HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 515, 24 May 1909, Page 3

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(FBOM ODB BPECI4L BEPOWKB.I • ' ' » — . A MODERN SCHOOL. Within the past few years teaching methods have undergone many changes, and tho necessity for sound primary training of children has boon emphasised. It has been realised that, to obtain the best results a modern, welllighted, and properly-ventilated school building is an essential. The Westorn Petone.School, now all'but ready to -fulfil its purpose, is an institution of this type. It faces the Hutt Koad, and is oonveniently situated for scholars resident west of Nelson Street. The building consists of six classrooms, the exterior being of pressed brick, with cement facings. The main entrance faces east, and sufficient room ha: been left at the rear for enlarging to the extent of two large classrooms and a concert or lecture hall. The building has been put up by Messrs. G. T. Croft and Son, of Lower Hutt, the contract price ;being about..£3soo. The school is of a recent design, and built throughout on hygienic principles. The only other, school of this type in the Wellington district is that at Lansdowne, which is a smaller building. AH the corners inside are rounded to prevent the accumulation of dust, and the old blackboard and easel' has been done away with. The new "blackboards" are of cement, and writing surfaces nre provided both for teachers and scholars. The preparation used for these surfaces is a mixture of black sand, .cement, and vegetable black, and is trowelled off to a'glass finish. The windows are so placed as to give the required left-hand lisht. The interior is finished with putty and plaster, but the corners, to offer greater resistance, are of Keeno's cement, and the ceilings are composed of American wood pnlp plaster. The lofty passages are 9tt. in width, and a laree ventilating cowl over each room ensures healthy ventilation, the building.having cavity walls. . The school will be able to accommodate about 350 children. The building should bo out of the plasterers' hands in a week's timo, ana leady for occupation. •

■„•■■ HERETAUNGA BOATING CLUB. . The second annual smoke concert of the Heretaunga Boating Club was held in St. Augustine's Hall, Petone, on Saturday evening, and was attended by about 120 members and friends.' Commodore W. Miles presided/ and there were also present: Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. ; (patron), .Messrs. J. W. MTEwan, Mayor of Petone, J. P. Maxwell, and A. Colp.uhoun (past captains), and representatives of Petone Borough Council, Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Tβ Aro Sailing Club, Thorndon Dinghy Club, Petone Navals, and Petone Bowing' Club. Before leaving to catch the boat for Lyttelton, Mr. Wilford presented the Wilford Cup for the season's aggregate, the winner being Mr. E. -Hartley, owner of the Plying Scud, which boat carries the club's blue ribbon for the season. On behalf of Mr. D. Keir, Mr. Wilford also presented silver medals to Messrs T. Bird and T. Burns for good seamanship in sailing Mr. Keir's Clara. . . Tho Mayor of Petone presented the other trophies, a list of which is as follows:— Opening Race—Mr. . Keir's : Clara, 1 (Mr. Duthie's trophy); Mr. E. Hartley's Flying Send,' Z (club racdal). : .. . , Soanies Island Race.—Mr. Jenkin's Waiwctu, 1 (Mr. Browne's trophy); Mr. J. Colquhoun's Gil Bias, 2 (clnb medal). 1907 and 1908 Committee Challenge Cup.—Mr. ! Jenkin's Waiwetu. ■ Heretaunpa . Handicap.—Mr.' R. Griffith's Huia, .1! (Messrs. Bittle and Macdonald's trophy); Mr. J. Colquhoun's Gil Bias, 2 (club silver medal). . •/ • : Korokoro Race.-Mr. Koir's Clnra, 1 (secretary's trophy); Mr. E. Hartley's Flying Scud, 2 (club medal), , ; Commodore's medal (presented by Mr. D. Keir)—Mr. Taylor's Moana. . . - A number of toasts were honoured—"Tho Kin»," "Port Nicholson Yacht Club." "Tho Patron," "Tβ Am Railing Club and Thorndon Dinghy Clnb;" ."Heretaunja Boating Club," Our' Neighbours—The Navals 'and i Rowing Club." "The.Mies," and "The Press"-™) an . excellent musical nrogrammn was gcjin thronrh the following bfling fontributors: Messrs. T ■W. Wilford. M.P., Ci; Grpening, W.Evans Hntchisnn. C.Grpy, RACroft, Moore, and Masters Smith and Parr. '

(' : : : - ' i SETTLEMENT.' V :. : As regards the costs awarded against the NoLicense party in connection with the recent inquiry, the E«r. T. A. .Williams . states.-: that the-delay, .in settlement. was largely due to a determination not'to, pay until the Liquor party; Jiad .mot .'the costs, payable ..by. them as the result of the Ma'sterton licensing inquiry. The matter was settled recently, and- the costs in connection with the Hutt licensing inquiry have now been paid. Tho Hutt petitioners subscribed £50,; and, by a special effort in Petone during the past week, a similar sum was collected. The Kov. T. A. Williams was informed .on-■ Saturday•'■ that the New Zealand Alliance had paid off the balance of the costs duo; to-the solicitors and witnesses of tho 'Liquor party. .. ... •

;'.;:■/:■-■' "' ;■ •'■. JOTTINGS. In Saturday's Dominion it was recorded that the now fire-alarm system established in Petone had not been made use of to announce a fire. This is. still true, although a call, came from .the Ryan Street box at 1.30. o'clock- on Saturday. It appears : to <: have been a falso alarm, for , a fireman, obeying the summons of tho bell, cycled past the alarm in question on.his way to the cental station, and he saw : no signs of a. fires in. that vicinity. ':.-■ A,memorial service for.the late Mrs. Jackson was held in the Petone Methodist Church yesterday morning, the Kev. B. 1 , . Eothwell of ■ Lower Hutt, officiating. : ' \- The Petone.Chess Club is opening its winter season this week, having obtained the uso of a room in the Municipal Buildings. At the annual . meeting, ■ the secretary, in reiewing the season's progress, pointed out that two out of four matches had been'won by the. club, and the tourney among members had:brought out some interesting play. The most successful players had:'been:—Chess: Messrs. Buckley, Butler, and Cooper. Draughts: Messrs;-Wool-ley, Lnppage, and Hope. The financial statement showed a debit for the year of £2 is. 3d. It was agreed that the subscription should bo reduced /to 55., and 'that meetings should' be held on Tuesdays, and Fridays. . , :-. ■ ■•For the purpose of erecting 'a convent , and private chapel, the Sisters of Notre Dame have purchased' the house and section in 'Britannia Street, Petone, occupied by Mrs. Eow6e, sen.; The price was X 1025. ~ ,' ;■■' '. ..