HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 484, 17 April 1909, Page 7

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

(MOU -OUll BPEOIAL nEPOIWEB.). * __>- ■ COMINC ELECTIONS. THE SEARCH FOR CANDIDATES. Four'days only aro left in which to lodge tho nominations of candidates; in tho coming Mayoral, and council elections, but in. Hutt and Petono little has been said on tho subject by thoso who are supposed to be interested. Theroforo, it is not surprising that much.unfounded rumour has spread through tho district. The real position of'affairs, so far as tho elections in tho two boroughs aro concerned, was ascertained by The Dominion representative yesterday. ■ It ia not at all, likely that more than thrco candidates will be nominated for tho Lower Hutt Mayoralty. Those at present in tho field are Mr. J?. P. Bunny (an ox-Mayor . Mr. J. T. Hawthorn, and Mr. W. H. Russell (a member of tho present, council). Mr. 1. A. Peterkin, who was elected to the position of Mayor twico in succession, has now decided to stand down. During his present term of office, Mr. Peterkin's health Has not been of tho best. . . . . All but two of the present Lower Hutt Borough Council are resigning. This almost unanimous action, on tho part of tho councillors is said .to . hare ■ ■ been' partly caused by the strictures passed in Bomo quarters regarding their stewardship,. so far as tho financial undertakings of the borough wero concerned. "Wo have had quite enough of mud-throwing," said one retiring.; councillor. Private reasons induced some of the councillors to refrain from;, seeking re-elec-tion. Thoso who definitely-declared that they will not be among tli'e candidates are: Councillor AV. E. Hughes, who was elected in April, 1907; Councillor W. Judd, a member of the council for two years; Councillor John O'Sullivan, of Alicetown, who has occupied a'seat for four years; : Councillor Fleming Ross, with three, years' :\ sorvice; Councillor W. H. Russell,,who, after having sat 'on the 1 , council, for two years, has entered the Mayoral contest; Councillor John Ward, of Gracefield Road, who did good servico in tho council chamber;,,some, time back, and was again returned.,four years ago,; and ; Councillor C, 'Wildsmith, -eleoted. to tho council at a bye-election less than two-years ago. ;■'.- .• ■..'.'■':•■. . v, Councillors' H. Baldwin and M. Hodgins' stated that they had not yet decided to contest the election: .The general impression is that both of these gentlemen will, be can-. didates. ■■, , :'■' ■ . ' '.' '''.-.■:■.",, ■-, Mr. A. Macaskill, of King's Road, Lower Hutt, hr.s determined .to offer himself- for the council. ■ He is a member of the_ School Committeo, and has taken a keen interest in the affairs of-the'borough. ' > ' : : -•.■Mγ.- P. J. Pinny, whose name has been mentioned in, connection; ,wit)r tho coming election, stated yesterday that it was unlikely that ho would stand. Mr. Sladdon also stated that h'e had been asked to becomo a candidate; but he had not considered it advisable to comply with the request. \ ;, • Mr. J. -W.-'.Eeade informed our reporter that it is his intention to; contest the council election. '-;.. ■'.';..-,■. :•' .. ■ :'■.•■. ./Unless .other ratepayers come (. forward quickly, ; it is possible that the required number of nominations (nine) will not come in by Wednesday,.April 21. The foregoing are tho only names suggested for tho Hutt seats as yet, , but the next few days -may bring important developments/; .""'■■."' i i .As to Pctone thore is fj may oral!'contest."; Mr. J.: W. M,'Ewanj the present Mayor, is to be returned unopposed. On tho council .Mr. M'Ewan Borved for bis yoajs, from '1900-3, and 1904-7,. and he. has been Mayor of Petono for two years. ■ Tho strugglo,; for- council seats wuT have some attention, inasmuch as the candidates will far exceed tho iiumber of chairs,provided. ■ Sis members of tho prosont council will seek-re-election,' and already- four out: aiders are considering!their.chances. \Of.this, .'present council,- voters , will;hr.ve an opportunity of reinstating , tho^follbwirig^—Councillor: W. G. Castlb/ who , ;has.sorved on the Borough Council'for fifteen years; Councillor; A. Colquhoun,; two years; Dr. Harding,;two years; Councillor R. AV. Short, two years': Councillor! R. J. Southgate, two yeare; and Councillor ,H. G. Young, threo years. The only member who gave a: decided negative was Councillor Ri.F. Smith, and there is rumour