HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 523, 2 June 1909, Page 9

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

ttBOM OBtt SPECIAL RErOIICKB.) THE WATCHMAN'S CRY. Petone is coming on. In the course of a fendays it will have reached the level of tho anoient English town—in ono respect. Bo it not inferred that this flourishing Utile suburb ■which hopes for drains and thinks of tramways, is not moderately up-to-date. So far however, the business properties abutting on tho main street havo been allowed to take euro of themselves during the night hours-a stato of affairs which did not exist in the old tavern' towns, which tho school children read about, i ~ r" u ' l ! -b o crier Ilas como along, and has stated his case. Ho points out that money is not as tight as it was. This, he explains, will allow some a free hand, and he darkly hints that tree hands are ready to clutch at gold or tills. Then he argues that there aro one or two people m the Dominion who are habitually poor, nnd not conspicuously honest, and ho desires to protect the. shopkeepers, for n consideration. Thoso' retailers who have been approached, after taking tho precaution to learn that tho police force of Petono does not undertake night duty, havo delivered favourable judgment. Some of the larger firms, who stand to lose more heavily than smaller tradespeople have promised to provide portion of tho watchman s stipend; and ,if is likely that a small weekly contribution from all the commercial houses of Jackson Street will bo obtained Le«s than a shilling a week is snrely not too much premium for so substantial an insurance. PILLAGE AND PENALTY: ■Chocolate bars and biscuits were stolon bv Mward .Sinclair (stableman) . from ono of Messrs. MEwen and Carter's wagons lastThursday, so tho Petone Police Court was informed yesterday morning. The lad admitted his guilt. Mr W J Cracioft . Wilson, -who appeared for him! ■pleaded for the leniency of the Court on the ground that accused was influenced bv drinkwhen he committed the; theft. Tho absurdity of the theft was sufficient proof of that, he submitted. Where was the sober man who would bring-himself into such a serious position by the theft of such ridiculous rubbish as a tin of biscuits and a box of chocolates, valued at. Bs. Ho understood that accused had never before been iu trouble of tho kind Messrs. -J. W. Jl'Ewan arid W. In'glis J p - s heard a second charge before giving their decision. Another.article alleged to have been aw,!" 8 LT"* 8 • '? iarj i te'pneinff. to Louis Inmann, tobacconist. Accused pleaded not guuty. fl; Wte P r ii ear - inS e \ idence ' th o Court' imposed a fine of 20s. m each case, the alternative beins terms of seven days' imprisonment. WESTERN SCHOOL. '■ In July, the new school for Westerri-Petouo will; commence work, and already inouides have been made by parents desirous of trans. S ns i hoir v ch r w i?,i o - tbe new establish, ment. The school will be found all to small, no. doubt, and parents of Eastern Petone will not bo able to chango from the main school if it is found that tho available accommodation qtrS^i^/T- 15 rcs c idon , t , W€st oi kelson Street. The drafting of scholars will be a quiet process.- When the staff has been appointed and the opening day ■ arranged;, the registers and the western school mil be made up from the present smaller roll of tho main school. Announcement will be made in tho ■classes as to which scholars shall withdraw fronr their old .haunts and .betake themselves to tho model institution, provided for them.. Ilie work of tho present school will go ahead uninterruptedly and the currioukm of the western school-should bo entered upon without tho loss of moro than one day's lessons to the pupils. A -committee for the weskw, school will be elected this month by residents of. that part of the town lying wost of Nelson Street,

...".. JOTTINGS. • ' Tho visiting Japanese Trade Commissioner (J,.r. Matsukura), accompanied by Mr. i.ioung, Japanese Consul,' came to Petono yesterday, and made an inspection of the woollen mills, and Gear Company's works _At a special meeting of Petone Junior, Club, it was decided to renew the leaso of tho club, rooms at the corner of Jackson • Street and Petone Avenue for throe years, with' right of extension for another two years.

PETONE BKASS BAND BAZAAR. Mr.,T. M. Wilford, M.P., will open-this evening the bazaar arranged by tho Pctoile Brass Band.-iwhoso object.is-to increase tho uniform fund. The Drill Hall is decorated brilliantly, and the stalls must appeal to nil purses. One- of the most businesslike booths is that by means of which thePetone Navals hope to assist their comrades of the band. The sidoshows are attractive, being of a novel character—parlour, .pool, mystic dredge, enchanted swing, and the like. The opening ceremony is, announced for 7.30 p.m., and will be preceded by a fancy-dress procession, headed by th& Wellington Garrison Band.