HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 3

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(From Onr Special Heportcr) HUTT VALLEY TRAMWAYS. ' ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAVOURED. At Jast the Hutt Valley Tiamway Board has come to a decision in Tegard to a tramway system for tho valley, and, at last night's mooting, it was decided to put tho I longer and the shorter electric routes beforo tho ratopavers Thoro were present Messrs J W M'lSwan (cbairmin), Robert Stevens, J T Hawthoino,' J Austin, 11 J Southgato, H. Fmdlay, and H Baldwin In accordance with notico, Mr Stevens , moved — "That tho Hutt Valley Tramway Board is of opinon that eventually an up-to-,date electric tramvav and lighting system should be established in this district, but, as tho initial cost would bo £102,812, and as it is at least doubtful if tho ratepayers would sanction a loan for this amount, the board resolves that a steam traction sjstom, to cost £63,182, be installed temporarily over the 11} miles of route, and recommends this system to the ratepayers accordingly " Speaking to the motion, Mr Stevens said that tho question was. Was the time opportune? Australian money, ho E-aid, was obtainable here at 4J per cent (Mr M'Ewan A httlo too carU to say that) On-o of the New Zealand cities had recently obtained £50,000 at that rate, and ho was Msured that tho board could get tho monev on the samo terms by the timo thoy wanted it To ask tbo ratepayers for £102,000 would be to court disaster, and be "flattened out," but ho thought otherwise concerning tho £63,000 It woulJ, be added, be useless to go before the ratepayers with an incomplete scheme, and he thought that onlv the larger scheme would meet with approval Mr Austin seconded the motion Mr Baldwin I am not in favour of steam trains The chairman said that he had all alone favoured the shorter loute, and believed that it would pay, but m view of the facts ho folt that hr> must support tho motion It was' tino that the board got some indication from the ratepayers Thoro was grave reflson to doubt it a satisfactory decision would bo arrived at if the steam and olectne issues ,weie put before tho electors of the district' 'Referring to steam motor carnages, he quoted the Minister for Railways aa stating that such a scheme was porfectlj feasible"lf the motion was earned he hoped that tho gauge would bo 3ft. Bin. As to possible , extension to the bays, a goods traffic 'could be brought about, and on the mam system a considerable goods traffic could \be arranged Many thought tho Petone 'Wharf a vtlute elephant, but ho did not'think so i Ho behoved that tho Harbour Board would improve it, and then it would be service Railway metals would be very suitable, somo 6f them were put down bj Mr Peterkin. in Cliustchurch 25 jears ago, and thero was no difficulty in junctiomng up with the; railways By cxtmguishina'tno rights of thoy Putt Park Railway Company tho board could use the line'to'work in connection with tho wharf, and thus have the sole right of communication to Gear Island This should coat about £3000 It would not bo neccswry (for the purposes of tho board) to improve it fa tho Government standard The wharf could be used 1 with profit to tho district. ' Mr. lAiistul. Ono of the Greatest mistakes mode m this district was tho acceptance of that wharf from the Harbour Board. Mr Baldwin moved as an amendment that the schemes to be submitted to the., ratepayers bo the two electric schemes (the longer and tho shorter), and if this be rojected a steam service bo submitted. This Was seconded by, Councillor Southgate i ' Mr Fmdlay thought that more than eight oars would be'vrcquired In tho meantime he was of opinion that tho shdrter olectne route would bo sufficient In his opinion, the consulting engmcei had under-estimated tho probable revenue Mr Baldwin I think the ratepajeia should hiv c tho choice qf thfc 'routes Mr Southgatc concurred <~ ~t Mr Austin \yi)at _ is; tiro uso L of humbugging with tho shorter route P The chairman If tlie larger scheme is earned'it mubt bo understood that it does not follow that all of it >is to go down at once Mr. Hawthorne I want the larger schemo, but I am afraid the people would not vote for it, \ > Mr Stevens I. behevo