HUTT AND RETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 415, 26 January 1909, Page 7

HUTT AND RETONE NEWS.

(FIIOM OUE : BPECIAt' KErOMEn.) ■'• '•'

: PETONE CATCHMENT AREA. At last ; night's meeting; of. the Petone Borough Council the Mayor stated -that he had,a roport froni, the engineer regarding the catchment aroa.s'p far. as Nonuandalo was concerned, 1100 : acres .1 food'3s porches. In addition to : thnt, there weft) 279 acrps ,10 perches freehold up there, land acquired frpm tho Crown and Natives.-Then there wcre.fivo leases which the council had tho right, to acquire, under the Catchment Area Act of tho session before last, 188.aores in: all,:' There was an additional 58 acres 2 roods 20 perches, which had been set aside as a scenic reserve, and., section, i, also part of the catchment area, but apparently at present Crown land;' making up 1714 acres 2 roods 15 perches, in all. This did not include the land owned by' Mr. Cottle, but ho owned a considerable area on the Petone side of the stream and a block at the .head of .the stream. The rental tho council would have to pay was not in any sense extortionate.' ' ' " : ' . ,'£b'o report'was adopted.. .' 'llio Mayor added that this brought up the question of the council's visit-to tho catchment area. The council decided to inspect the area on Thursday. .'.... ■'~.'.'.. PETONE DRAINAGE. .Speaking'on the subject. of tho eastern drainage scheme, at Potono, Borough Council last, evening, the Mayor-CUr. J. W. MEwan), ronjarkpd that the, question as to what price the .Government' expected 'the council to pay; for the pumping station site had not come under consideration. An officer of the Lands .Department visited the spot, but apparently his ■ roport had not yet been dealt with.' Feeling anxious about the matter, the Mayor communicated with the Commissioner, and ho telegraphed in reply stating that the matter,was still under, consideration. ' '■..■' JOTTINCS. ' At 2 a.m. yesterday afire broke out -at a :fourfroomed cottage near tho traffic bridge, Lower Hutt, and : completely' destroyed it. It was occupied by Mr. Adams and family, and owned by Mr./ Routley, of Trentha'm. The Lower Hutt Fire Brigade arrived promptly, but the "fire had' too firm a hold, and they could-npt save 'the building. - Those sleeping/ in the house'-had to escape in their bed-clothes.' The origin 'of..tho outbreak is not known. The furniture was'insured for £50 in tho.'Phoenix office: :

Tho. subject of football' grounds cropped up at.last night's. meeting of tho Petone Borough Council 1 . ..The Mayor stated that some time ago. a committee was set up to deal with tho matter;- Ho thought the council- should make arrangements for a: meeting at an. early date before'the next council meeting, so that the question could bo'gone.into. The matter was'left in tho hands of the Mayor to call a meeting next week. ' At; tho-Hutt Valley-Gun 01ub!s shoot fpr. a .cash trophy of. £100 the' prize was divided. by • Messrs. .Robertson (Groytown North), Walvin (Wellington), Brassell, and Hancock. r In the shoot off for.the cup, Hancock' won! '■'■": : '■' "'.

.'Next Monday will be Magistrate's. Court day at Lower Hutt. As. arrangements are being, made at" present regarding the furniture at"tho new Court-honse, it is hoped tha,t the sittings; -will be conducted in the new building. : ..'.' : v

A reminder.is given .that nominations for the Tramway Board clqso with the Returning Officer (Mr.; Percy'R,;Purser) to-mor-row... ■.■':-. ■ '"■ ' ■'■"■, '",'•■''■■ ; '■•. - :

•A', letter'was recoived ftt last night's ipcoting of;tho; Pptono Borough Council from Mr. .o.', S. -Mahoney, secretary of .tlio ; ■Gjtjzens' Baud, applying for the useof tho rotunda on: the .Recrcatiou .Ground,;. when.the" lighting was. arranged for, .and stating, that ..his. hand would-bo the -nrst;in the-field. ; ,Tho.writer; desired [intimation :as -to. the datot'when thd lighting s w'o.uid.v.bo; available;.-for: mn,-evening perfprmanco. :The- secretary: 4 also, j desiredi'the use of ..the-ground, next Sunday, as"'tho ".Garri-i, sdn v ßand'had : givop the> r sorvicps'in-'aid' of the' Hastings' contost.\fund:-. 'Gouuoillbr'Eod-der,-moved "that the request r bo■••>■ granted.' Councillor . Southgato. remarked■-■' that- ho. thought .the - Salvation ..Army had' "forestalled them.', The Mayor pointed out that ■ the work had not boon dono yet. , The motion was carried. ■ ■ •'• ' ' '■■"'

Mr. J. W. List, 'secretary of the Petono School. Committee, forwarded a lotter to last night's meeting of the Borough Council, asking tho council.to procure a site,'about half an acre in extent, adjoining tho Reoreatjon Gj-ound, to be donated for high school purposes., Mr. List mentioned that the-land was at present controlled by the PublioTrustee, and that the' Council had power to donate land for the purpose specified.' The letter was received and dealt with committee.