HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1290, 20 November 1911, Page 2

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(By Toltcrajili.—Special Correspondtnt.l LIVELY NO-LICENSE MEETING. A CLERGYMAN JOSTLED. As is tho usual custom of tho Hutt Ya?> Icy No-Licenso party, open-air meetings woro lield in tho main streets of Pctono and Hutt ou Saturday night. T'bo Rev. Mr. Cottorn, Primitive Methodist Minister, when addressing a largo mooting at Lower llutt, was subjected to a good deal of interruption and disorder. When _ ho first mounted tho platform a v.-ild yelling came from tho rear of tho crowd, but tho speaker continued, a.nd obtained a hearing. When, however, he was exhorting tho doctors to end tlio Trade, a volley of eggs was hurled at him, accompanied by jeers, groans, and cheers. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Cottom was surrounded by the crowd, under a shop window, ajid it was feared that ho would bo hurt. Tho crowd was good-humoured, and after a mild demonstration, some stalwart sympathiser conveyed Mr. Cotr torn to safer ground. Tho next speaker was Mr. A. Wright, treasurer of tho Hutt No-Liconso League, who urged tho people to believo neither tho Trade nor the No-Licenso party. As he proceeded there was continuous njv roar, particularly from a man on tho outskirls of tlio crowd, wl\o said, "Are you paid for tlio job:-" Mr. Wright assured them that ho was not. A voice: "T'ako vour bands out of your packets." Mr. Wright: "Myhandsarcall right as long as they arc not in your pockets." (Laughtor and uproar.) Tho speaker was endeavouring to proceed when cries of, "Chuck him out!" and "Como and have a drink!" were t'requontly interjected, <iwl more eggs were thrown, which scattered tho crowd in quick time. Not to b® denied, Mr. Wright followed (ho crowd across the street, nnd continued his address without. further trouble.

At Pctone the Rev. A. J. Seamer conducted a similar meeting, hut was not subjcctod to any violent interruptions or the hurling of missiles. However, thero was one mall who was invited to tho platform, amid cheers, who told tho ' crowd that there had been mora drinking in Mastorton under the present conditions than whoa there was license. Mr. Seamer invited auother interjoctor (Mr. Cameron) to tho platform. Mr. Cameron said that local option was a farcc. (Cheers.) He had travelled tho Dominion from end to end, and could get better accommodation in a. wet district than in a dry area. (Cheers and uproar.) Subsequently, Mr. Cameron called for a show of hands for those who favoured continuance. This was wrotcd with great uproar and cheers. The motion was never put, and Mr. Seamer r> sumod his address. PETONE FIRE BOARD. Twenty-one competitive designs for n new tire station at Pctono have been received by the board, which were a very high standard of architectural merit. After viewing some of the plans, tho board decided (o submit the whole of tho designs In the provident of tho Architects' Association, to act with InspMor Tlum, in s'oVctiug a design which in th«ir opinion -will be most suitable. Tlio amount allocated for the work was i'2ooo, which is not to be exceeded. PETONE COMMERCIAL CLUB. The following have been elected as officers of tlio Pctono Commercial Club for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. A. Coles; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. Harding and H. .T. Palmer; secretary, Mr. H. Eraser; executive, Messrs. M'Conchio, Rcid, Carter, Uattersby, Jones, and Rossi auditors, Messrs. Harper and Webster.