HUTT AND PETONE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1207, 16 August 1911, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE

(From Our Special Correspondent.) TEAM BOARD'S POSITION. A special meeting of tho Hutt Valley Tramway Board was held last evening. Those, present were Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan (chairman), Stevens, Hawthorn, Piper, Burridge, and Kempt home. Tho Hutt Borough Council intimated that they were not prepared to allow tho matter of the preliminary account of .£197 lls. fld. to stand over. Messrs', Bunny anil Ayson declined to make any mluctiori' in a biil of costs. Mr. Stevens expressed the opinion that this account was overcharged. He had not approached Jlr. Bunny, because he felt that un offer of .£SO was all that was necessary. Jlr. Hawthorn . did not agree. ■ He thought that the committee- appointed should have approached Mr. Bunny, and not offered a sum as settlement. That was an insult to any business man. Sir. Burridge agreed with Mr. Hawthorn. He would move, that Messrs. Bunny and ■ Ayson's account for .£69 be paid. Mr. Fipe-r seconded. Mr. Kempthornc stated that lie was sorry that the committee appointed had not approached Mr. Bunny, as he felt certain that a reduction in the account would have, been made.

The chairman explained that tho siibtoinmittce, in dealing with the account, had found that tho board was not in a position to pay it at the timo tliev were appointed, and it had been useless to furnish a report. A subsequent committee (the chairman and Mr. Stevens) had been deputed to wait on Mr. Bunny, but, after consideration, Jlr. Stevens had refused to interview Mr. Bunny, and he (the Speaker) had decided to make tho offer of £5(1 as settlement.

McUawtriorn then moved as an amendment: "That Mr. Kempthorue and the mover be deputed to wait upon Mr. Bunny with a view to obtaining a redtiction of the account, provided that they (the committee) were given full power to act." Mr. Burridge withdrew bis motion in favour of tho amendment, but (after discussion) Mr. Hawthorn withdrew the amendmnnt, and Mr. Burridge then re-moved his original motion, which was carried.

I lie secretary (Mr. W. S. Cooper) reported that, sineo ]nst meeting rates amounting to «£35 - Bs. sd. had beon collected. 1 lie amount of outstanding rates was .£9.1 15s. 2d., apportioned as follows: Hutt Borough, .£73 15s. 2d.; l'etonp Borough, .£!) 12s. IOd.; Hutt County, J!10 of. Id. The personal canvass of Poftonc and ■Hutt County was practically complete. It was proposed now to deal in a similar lnaniH-r witli Hult Borough. On the motion of Jlr. Burridge, it was rcrolved to Aue for outstanding rates. The board's bank balance to date shows a credit of 14s. 3d., and cash in hand ,£8 13s. 2d. This, with outstanding rates, shows assets totalling JC253 2s. 7d., against which stand liabilities amounting to ,£295 12s. Id.

At a special meeting of the board held subsequently Mr. Hawthorn moved: "That the Hutt Valley Tramway Beard be dissolved as it has been unable to formulate any scheme of tramways that meets with the approval of the ratepayers." Mr. Burridge seconded tho motion.

Mr. Stevens moved an amendment: "That consideration of the motion to dissolve lx> deferred indefinitely." He thought that it wojld bo inadvisable to kill the board just now. A natural dissolution would bo brought about next February. There was work to do in the meantime, and who was to do it if there was no board ? No expense need be incurred in the meantime. Another consideration was that it was highly probable that another offer to install tiams would be made. v Tn seconding tho amendment, Mr. M'Ewan remarked that, if the motion wero carried, Cabinet would be informed, -and the board would be dissolved by Order-in-Couiwil, and the Act distinctly stated that debts must be paid, and any assets would be equally divided between the Pctone and Hutt Borough Councils'. If all this had to be done, then a swift move would have to be made. A special rate might be struck to pay the board's debts if necessary. The amendment was lost. Mr. Piper then moved a further amendment: "That tho discussion of Mr.'Hawthorn's motion be adjourned for one month; that every endeavour be made to recover all outstanding rates; and that the Hutt a,nd Petono Councils be written to, and asked if they would accept an approximate composition of so much in the £— tho financial position of the board to be clear))' explained in the letters." AN ADDRESS. A very interesting address was given by Mr. P. C. Freeth at Lower Hutt Wesleyan Schoolroom last uight to members and friends of tho Young Men's Bible Class. There was a very largo attendance, and the speaker, who took for his subject "Travels of the World," was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.