MUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 January 1909, Page 3

MUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(FROM OUB SPECIAL REPORTER.) ''. '*—— FIRE AT UPPER HUTT. ; • PUBLIC BUILDINGS THREATENED. - Shortly after 7.30 o'clock last night a fire started at Upper Hutt in the dwelling-house of Mr. Jacob Geange. The fire brigade was soonibn the scene and at once removed tho contents of Mr. Geange's stable and tho adjoining saddler!s shop. The dwelling and contents, were entirely destroyed. Insurances were—on the house, which is a 6-roomed one ■.with a lean-to, £350 with Messrs. Levin and. Co., and on the furniture,and piano, : £200, with the same firm. At one time the new post-.office, town hall, courthouse, and polioe station : were threatened with' destruction.' but the wind lulled and; by the. energy of'the fire: brigade, the situation was saved. I THE TRAMWAY BOARD. . The election of members to the Hutt Valley Tramway Board will take place on February 2. Nominations close with the Returning Officer (Mr. Percy R. Purser) on January 27. Those who have already announced their candidature are Messrs. J. AV. - M'Ewan (Mayor of. Petone), T. A. Peterkiii (Mayor of Lower Hutt), Councillors . \V! • 11. Russell (Lower Hutt), R. J. Southgatie' (Petone), and Mr. W. B. r Nicholson (of Petone).The. board will consist of seven members. \» JOTTINGS. Mr. T, A, Peterkin (Mayor of Lower Hutt) is at. present confined to his bed with an pleurisy. The first meeting of the newly-elected River- Board will bs held early next week !for- the purpose of electing a chairman, : About fifty Hutt borough ratepayers will be proceeded against, for arrears of rates at the . sitting of the Magistrate's . 'Court at Lower. Hutt on February l.' 1 • :•) .The Lower Hutt Social and Athletic Club is giving a display in tho Town Hall early, next month, in' aid of the Wesleyan Church fund. ; ; ~. Tho Petone Rifio. Club - will'-. resume ; -the' .firing' for the championship aggregate on, Saturday at 600 '-'aria '- 800, yards,■; two • shoots at each distance. ' The. remaining ranges to be fired are 200, 500, and 600 yards. Owing to the.bad- weather-on Wednesday: last, 'the .Wednesday, squad was unable to .continue it's, competitions; A start will be made next' Wednesday. The Gear Company is working at highipres-; sure' just,- now. ' 'December., .'has. proved .'.a.' record month, and no fewer "than 99,850 sheep', and lambs and 1400 bullocks ; were killed.: Yesterday, .80 bullocks were .slaughtered, and; the number of- sheep and lambs killed on. Wednesday was about 5400. A larger njimber are: expected to be dealt -With' this month. There' are about 67 mutton butchers' employed, and. a dozen more . ar.o required',/to cope with; the work;' as very .large quantities of, stock are, coming. in.. So the usuak number of butchers has not'' arrived from Australia,, probably owing , to the' fact/that the Australian season' is late this' :year. and the New Zealand is early. . . .It .is expected' that there will. bo a;' large attendance, at, tho moonlight, excursion -on. the harbour to-night, arranged'by the'Petone Citizens''. Band. / v " V . The membership of the x Hutt Methodist Circuit now -stands at .250, 'which'' is'. : an increase, over the number at last-quarter. ' ~ During the past year actions were brought .in the Petone Magistrate's Court to recover debts totalling £1665 16s. lid., and £911 Bs. was' recovered. . The number ;of.criminal cases ..dealt .with; jrasv.ls6, .and.of, these,'l36 w<?re summarily convicted and fined, and 16 were discliarced. There cases of drunkenness, 21,- of: . obscene . language,- 19 of riotous conduct, 11' of.assault, and,74 miscellaneous. The ' last-named > were made up as follow Nine prohibition orders -(7; granted), 9 truancy,. 8 failing;to pay!railway fares, 6 . failure to. register dogs, 6 trespass, 5, allowing (torses to wander, threatening . behaviour, ,-i 3 nuisances, 2 breaches of prohibition orders, 2 2/ railway trespass, .2 boarding; moving, trains', 2 damaging / telegraph-' wires, and one each of indecency, false pretences, affiliation, obstruct;jng' :i>olice,'' ; faili)r.6,t-o, qu.itvlieensed;,jpremises, smoking .in- a -railway -carriage,- '-separation,falso declaration, wilful'dame—a'.i .■