HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

fenOU OUR' SPECIAL RErORTEIt.) TRAMWAY BOARD. The weekly meeting of Hutfc Valley Tramway Board was held in Petone Municipal Chambers last evening, and was attended by Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan (chairman), H. Findlay, J. Austin, 11. Stevens, J. T. Hawthorn, H. Baldwin, and R. J. Southgate. Petone Borough Council wrote offering the leaso of section in Cuba Street, fbr twenty years, at an annual rental of £30 . for tho first fourteen years, and five per cent, on the ascertained capital valiio' f6r the remaining six years, the rent in" no case to be less than £30 per'nnnum.-—The chairman said that this letter might be considered along with several other offers of land for a carshcd sit*. Mr. Geo. F. Pearce, Wellington, replying to tho board's circular,' said that he was not at-all in sympathy with, the scheme, and ho was not prepared voluntarily to contribute to the cost of construction or towards any losses during tho first five years of running. —Tho chairman moved that this and ' all other replies to the board's circular bo filed for future reference.: Messrs. Bunny, Petlierick, and'Ayson forwarded draft of proposed amendment to the Hutt Valley Tramway District Act, 1905.— On the motion of Mr. Findlay, consideration was deferred. Mr. Findlay said that he:had a scheme to bring before the board later. Mr. J. Austin moved, under notice, and Mr.' Stevens seoonded, the motion to hold meetings of the board fortnightly, instead of weekly, as at present. It was agreed to hold boird meetings on the first and third Fridays of tho month, alternately at Petone and Lower Hutt. Mr. Findlay submitted a scheme based on the engineer's report, and moved that it be considered along with the engineer's report. He • said that the board had been wasting time, and proceedings wero gotting wearisome.. Might ho urge that tney should go before the ratepayers with a scheme as soon, as possible. >lf it was going to'bo carried, the' sooner thev proceeded' to business the better. The scheme which he. desired. to bo considered .would show a profit on'the first year's working. 7 Although tho scheme would oost only £45,000 it might be as well to ask for tho full amount,-£85,000. Part of the scheme would be carried out first, .and when it was- proved to be paying, the remainder could be gone on with., If he knew tho general feeling, no. votes would be; given -for a scheme that would not pay. "It will to. better," concluded Mr. Fjndlay, "that .wo should' go before' the publicunless wo do, I feel sure that 1 we will become a nuisance, to ourselves and to • the whole of , the Hutt Valley."' 5 . Mr." Austin .protested, that tho proposal submitted by .Mi'.'Findlay had already, been rejected 'by the: board' in' almost similar- form. Mr. ■ Hawthorn' asserted that all thinking men would say that the board iVas • wise in delating their scheme.' The' money market was in- a precarious position at . present, - and' not.a quarter of the ratepayers.-'believed-.bhat tho ■ • tramways 'would •• pay;'; ("Question.!')' Cotikl they tell the ratepayers "where, th",v wero going to get a loan of £45,000,- and what they wero goinhg to pav for it? Mr. Stevens considered that things-had not matured sufficiently for them to- entertain a proposal to place the scheme before the ratepayers.' Mr. Baldwin said that he was in: favour of considering :nothing but the feporfc'.of tho' engineers. ■ The motion was lost.. ' . _ ■ Attention was then turned to the joint report,, and tho chairman' recommended that the:board-should approach the City Council asking that Mr. W; '-IL Morton (city eil-. gineer) and Mr. Stuart Richardson _ (electrical engineer) should be permitted to give expert advice on the scheme after perusing the report of the borough ciigineers. The board would have to bear the cost sooner or later. He believed that the engineers had furnished an honest, perhaps conservative, report',' biit neither of them was an expert on tramway construction.

The board went into committee to con : ;si(Jor a dozen offers of 'land'for''use as carshed and power-house site's.. , NO-LICENSE LEACUE. The Hutt. No-License Leaguo held an executive meeting on Thursday evening. A motion- or condolcnce was passed, to Rev. J. Dawson on account of his recent family bereavement. The mooting also expressed its sympathy with the Rev. Mr. Russell during the period of his ill-health. . The secretary was instructed to convoy the league's congratulations to the Ohinemuri League on 'their success at the rccent inquiry. , ' ; . 1 /. Notice of motion was given: '"That hiciii-: bers'. subscriptions be reduced, and that, for the next twelve months at least, 'ordinary meetings of league be held, quarterly instead of monthly, as in the past. , r ' The executive, expressed its appreciation' of the services of the late organising agent,. Mr. J. Delahunty.

The following committees of oonvenors were appointed:—Ladies committee, Mrs; Howe; vigilance committee, Mr. .Sussex; harmony committee, Mr. Ackroyd; new members' and; collecting committees, Mr. J. Allen. WORKSHOPS TROUBLE.. Tile troubie at Petone Railway Workshops is still acute, although no meetings of Ine men fiave been held. during the past few days. "We aro sitting tight, and waiting developments,", said one of the aggrieved employees to our representative yesterday, "our attitude has now been placed clearly before mo Minister, and 1 * wo aro looking for his rej>ly. Meantime there will bo no more meetings, -unless - some good reason arises." • ROWING. The third heat of Petone, Rowing Club's double sculls was .held .last, evening, ;S. Bland (stroke) and 11. Cunliffe (bow), : defeated T: Dent (stroke) and P. Fitzgerald (bow), by two lengths; The semi-final and final'will be rowed' this afternoon, if possible. : CITIZENS' BAND HONOURED.

About three hundred and' fifty people assembled in the Drill Hall, Petone, last evening, -to do honour to the Citizens' Band, wnieh won tue B grade competition, at tho recent Hastings contest. The Mayor (Mi. J. W. M'Ewan), spoko appreciatively of the honour achieved by the band, of which, he. was president, and handeu to. the treasurer a cheque for £15, representing voluntary contributions, to which would •be added. the proceeds of tho citizens' social. ■ The Mayor also extended a hearty welcome to Bandmaster Gruar, who has recently been appointed to the condiictorship of the band; . .. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.,' patron. of the band, detailed its' history, and spoke .in high terms of its latest accomplishment; under 'the efficient coaching of Lieutenant Herd. .. . - ■' 1 An excellent musical programme; was contributed to by the' following:—Miss D. M'Ewan, Messrs. J. B; Bowman, Chamberlain, W. M'Ewan .(songs), Mr. T. M. Wilford, Ivl.l'. (recitation). Mr. W. E. Laney was an'.euicient M.C. Butterworth's Balul supplied music for the dancing,: which was continued until a lato hour. , - PETONE SCHOOL COMMHTTEE. Tne Petone School Committee ' held its monthly meeting last evening. PresentMessrs. M'Kenzie (chairman;, Brocklebank, Marscfen, List, Cairns, M'Dougall, and Rev. A. Thomson. , The following motion was passed:—"Seeing that the parents of. proficiency pupils have petitioned the Wellington Education Board to have a High School proper estabished in Petone, we, the committee of l'etone District High School, respectfully ask tiuat tue present building (known as Price's Building), where the secondary subjects are . taught, bo proclaimed a High School proper." While hunting with the Meath Hounds noar the Philpotsdown covert, County Meath, recently, Mr. W. N. Waller, a former M.F.H., fell dead from his horse, tho cause being attributed to heart failure. bury, has resigned his position as chairman of the. West India Committee. Sir Henry Katz Dawson has been appointed as his successor. .