HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 579, 6 August 1909, Page 2

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(From Our Special Rcporlor.l ■ — ft'- . HUTT RIVER BOARD. • The monthly meeting of tho Hutt River Board ;was held last night, there being preEsnb: Messrs. Robert Stevens (in the- cliair), H. Sladdon, Orton Stevens, anu tho solioitor, Mr. E. P. Bnnny. . . The overseer reported that the work done during tho month consisted of willow planting, which had been completed. The cutting of all undesirable, growth mi the stop-banks wae also completed. Tho repairing of tho stop-bank fences, which had been damaged by stock, was well in hand. Several freshes had occurred in the river during the month, the highest recorded being sft. 6in,' on Ang- • ust 2. Subsequently ho had made a thorough examination of tho defence works, and found everything intact. The mimbor of turpentine piles already delivered was 184, r.nd four more will complete the contract. The report was adopted. ' ' The clerk reported that the petition in reforohco to the extension of tbo river area had been signed by !)S out of 139 person! qualified, five moro than was necessary. It was decided to instruct.tho solicitor to present the', petition to tho proper.authority: Tlie chairman remarked' that two-thirds of tho voters in the present district would have to agree- before the petition could take effect. ' Tho solicitor, he added, wae taking steps to obtain an alteration of tho law in this respect. ~. •' . Tho board then went in • committee. RIVER BOARD AMENITIES. .Something of a "breeze" occurred at last night's meeting of the Sutt River Board.

Mr. Orton Stevens made reference to the deputation, consisting of tho chairman of tho board, Mr. Robert Stevens, and tlie clork (Mr. W. 0. Cuff), which waited on the Harbour Board recently in connection with a scheme for a harbour and canal at Gear Island at the month, of the Hutt River. "I ■ don't believe in tho scheme," he dcolared, ■ "and I refused to attend. . .Newspaper, report's stated that I was thero, and spoke in favour of the .scheme. That report, has. ..never been eontradietetl. A. lot"ot people have spoken to me(oh tho matter, and I bad to say that I was not there. I hope the.' , , chairman will explain.to the press.", ~. ,: The chairman (Mr.'-.Robert Stevens): The explanation is simple enough. The reports stated that Mr. Orton Stevens, was chairman. I havo no doubt that the reporters were more familiar with Mr. Orton Stevens,' who is a very well-known man, whereas I . am an unknown quantity. That is all the j ■explanation. . . , ' .. _ .. Mr. Orton Stevens :■ I refused to go.. I do not beliovo in thpso wild-cat schemes at ._'.. .the present time. ' •" ~ ■'■-' ■ .'....- Tho Chainnail: to say a word or .'. two about another matter;—that .letter from •■ es-Couiicillor Russell in The' Dominion, mak- / ing an attack'on the board. ~]Ee professes ■ to give facts, which I may say are not facts, ■ but fiction. He quotes some figures from tho balance-sheet for March' 31, 1908. with a view of showing that tho board had a . smsll income and an abnormal oxperidituro, .- and that the cost of supervision; was as high . .as that of the borough for which: ho. was mainly .responsible. '-. Mr. . Cuff,, the clerk, has handed mo figures, which place the. matter in a now light. ' ' ' . : ., . , Mr. Orton Stevens':-1 don't take any no- '. tice of an'attack niado on the boardin the paper. ' A public man most be subject to.; attack. I would not be a party "to making an explanation; I; don't believe '■■ in it. The Chairman: I am in possession of the ■ chair. :'' ■• . - •■'■■■' . . • Mr. Orton Stevens: I don't think you.have ' tho right to make that statement without tho consent of the meeting. The Chairman: I would not tako notice,' but he professes to give facts. . , Mr. Orton Stevens: I. object te the facts ■■ being given. Let him-write what: he likes.i Mr. Sladden:..Wo should ignore iti Mr... Russell is ai.iuanuW.ith a grievance. I don't:' think that ono'iii'soo Would take any notice ■: 'of tho letter.. Those whoso opiiiions mat- ; \ ter wouldrtako'tie "trouble lookanto the •'. question, '•: .. i. i. ■ ■:- •■■• ■:'■•■ ■■'•x .'•'■• The Chairman: It was calnulntedto do the V board a.lot of harm.' If ydii think wo;should.y make -no. reply. I- am in.-yiur. hands. \::t ■.-γ-c. ' The matter then dropped. . : v '. '! r