that a'deputation will bo arranged with a viow-toi inducing him to cliango nis mind. ■Councillor W. Q. Lodder has not yet definitely announced iis intentions, But it,is quite .likely that ho will again take part in the contest. .Councillor. A. Coles, 'who' returned yesterday; from Australia,;, replied that at tho moment it was. unlikely he would seek .re-election.;' :■ ■• ~.. ■ ■>-:;; . : : ■ Our reporter was informed l by.the following that they ; would offer their services for the council this month:—Mr. W.Trueman, Mr. E; W. Wqodhouse,Mr. R. H Jones, and Mr J. W. ; List. Inquiry froni Messrs. J. Wakeharn and S.'V. Burridge elicited that they were noti yet ready to declare, and Mr. J. T. Slipper states that, his candidature is not at all certain. ;.- '-.' v •','■'■■ Other,namos have been mentioned, but; bo far as can ,be ascertained,: these, aro.the only residents of Petone..who havo now decided to. come-forward as candidates. . TRAMWAY BOARD. ; ;' v : The Hutt Valley Tramway Board met last • evening at Petone; there were 1 present: Messrs. J. W.M'Bwan (chairman), H: Baldwin, H: Findlay, J.; Austin,. R. Stevens, and J. T. , Hawthorn. 7 '■>•'■',.■ ' The estimates for the year ending -March 31 next, wero submitted:—Receipts: Rate of Jd. on an unimproved value of £1,811,592, £943 10s. 9d. Expenditure :■ Debit .balance March 31, 1909,' £104,'85.i 5d.; secretary, £50; stationery and advertising, £75 ! ; poll expenses,' £20; report. on' scheme. £150; repayment ;to borough councils, £191 Is. tid.; bank charges, £7; valuation roll, £80; contingencies, £260 os. lOd.jitotal, £943 10s. 9d. Tho board approved of the estimates, and decided to strike a r.ato of Jd. in the £, to meet the proposed expenditure. The chairman and Mr. Hawthorn were Suthonsed to consult with Mr. Stuart Richardson, electrical engineer ■ to- Wellingtor. City Coimcil, with a viewto deciding upon tho most suitable man to rejsort on, the scheme t's laid down; in the engineers l report. ; :HTJTT MAYORALTY. ':'■. As montioned in yestorclay'B issue, Mr, E. P. Bunny addressed a large; meeting at •Lower Hutt Town Hall on Thursday evening, in support of his candidature for the Hutt .Mayoralty. '.'■.... ' ■-.;■■■; Tho candidate went into the items of die £52,000 loaa; £17,800 had been allocated for water-supply purposes, but tho council had spent £20,377 4s. 9d.; the item for street improvemente had been £4800, but >he oojiricil had disivgarded this and had spent £7922 12s. lOd. No coiincilyhad power t-o oxceed tho amounts sanctioned; by the ratepayers, otherwiso a. borough would not be safe in voting anything at all. • ' ■ "It is tho present.councjUtbat has exceeded tho estimates." said Mr. Bunny; "for in 1906-7 the following amounts weao in credit; Soworage and, sanitation, £21,187; water snpply, £6470; street improvement, £824. It would bo interesting to notico tho; rates and the overdraft of the past threo rears:— 1906-7, rates, £4115; overdraft," £4907. 1907-8, rates, £7358; overdraft, £4170. 1908-9, rateß, , £7Bll; overdraft, about £6000." Tho last-named, amount was doubtful, and ho 'wished to know why it was that ho had ': been unable to obtain the borough balance-sheet, when ho had made application at the offico. Ho understood that no denial was made that the expenditure on tho two loan items referred to had exceeded tho amounts sanctioned. Ho had learned that thoso figures had not yet como before tho Audit Offico, but ho bolioved that this office was now malting inquiries ,, into the expenditure. • , : In..'regard to tho gas loan, bho Public Trustee had , been appointed sinking fund commissioner, but no funds had been placed to his credit. For loans other'than Government loans, tho Mayor (Mr. Peterkbi), lie Town Clor-k (Mr. Pur&or), Councillors Ross and Hughes hatlbeon appointed sinking fund commissioners, but there woro no sinking funds to their credit. S', Mr. Russell had referred ; te tho Moiling Bridgb aa an asset worth about £2000, but i he hid not mentioned that , tho actual'cost of

