HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 481, 14 April 1909, Page 10

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(FROM OCR SPECIAL REPORTER.). 1 PETONE POLICE COURT. A sitting of tho Polico Court was held at Petonc yesterday morning, before Messrs. J. AY. M'Ewan and W. lugUs, J.P.'s. For allowing a horse to wander, R. J Nankivell was convicted and ordered to pay Court costs. A first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged, and a prohibition older wa.s issued against a young man on tho application of his brothers. Francis Suincrs, charged with disorderly behaviour in the Central Hotel, Petone, was fined 405., in default 14 days' imprisonment. . >- LOWER HUTT MAYORALTY. Another address was delivered by Mr. J. T. Hawthorn, ono of tho candidates for Lower Hutt mayoralty, in the Congregational Schoolroom, Alicetown, last evening. Mr. G. Hall was chairman, and a fair number of electors attended. Mr. Hawthorn stated that tho present council came into office to wipe off an overdraft of £3000, but they had increased it by £839 instead. Over £8000 out of the £52,000 loan money had been used for purposes other than those for which they had been allocated. He would advise tho council ,to submit tho whole of the borough accounts to tho inspection of a first-class accountant, and to receive from him a full report on the past management of tho borough. At present the financial undertakings of the council were proceeding on unsound lines. Ho recommended that _ a sinking fund should be set aside to provide for the repayment of portion of the loans. This sinking fund could bo used for dedications and for any other works that would benefit posterity. The borough could raise a loa.n at 3f or 4 per cent, to repay money used from the sinking fund. This amount could then' bo placed on mortgage over good freehold security at from 5 to 6 per cent, interest. Tho borough drainage works should be pushed on quickly, and ho favoured day labour for this undertaking. In regard to the Town Hall, he asserted that the council was paying £150 per annum for privileges really worth £250. Ho then proceeded to deal with Mr. Russell's action in asking for an inquiry as to why the lease of tho hall was signed'before j tho solicitors had perused it. Ho also touched on the tramway question. The meeting closed w : ith a vote of thanks to the chair. TECHNICAL SCHOOL BOARD. Tho Petone Technical School Board met last evening. Present: Tho Rev. A. Thomson (chairman), Messrs. H. Findlay, R. Mothes, D. M'Kenzie, H. Baldwin, and J. G. Castlo. Tho Education Department wrote again regarding tho managers and stated that tho Wellington Meat Export Company was not entitled to representation. Mr. Mothes, as representing the trustees of tho Boys' Institute, was also ineligible for membership, until the section of land in Beach Street had bean formally rested in the hoard. The chairman expressed the opinion that the reply of the board was not at all satisfactory. Ho intended to see Mr. Hogben and Mr. Fowlds, for he was almost persuaded that the action of the Department had not been submitted to tho Minister. He had spoken to several public men; and had been told that it was an impossible thing for tlio Government to invalidate an election after they had practically approved of the nominations. If Mr. Fowlds, when he returned, endorsed tho action taken, then there was nothing left for him (Mr. Thomson) but to retire. He held that tho Department had exceeded its powers. Mr. Mothes suggested that tho three trustees of tho Boy's Institute should sell tho land, and hand tho amount received over to the board at tho rate of £25 a year. That would ensure representation, and get over tho difficulty.

Tho chairman said that it was an important matter for all Technical School Boards in the Dominion. If this was tho act of a Liberal Government, then it was the most extraordinary production the Government had put through. Tho Wellington Woollen Mills had contributed £30, and there were two representatives from tho Gear Company, whoso contribution was £50. "If Mr. Fowlds upholda this action," ho continued, "I shall take tho matter beforo tho House."

Mr. Findlay: And I will go with vou. " % The Chairman: I shall get Mr. Wilford's opinion; the thing will not rest if it is tho. decision of the Minister that we havo conducted busiuess illegally since wo okctcd our officers.

On the motion of the chairman, it was agreed to hold further consideration over until next meeting, in order that tho position might be placed before tho Minister. ,

The directors reported that over 80 pupils were attending tho school. The aggregate enrolments 'in the various classes were over 180, as against 136 last year. Only half of the first quarter had passed, but there were more enrolments than daring tho wholo of last year.. Somo students wero coming out from tho city for continuation work. Tho figures for tho largest classes were: Mathematics, 33; English, 27; plumbing, 21; and 21. So far sufficient names had not como in for tho cookory'classes.