HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 558, 13 July 1909, Page 2

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(From Our Special Reporter.) ■ PETONE RATES. V ;'■ Beforb the- confirmation of the minutes at last night's meeting, of th'o Potone Borough Council, Councillor Short moved that tho rating decided upon at last mooting bo rescinded, and that a general rato of 2d. bo struck, with a sanitary rate of IBs., and such water rates as wcro necessary. ' ' Tho Mayor said that the only course to bo adopted was to give- notice of motion, Speaking to a reporter on tho question; the Mayor quoted an instance showing-tho effect of the new rate. Ho dealt with an owner whose section .was valued at £250, with 'a house, who, last year, paid ljd. in tho £ on tho unimproved value, plus a sanitary rato of 155., or £2 14s:' Id. If tho samo 'scheme of rating wore adopted this year, ho'would pay 2 5-16 d., plus a sanitary fee/ or £3 3s. 2d., in all, representing an increase of 9s. Id. Under the new rate of 2gd., minus tho sanitary : feo of 155., tho ownerMvould pay £2 14s. Bd., an increase of 7d., compared with tile previous levy; As an offset to tho increase m tho general rate, there will be a reduction of Jd. on tllo drainage and street-improvement interest; rates: . Tho Mayor proceeded:. "The position, as far as vacant land is concerned, can.bo put as follows:—Bearing in mind:tho proposed increased, expenditure, 'owners would pay an increased general rato of 5-16 d. in tbe £, minus the reduced interest rates of Jd., or,, to put it another way, an crease of Is. 6Jd. for every £100 ..of valuoi Taking , into consideration! the. various improvements effected during- the past three or four .years, this is not ah increase that Bhould cause any serious objection.. So ! far as the Jackson Street frontages (one of which I myeelf own) are concerned—if it is borne'in mind that most of them are';prepared, if called upon," topay a spocialratc for the construction of tho new bridge over the Hiitt River-4 will say that they, at least, should not complain. • ' v . '~ . " DELIGHTFULLY ' INDEFINITE/, , ' : _ In reference to the letter in yesterday's issue from Mr. Robert Stevens* chairman of tlio Huti River Board, Complaining of a paragraph m Thursday's Dominion regarding the frequency of. lapsed- meeting's •■ of the board, our Hufet and Potone special reporter writes as follows:—My justification for alluding to.the arrangement of the meetings has bean amply sustained'by.prominent residents, some of whom arc of opinion that it is about time that something was said. Mr. Stevens fails to ; see how tho arrangements can.be bettered in any way," The 'prespnt arrangement is,l understand, that tho clerk simply sits in his office/and only sends notices out. That appears'to be insufficient. The writer points out that there are .only fivo members on tho board. That' only makes the clerk's task : 'simpler, and: the number of. lapsed '.meetings the; moro • remarkable. Ihcro are a number of other local bodies in ills district,, but the Hutfc River Board is ;he only; offender in this respect. To shew that the "delightful indefmitcness " is causing .some interest in' tho district, I.append, the following letter,. -which: ' his \ been for- , warded-to the hoard:—. '•: '■• "■'..•/ "The Chairman,.Hutt.Rirer Board,— '' " c it Ca " .5' 0U £\\ mo how many meetings , of the River Beard have been called Bince , April 1, 1908, and have lapsed for. want' ' .of a quorum?, Also, if it is a fact or ,not. that the engineer and solicitor are :■ . ;paid fees for, attendance, at the meet-'■ '■ .ings, and, if sq, the amount of;thc fees.' ' ' Aβ this /matter is one of. much interest to the Ratepayers, I propose'to publish ' this letter, and ahn jour replv.—l am, cic " W. U. RUSSELL." A POPULAR OFFICER.. Tile resignation of the assistant cloik,' Mr clerk- of the Pohangma County Council, was received at last night's meeting of tho letone Borough Council-' Mr. Jones ackno*. edges tho many acts of Wh'dlleis sYonn him by the viinous members of'the staff, paiticu. larlj the town,clerk (Mr. A. Webster) Ho asked permission to bo relieved on' July 20 ' , The Major (Mr. J W. M'Ewan): 1 , no \ 0 that the resignation be accepted with regret and that the council places on record its appreciation of the serviceo of Mr. Jones during his term of four years. This' was unanimously agreed to. On the motion of Councillor List Mr Jones was given permission to leave on Juh 20, and also to haw a couple of days' special leave to pay a fljing visit to Pohajigina

. ; ;■; y - HUTT.BOROUGH AFFAIRS.' ' business ibefore to-mor-row, night's meeting' of tho Hutt: Borough • Council.,, put through, the replies'of Ifenn: Purser, and ' Rix-Trott, tovn • clerk and borough engineer; to the questions put them by the council m connection with the present inquiry; will bo considered. By all::accounts, it is unlikely that the' council will como to any definite conclusion .on tho matter ■ for somq time, as the'issues*ere Tory involved and every opportunity is to: be given to all parties to state their oases fully-as-thev may require. ..,,•■ :. ;.:■■ ■'■ ." . :• The new engineer, who has 'been called in to decide the question of the cost of a •certain, work, will pay a visit; to. tho Hutt . shortly. . : ; : '\- : ■■■■ ~-- ■ : , ; ; '; : .r : v;.:-;-. ■ ; 'JOTTlNGS.';, ' : l'^'^ '('■:: ■■■ " i- Korokoro ''thirds" to the"amount of £94 Is. sd. were received from ; the Lands' Department at last night's meeting "of tho Pe-' tone Borough Council, , with'-approval of tho counoil s proposed expenditure of them. It. ivas reported that the amount expended in anticipation up to March 31,1908,' was £19' 6s j s 2tf n 3G ,ii 3d \H * he y° AT following, and £? os. lid. up to the end of Julio last Iho amount available,; therefore, is £31125. lOd. he Mayor, moved thatthfl money be expended in tho Korokoro.'; 'This was:agreed A case of scarlet fever has been'reported from Jackson Street, Petone.' ; '■'■'■■ ■ ■<. ■' '■ __ ; The; usual monthly- meeting of tho Hutt CoUnty. Council takes place > to-day; .' ■ v , . ■ Quite'an accumulatiou of business awaits the nest sittings of the Magistrate's Court at Petone, which takes place' oir Monday. next. If possible, some of the smaller eases willbe pufbefore justices at an earlier date. •■ :In a.letter to the.Petono Borough; Couii-' cil. Mr. L. Greatbatch, tho late postmaster, acknowledged receipt of the council's letter regarding - his: retirement, ,; and 1 expressed thanks to the council, at.the sa'mo tirnoro-; gretting that he had to sever his connection with people, who, both in his private and official relations, had been so pleasant, /