HUTT AND PETONE NEWS. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1808, 22 July 1913, Page 8

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

At the Petone recreation ground on Sunday the local branch of the New Zealand Freedom League held a meeting to protest against tha compulsory clauses of the Dpfenco • Act. Mr. O'Regan spoke from the parental, Mr. Alexander from tho conscientious, and Mr. Modini from the workingman's point of view. There was a moderate attendance, and a motion was declared carried, with a few dissentients, protesting against tho clauses referred to. Canon Garland addressed a large meeting of Church workers yesterday afternoon in tho Meithodist Church. lie urged his hearers to put "first things first," and he claimed the study of tlia Bible-to be a "first" study. In fact, it was the most, important study thero was. He concluded by urging all tho Churches represented nVd to put, firstly, the small matters of Church work, but to do their utmost to furtk-r tlio most important part of the work—namely, the Bible-in-scnools move, ment, and thus put "first things first." On Saturday afternoon there was a large attendance of skaters at the Mutt Rink, all of whom put in a very enjoyable time. Tho Brass Band wnS very attractive for tho afternoon session. On Saturday night there was again a big crowd of skaters and onlookers, the principal attraction being the final of the men's onemile race, which resulted in a. dead heat between "Bob'' Hayes and "Esie" Mackinton. After considerable discussion it was decided to race oil between the two mentioned. This caused a vast amount of iutevest, and was won by "Bob" Hayes bv about thirty yards from his opponent. The band will be at the rink again next Saturday afternoon, and a fresh novelty is to ba' put 011 for Thursday evening. The public vaccinators at Lower Hutfc and Petone were seen yesterday in tc'ganl to smallpox precautions, and were . asked if the public were availing themselves of the facilities placed at their disposal. ".Most decidedly," was the replvof one. "Next week I expect larger numbers." .Another stated that both Europeans and Maoris were being vaccinated willingly. One vaccinator inoculated about 120 during the past week, but he expected main - more sbortly. Another pointed out the' disadvantages of dealing with numbers of people with only a small waiting-room, while, 011 the contrary side, oue staled that, as yet, only a moderate number had "faced the music." At the Petone Literary Methodist Debating Society last evening three short Pspriys were given—"Picture Shows." by ilr. F. Blakele.v; "What to Read," by Mr V Uacobson; and "Uodilv Esovci=e." by Mr. W. H. Udy. The Rev. J. J. Lewis was chairman. Bro. Cairns, A.D., presided at a meeting of the Petone Druids' Lodge last, evening. The bards reported two members on the sick fund. Bro. De T.issa was installed as V.A.B. One candidate presented "himself and was initiated. P.A. Bro. ' Gilmour, on behalf of the lodge, presented Bro. Townseml with a I'.A. collar mul diploma.