HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 504, 11 May 1909, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(FSOU ODB SPECIAL EBPOnCEII.i : » —- - PETONE SCHOOL APPOINTMENT. COMMITTEE AND BOARD DIFFER. Mr. D. M'Kenzie presided over a full meeting of the Petone School Committee last evening. Tlio Education Board submitted for the committee's consideration the name of one applicant for the • first . assistantship—a vacancy caused by the transfer of Mr. Arcus to Maranui. The committee did not object to the applicant selected by the board (a candidate trained at Petone Scohol), birt declared that, in forwarding only one name, the Education Board, was defeating the spirit of the Education Act in relation to .the powers of selection on the part: of school committees. The cooimitteo; refused to confirm the selection, determining to ask tho board for a list of names: for their consideration.. >■ • HUTT AND ITS ENGINEER. COUNCILLORS DIVIDED. The Hutt engineer was the subject of a rather stormy discussion in .the Borough Council chamber last evening. The storm arose over the following motion, moved by the Mayor, Mr. Bunny. "That the consulting engineers, Messrs. ! Measori and Marchant, be asked to immediately report upon the condition of the water supply, street■ improvements, arid drainage works; especially as to ■ whether the various items of expenditure were ■; those contemplated by the : original report of the engineers and the authority conferred by the ratepayers, ' and, as, to whether the expenditure upon the same has been in accordance with: the' estimates, ■ and, in particular, to ; advise the council as to the amount' necessary for the completion of the drain- ; age scheme, and as to the best method of carrying tho work to a successful issue, and that the engineers have full power to inspect all reports and other ! documents, and take such evidence as ; may bo'necessary for; the purpose of be- . ing able to thoroughly report to and ad- . vise tho council." : In opposing the motion, Councillor Baldwin said, tho Mayor's statements in support of the motion practically reflected on tho late Mayor, and councillors. When retrenchment was so necessary it was not advisable to incur the:expenso proposed. Ho • moved an amendment that the council itself go into the matter. It was absurd to ask tho consulting engineers to report on the work of the resident engineer, who was already working under their supervision. Tho motion implied a want of .confidence in the engineer. ; The Mayor: I have not said so. ' Councillor Baldwin: If so, why didn't you table a motion.to dispense with his services. His Worship: That's my business. Councillor M'Caslril supported the amendment. " i Councillor Barlow said a variation of £2000 on a contract of £52,000 was nothing unusual. . ... i The Mayor asked if the opposition feared to have the investigation made. Councillor Baldwin:, No. .. The. Mayor: Then why do you oppose it ? v Councillor Baldwin: Because it ib a slur on the officers. : The Major: Don't interrupt me, sir. Sit down. , ■Finally the motion was • carried, ■ Councillor Baldwin and Barlow alono opposing it. COAL FOR GAS WORKS: ' • On the motion of tho Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Bwan), Petone Borough Council resolved last ; ovening: (1) That tho engineer prosent a' roport on the cheapest and best mothod of delivering coal for Petone gas works, ox ship, on'Potono Wharf; and (2) That with tho ,view of landing all ooal required for tho gas .works' over Petone .Wharf, tho Harbour Board be urged to lay down with oil reasonable dispatch a light line of rails on tho wharf, j and,. further, in view, of'the present conditions of the wharf, tho board be asked to strengthen tho structure. ' ■ HTJTT'GAS SUPPLY. Tho gas question came "before the Hutt Borough Council last'evening on' a motion of-the Mayor (Mr.'Bunny) to accept the terms of, supply offered by tho Petone'Brough Council. The Mayor s_motion . was:— "That the- council considers tho terms offered by the Petone Borough Council for ;tho supply of gas to the Hutt borough, and, if approved, notifies tho. Petone Borough Council of their acooptance." His Worship explained that the ißxisting ngreoment, which expired on 'August 1, - for: gas at ss. 3d.; and ss. per 1000 cubic feet. In August last the,Petone Council was asked to reconsider-tibo terms with a view to reducing tho price for tho future.' The result was the Potono Council offered to enter'into, an agreement for a term of seven years from August 1, 1909, at, 4s. 3d., per 1000 cubic feet for the first throo years, and 4b. per thousand 'for the - remaining four years. Prior to this-offer, however, the Petone Council proposed 4s. 9d per 1000 feet, but there followed the agitation for gas works at Hutt, and the Petono Council then made their reduced offer now before tho Hutt Council. He favoured the presont offer, and it was in tho, light of it that the Hutt ratepayers rejected a loan for con-, struction of' gas works at Hutt. Tho proposed agreement fully. safeguarded the interests of the borough in regard to the quality of tho gas supplied, and if Hutt grew -beyond tho capacity of Petono to supply-suf-ficient gas they could detonnino the agxeemorit. The motion was carried; , JOTTINGS. Preparations for the winter session-are being xr.ado by tho Petono' Chess Club. The use of a room in the Municipal Buildings, twice weekly, has been granted by tho Borough Council. . Tho use of No. 4 ground, Petono Recreation Reserve, has been , panted this season, to the Wellington Football Association, . and that body advised-the Borough Council , last evening that a boys' game would be played on Saturday afternoons from two to threo o'clock. The council offered no objection.

"I object to be photographed, on principle," said Councillor Harding at Petone last evening. A firm of photographers asked permission to "take" a group of the municipal staff, but Councillor Short remarked that it was,for newspaper, publication, and tho letter was'merely-"received." The. Petone Orchestral Socioty intimated to the . Borough ' Council '(last evening that they were no longer' a denominational body, and mado application for a' practice room. Tho council expressed sympathy with the efforts of the society, but decided that no room was available. "Tho screaming of women drew my attention to a qumber ■of horses, unattended, which were galloping along the' esplanade last Sunday afternoon,"- said ■ Councillor Southgato at the l J ctono Borough Council mooting. ' Tho inspector was instructed to warn the owners 'of wandering horses. Comment, was mado at: Petono Council meeting last night on tho high speeds indulged in by motorists along the . Hutt Koad, and the council .decided to call the attention of tho' polico to these repeated breaches of tho law. A chalk lino on No. 1 ground, Petone Recreation .Reserve, misled a number of players in the senior match, Petone v. Old Boys. The. lino was. put down to mark the boundary of the hockey field, and as it was parallel to tho goal lino, and not far from it, moro than ono player, trying hard to score, found, when touching the ball down, that his journey was not finished. Tho Wellington llugby Union wroto to Petono Borough Council, asking that this line should bo removed from tho ground. The council gave instructions to havo the lino deleted.