HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1172, 6 July 1911, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(By Telecraph.—Snecial Correspondent.! ARTILLERY SOCIAL. The annual "social" in connection with the Petone Naval Artillery was held ill the local Drill Hall last evening. There was a very large attendance present, amongst them being a number of officers from the staff an<l Permanent Force. The evening proved a very enjoyable one. SCHOOL FUNCTION. ' Yesterday afternoon occasion was taken by the chairman of Lower Hutt District. High School Committee (Mr. 11. Baldwin) to present the scholars with a Coronation medal each. The school was closed for the afternoon in honour of the event. HOTT PIKE BRIGADE; • The monthly meeting of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade was held in the station rooms last evening. Captain Slinn occupied the chair. The United l'ire. Brigade Association intimated that they were about to adopt tho system of official visiting cards, so as to prevent persons masquerading as bonaiide firemen.

It was decided to advice the association that members were in favour of holding the annual conference at Picton.

Notice was siren from (he. association that' returns must lie in by July 31.

It was decided that in future practice would he held on the' third, and fourth Wednesdays in each month, instead of on the second and fourth Wednesdays; as in the past. In view of the proposed inspection by Inspector lluso, of (he fire exits at a certain building, a resolution was carried that the brigade be notified of the date of. inspection to enable them to lie represented.

The local branch of th-e Bank of NewZealand was accorded a vole of thanks for a donation'of ,£1 Is.

The secretary (Mr. Baldwin), in . touching oil the question of the recent controversy about, fire exits-in' local public buildings, remarked that the proprietor of a certain building had asked whew the brigade got their authority from in regard 'to alleged inadequacy of exits. The speaker then referred to (lie clause in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, which provides such buildings shall bo inspected by the surveyor, or somo competent person appointed by tho council in that behalf, and, if satisfied upon his report that such building .is secure and suitable for the purpose proposed, that it has sufficient means of ventilation and of ingress and egress, and sufficient provision against fire and is supplied with water, that a sufficient supply of water is laid on, and proper appliances -pro-vided---for promptly, using the same in case of fire, the council shall issue a licence. Mr. Baldwin contended that tho building in question had not got these facilities.

In reference to complaints made to the council ab.iut fire plugs and their unsatisfactory condition, the secretary further remarked that, for convenience, these plugs should at once be seen to, and some of them would have to Ire raised.

A nublic meeting will be called shortly with'a view to forming a branch society of St. John Ambulance. -Mr..- Seed will deliver nil addross'at'the'iiiitial meeting.

Fireman Strand took exception to a remark passed by Councillor Hawthorn at a recent meeting of tho council when u letter from the brigade touching on firo escapes at a certain building was being read. Councillor Hawthorn had said that the matter was one of personal spite, and the speaker was astonished that a full council would tolerate a statement like that. "It was," he concluded, "a stab in the back."*

Other members spoke in similar terms of Councillor Hawthorn's statement, and, finally, Captain Slinn moved that a letter be sent the Hutt Borough Council objecting to the remark made. The motion was carried. PETONE ENGINEER. A special meeting of the Petone Borough Council was held last night, for the purpose of discussing the question of calling for applications for an engineer. Some of the councillors apparently require a man who could assume tlio of clerk and engineer. Others again suggest that an engineer who could manage gasworks be employed, and others again submit that a gas manager should bo employed and tho duties of town clerk and engineer be combined. As the proceedings were conducted in committee nothing was rnnde public, bus tho matter will be discussed ill open council on Monday next.