wo will get a moderate loan, but not a large one lam very hopeful that we will get tho sanction of tho ratepayers for my proposal Mr, / Austin strongly supported Mr M'Ewan's schemo regarding tho Hutt Park line , Tho ohairman The Hutt and Petone Councils have delegated the carnage of goods, and passengors to us Mr Fmdlay: For two and a half years (Laughter) • Mr Hawthorne- For fifty years The amendment was carried, Messrs Baldwin, Findlay, Southgate, and Hawthorne voting for it The motion was lost After discussion, tho question of drawing up the issues for submission to the ratepayers was left in the hands of the chairman (Mr M'Evvan) and vice chairman (Mr f Hawthoruo) 1 THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS Something entirely unexpected has happened in connection with tho proposed' absorption of Gear Island by the Petone Borough Recently tho latW body desired to add sections 9 and 10 of the Hutt County to its domains, and, as tho result or the representations made, section 10 was conceded This litter section was understood at tho time to comprise a pieco of land known as thovHutt VParJt townslup,: on- tho mainland adjacent to Gear Island, though separated from it by an arm of the Hutt River, but it ; nqvv turns-out that section' 10 coycrs:-aboub' fourth':of-Gear-Island.V;:Tho/ err.q^'^ems.'-^ maps ;iri'; ; ; ,uso.' not recording - ," tho ■"changes'.' .in ithe/course'flf'this particular'streteh of..watery ;^ip.'boundary fdjne. coyer ing ..an. old vyatercouHe';. ] Some';,,distai3ce.v''fr6m * tho •: present csoutfl.er.'n': cn'dl;;of,'.the. 'island.. If would.thjiii rajipear'that:Petobe had. been 'tjoii^qf,th'e:liuid-:cbncernin'g; vvhicli'a.-coinmis-i : uipbhV.. ■ This. fsitiori /.'.is.inot:; considered - ; . ■ satisfactory'-'..to att,*-janjL"jit'"W^ 'a'f^tvitS^liaYe'/th'o'■ .decision.','.rcgdzetted: .: A' : reporter mailejihquiriefi -at the. Department of jhtonaT; Affairs; 'yesterday,, and; was.'infqrmed. that'it-lopk'ed;'as if.;a.;mistake'had been'made; if iSoV-jt'-would ■•Dβ.-.rectified.-. The.intention. 'Wai's;' to - give" Petono' .only, the portion ,'on tho mainland; ';a'nd;.:refer >thd.:remaining portion (Gear'lsland) ;tp ( the commission. , ■-: It is expected/.that / tho' \commiss|6iv .will ■ ' open-;' in abputV'a;,wcek' : qr'so, in all ■probability :'at Petbne: v -';..V-s: vV ; '. ; -.r- .•'.-:''. V'-' 1 a .^'vM^■:''-; :-: : -.'i.;'./:-.. ■ . : PROPOSED :FOOTBALLv-AMALGAMA-' .■.;:,; v;,-.> ;?■:;';:.:>; TI0N.; : -; : ;;,.,; '■•:: r'U'r ;,; v '. A.rndetin.g;.<3f.ithe ;Kia.'ora "Football ,Club; at. vraiclv-'edme'of ...the members :of. the 'Epuni F.ootb"alj ; '"Glub'.;''vvere 'present; -vvas. held.' last eyenirig>'for;,the ..purpose ;'of - taking steps: to esteblishia;':gymnaaum.'; : Mr. E. P. Bunny ■presided'r.pyef i.an'-'.nttendarice, : of .about, one .nundr'ed;';r.lt"j',wa'3 idecided.to! hold a. concert purpqso of raising '(committee 'of■. both clubs..should'meet'on:Moiiday: night to'coni question, of , ; their,- amalgamatioii.. ■If';th'ii Jis iagrpcd-'te,'.thQ combined club" will bo 'cajjed'tne. Hutt.Valley .'Football :'Club i v If •; sufficient , funds ■ are; ayailablo it.' is suggested'. tliat*7a.' : 'gj'mnasium' , ': 'should';; be built lineasuring _about-;'6o feet'. by 130-.feet,-1 tb be used fitstly by cliib.■members, and on bo available' , for ■ other atihlotic, todies".' , Hutt .Borough. Council .■.wiirprobabl.yybo'aslced to'giyo: some-assist-anco;r towards the'establishment, of , tho gym-nMiurt^whichyundor^iievMuiucipal-;...C0r-, ■ppratioris'Act'-'it has, power, to' d 0...' y ■'~■''\ ~': . : ; : ;;':'?--^ : tVv ■;■/' JOTTINGS; ..; : The , rqsignatipn l of Mr. D/rP. Jones,.secretary'/of/the Tramway Board,, was-; received atUa'st; night's , meeting. :Mr. Robert Stevens moved I'thaf- it be- accepted with regret; -;:;In doing;'so',' he", made compliwentary reference tb''Mr.''Jones's' , attention |o his duties. ''Mr.. Southgate •seconded the .motion,... and."-Mr i J;T'T.' :: Havythorne'.and'the chairman (Mr...J. ; 'W'.VM'JEwah)'.added.their quota of commendation. ■: .The' motion-, w'as carried ■unanimously: It'vyas decided to- for, the vacancy.".' v .! ■■'"• .'■"' '••'--. '\:-.'' ...■•.' ',;, ■ : .."; Pere, M.L.C., paid a visit to Petoie yesterday. ■■ ■ ;' .■;•■.'■• :''v.'