had boon aboat £1650. Of this tho Govornmont had paid £760, and tho settlors, had collected £400. , ■ ■ . Mr. Bunny read tho renort of a recent epooial mooting of Hutt Boroupth Council, ' and expressed surpriso that Mr. Russell, , " who had (first suggested: an inquiry into the . '■■'" expenditure, had not done all ho could to- ■..•',,. ■liavo the fullest investigation made.: , A vote of thanks and confidonco vrae • heartily carried. ■ '; ' , .'. ."■■ ; ; 'tJPPER,HUTT TOWN BOARD.. v ;.; 'I The fortnightly meeting of-■-■'the- TJppci , ,; Hutt Town Board was attended by nil the > mombore, {except Mr. R. H. Williams,: to ..'":..-■■■ whom leavo of absence was granted. A letter was read from Messrs. Field, Luckio. and Toogood, v relntivp to undedi- '■■ .■'.'./• cated streets nn a client's property. Tho■!■'; olprk's. reply thereto was . endorsed. ' : - J ; Tlieclork reported that summonses had i been issued in resoect of every complaint • laM- as to-livA' frtock prazing on the roadß. • , . ; It was rlocidedte call the attention of the,.-"' > police to the practice of cyclists ridins after sundown without lights, find also to tho extensive use of pea rifles hv youths. >■ ■.•'.■■.''.■■■'■''■■■ It was renorted that tho board's action : ' in crectinfc the new ( pound buildings,' etc., ' ■•',' ; ;. liv. day labour had resulted satisincterily." The lowest tender ! received was £801 but the ; Iward in co-operation with tho Hutt Conrfty., \ Council, not onlv got tlio specifiqd work dono i' . foriess than £70, but tliat amount included' ■~ a;lean-te store, for forage, and other extra. , pieces of, work. .;.;'■. • , ■ '.. .- ■'■.■■'. '■',■';, ::'■' : ;:'■■';■' ._, ; lt was decided-to hold a special meetinc! ~; in connection with tho annual accounts and ' '■'"'.'■ ■'■' diß+rict electors' roll :in a fortnight. ' * ",■,:■ ;■'; The report of tho > Works' Committeo was • ; ' received; it was decided to put the fol-.V , ;, ' lowing works in hand without delav:—Re-" ':■ ''■■■}':• pairs'to Pine Avenue. Gibbons R/>.icl, Rich-- 1 mond Street, 'Russell Street, and Ebdentoun , Road; footpaths for Princes Street ,'and '.■■■ ,•.■.-;■■• • Alartin Street; nrossine at Anglican Cluircht 1 i' / '' gate and footpath rattinn; in .that locality j-i ' : \ pomnlotion of rnetillinrr of William Street to !,; its iunetion.'vrith/.%h0 Palfrey Block. ..';"■ ;.'. : ~ The protectioii of land : alongsMo of the,; river wns discussed, and! it was decided to ;• . invite tho co-operation lot owners' of land r affected. '■~ '..' ■■■■-.•'-;. '■-. ■-■-■'iv/'-.'V../ ■.;. ■■;..- '■•' ■ It was decided to plaro Tee Dominion on , ! ' , thft board's , ndvprtisinjr listl : ;; *: ' ' '• : ■ ■ t ' It, was decided to abßnlutely nrohibit tno-. driving" of ;stock'.or,, vehicles through tho'V -.'.'' : --i .-' board's;' sanitation,: -'reserve.'-.'. 'Accountsj ■ amountine to over £35 wero'paesed for wy-: '■'■'- ' mont, , boing liabilities in restiect of which'l' •; ~ \ claims -were rendered after the end of th<St' : Snincial year. •'\ -'.' . ■'- ' : ■;.;•• s . ;•, :. •.- ■•;..' ..'''. . It was resolved Wat a request bo mado ( ■ ' to the Telegraph Dortartmcnt to wrt' back'' : - polos to tho edge of the,footways whero ro- r ; ; .quired..-;:,.; ■■;■• ■.'' —-.';.■,. ■-.- s;. ;■''■,. ■/!" ■-.:■ ■-r-'V It was rcporteil tli»t tlio cotnmissioriersi in/, . .- wimnany with Sir Joseph 'Ward and, Mr. y, . ■'. Wilford,■ had visited the PHnces Stroet ap-i . . < ,-',:,■ proach to tho railway station,';;and hadl •tJ ;: offered, (if the Railway Deportment, per-' > mitted' the Imrd tho uso'-of the vacant ap- '.;' '■~-,. nroach) to fill in; tho- old; ballast pit.and ;■''-'V \ form: the roadway. / : -..'■;■ ;=''. : ";..'., ■■';''■■'- "■■-'■:■ .;-;'■•;'.',{. V./ '. JOTTINGS! ;■' ■'■' : 'j^' : ;;-i' v '■■.■■[ ■ Councillor A'. Coles and Mrs. , Coles, ol- 1 ,,; , JPotono, returned yesterday from a six weeks'. ; holiday,,which included a,'■ visit to ; Sydney,'' > ~ |"■■',- Melbourne, and other parts of Australia. ...' '■•'." '<".'< ;Members of Petono Association willhold v ■; a. practice on .Maidment's Ground at 2.30 ' ~;-'. this afternoon., As : the t four,teams aro to bo;','•.;' '. pickedj a full attendance, is desired. • .'' v : - ; . ; .-- i. , Miss Hunt,'B.A., of Lower Hutt,-has/.,,''' been appointed assistant-'at Peteno. ,:.;; ; ■ '" ; . : The Rev.; A. , J. Seamer has arrived-from* ' ■'"■ ; ■ Auckland to i.ake up, theduties, lately car-''' ;, ■•' '.■■■, ried 'out by the;Rov. R, ;Wilson in conheo- , 1; •'■■:'„. i' itioh. , with Petone;Methodist Church. '. ; •.- ,: ■'■'-.■'-,': The following will represent' St: DayidV!-. - .'■' Y.M.8.0. in the' niaieh against St. Augus-J . ' ■ tine's Club,, to' be played this afternoon, on , ' Sharp's .Ground: W. Taylor,. C; Bold, :'yfi\.\ Morris, A., Powell, H. Robinson, G. GrcenV-., ■■'■'■ D, Wilson, A. Thomson, E. Thompson, ' Parkinson, and R;' Thompson. .' ,{/ : '> •'.-■;