HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1280, 8 November 1911, Page 5

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

(By Tel€Errapti.—Spccial Corrcspondtnt.l PARK AND ITS CONTROL. A meeting of the controllers of the Hutt Park Reserve was held last evening. Those present were Messrs. Baldwin (chairman), Barlow, Bur.ridge, Brockelbank, Jlacaskill, Organ, and M'Kwan. The secretary of the Hutt Valley Club, replying in reference to the price asked for grounds, pointed out that the association was responsible for all ground fees, and a price would be offered as soon as that body met—Received. Regarding tho questioii of letting the Park to the Hutt Valley Trotting Club for racing purposes, Messrs. Findlay, Dalziell, and Co. forwarded the following opinion:—"There does not seem to lie any reason why tho committee should not grant to the Trotting Club tho exclusive use of the Pari;, for specified days m each year, for a term of years, provided the number of days specified is less than ten in any year, aad not more than three consecutive days. If this course will serve your purpose it may, we think, be proporly adopted by the committee." The chairman said that tho opinion upheld the contention that tho committee could not lease the Park, but could grant the Trotting Club the use of the ground for ono day a year for five or seven years. He did not think that it would be possible for tho Trotting Club to collect training fees, but it might bo possiblo to frame an agreement stating a time each day when training shall cease, and get over tho difficulty that way. Mr. Burridge submitted that it would be tho best courso to advise the Trotting Club that terms could be arranged, ana asking them to make an offer. The chairman: "We already have an idea what they can afford to pay." Jfr. Macaskill favoured allowing a small fee for the first two years, and increasing it afterwards. Mr. Baldwin suggested that > the committee should mako a straight-out offer. Mr. M'Ewan was of tho opinion that tho committee would not benefit to any great extent after all. So far as he could seo the only revenue was J!10 per year. Mr. Baldwin said that it must bo remembered that the Trotting Club were prepnred to spend .£2OO on the construction of a track. Mr. Burridge then moved: "That the Trotting Club bo granted tho use of tho Park for one day per year at a rental of ,£3O per year for the first three years, with an additional £10 if there should be two days' racing a year, and, in subsequent years, ,£!0 for one" day and .£SO for two days, the Trotting Club to construct' and keep the race track in repair and collect training fees. In speaking to the motion, Mr. M'Ewan remarked that the committc-o had no right to collect training fees. Sir. Baldwin: We have not got tho power, but still we can do it. Mr. M'Ewan: And will the Trotting Club agree to that? The Chairman: Well, that remains to bo seen. After some further discussion, Mr. Burridge amended tho latter part of his motion to read:—"Tho Trotting Club to have sole training rights on the track, subject to tho hours being from -J a.m. to 10 a.m. on week days and from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Sundays "and holidays." The motion was carried. An agreement between tho Wellington City Council and the committee in tho matter of forming a street through a section of the park, which will connect the bays with Racecourse Road, was submitted. It was referred back to the City Council for ccrtain alterations. PETONE ROWING CLUB. The finals in connection with the Petone Rowing Club pairs will be rowed next Saturday (weather permitting), when P. Brunnetto and J. Hickey will meet H. Parrant and_ R. Commctte, and A. Whito and W. Clapson will meet L. Upton and S. MTarlane. LOWER HUTT POST OFFICE. Messrs. A. Cooper and Sons, contractors for tho additions to the Lower Hutt Post Office, are pushing on with the work. Tho mail room is to be considerably enlarged, as well as the telephone room. It is understood that the contract price was in the vicinity of ,£550, while the grant on tho estimato for the work was JC3OO. ' METHODIST MINISTERS. A meeting of the Wellington Methodist Ministers' Association was held at the Lower Hutt Parsonage on Monday afternoon, when tho city and suburban circuits wero well represented. The question of hospital visitation was discussod, and arrangements made for carrying it out. Satisfactory reports wero submitted in connection with contemplated schemos for church extension. It was stated that the adoption of the "envelope system" in several places had yielded satisfactory results. After discussion it was resolved that, in the opinion of the meeting, tho annual conference of 191." ousht to bo held in Wellington, it being Wellington's privilege, according to usage, entertain tho conference that year. Matters relating to tho No-License movement received consideration, and the following rasolution was unanimously carried:—"That this meeting of the Methodist ministers of .Wellington jmd

suburbs express-es the strongest condemnation of the reprehensiblo methods used by the agents of Ihe liquor tralhe in endeavouring, by means of literary jobbery of the insidious type, inserted in tho advertising columns of Hit daily press, to mislead tho public mind; and urges all who have sympathy with tho cause of truth to join in this condemnation by supporting the Temperance party at the forthcoming licensing poll." It was decided to cordially accept tho invitation of tile Rev. S. Garlic!; to hold the next meeting uf tho association at his residence 011 the first Monday in February, 1912. Members attending the meeting were afterwards entertained at tea by the Kcv. Barton 11. Ginger and ill's. Ginger.