrs. J. Dovine. old and respected settlers of Whiteman's Valley. Deceased had been engaged by tho Wereroa Butchery Co, for the past six years. Much sympathy is felt for his parents.