HTJTT. PARK COMMITTEE. ' j Last night's meeting of the Hutt Park i Committee, was attended by : ' Messrs.-. , Hi-i." Baldwin (in the chair), J. W. M'Ewan, A. -■ Macaskill,, J." L.-Barlow, and R. J. South- ■ A financial statement was presented show--ing that the credit balance on April 1 was £33 16s. lOd.; receipts since that date, £25 •125.; expenditure, £56 3s. -sd. ;• present'credit balance, £3 ss. The liabilities were: Rent duo to Mr; Nathan, £12 10s. i rates, . £44 9s. Bd.; balance due Messrs.'Stafford and Treadwell. £61 Is. 9d.;- balance duo Messrs. Findlay, Dalziell, and Cc-nlpany, £20 65.; caretaker's wages'to; August-26, £1 ]ss. j total, £140 Is; sd. Tho assets Were: Rent duo from Mr. Speedy, £17 10s.; hockey . club, £4; total, £21 10s. ..,.-<■.- Tho question of tho liability of the Hutt Golf Club for rent amounting to £31 to the old trustees camo up for discussion, as tho committee intended to utilise this. amount to . pay part.of its account to Messrs.'Stafford and Treadwell.. The golf club,. however, does not'admit this liability. .._. .-# . .It was decided, after a lengthy discussion, : to endeavour to arrange a conference be- ; tween the committee, tho old trustees, and; the golf club. It was also .decided to advise. Messrs. Stafford and< Treadwell. to :this ' effect. • '• •■' ' . ' ■ " ' '' '•"• . JOTTINGS. ■ ;'.■.'■

The death occurred■ yesterday .at Lower, Hutt of Mr.' Isaac Coolcy'at the advanced, ago of 90. Deceased was very well known, and respected in tho district. At tho Petono Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. R. W.. Short,;J.P., a first offending inebriate was convicted and discharged. .. Major T. W. M'Donald, officer commanding tho school cadets, paid a visit of' inspection to Petone yesterday,. and watehed tho parade of about 250 cadets from th<s ; primary and secondary schools. Ho expressed himself as generally satisfied with tho displays given. ■■ ■ ■ \ ' Tho-recent rains have not been without effect in tho Hutt Valley.. The Hutt River has been swollen to an unusual extent, tho highest record being sft." 6iu. beyond theordinary summer level. Many lew-lying sec-tions-a-ro-under water. The.Hutt Road, oi the old portion of it, is a scries of pools of mixed mud and water. There have been many minor landslips between Petone sod Kaiwarra, and »• number of small; waterfalls have made their appearance over the hillsides. That portion of the new Hutt Road completed so far. appears to.be wearingvory -. Reference to the Arbc-r Day celebrations on the Hntt Park was.made at last night's meeting of the Park Committee-. The chairman (Mr.'H. Baldwin) moved that a .vote of thanks bo accorded the Horticultural Society f Or its work on that. day. Ho had-no doubt that in a couple of years' time a pleasant change would be appreciable. Mr. M'Ewan seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. J. .L. Barlow made the suggestion that a sport-B gathering be held to provido funds for future tree-planting, but nothing definite was done in the matter. Tho Petone Scenery Preservation Society's circular, in. reference to tho conservation of' the Potonc Beach as a pleasure resort, came up at last night's meeting of the Hutt R>roz Hoard. Mr. Orto-n Stevens moved that th&. circular bo received. The chairman (Mr. Robert.Stevens) expressed himself in farnur; of the objects of tho society. Tho motion was carried. N . The experiment of turning the Hutt P.iri into a. public coif links has. not I t success, and; at Inst night's roelmjr of-th< committee,, it was decided to proceed wit), the matter at the beginning of next fenwn it being thougjit that, the experiment w.i(' commenced when tho season was too far 00 , vanced. • •.'■•, ~- \