HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 13

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(From Our Special Correspondent.! : s ; , ; BRIGHTER DAYS. The Hutt Valley is already making-.a' rapid recovery from tho depressing influence of tho strike. With tho advent of tho Christinas shoppers and of fino weather to tempt theiu out, things'are looking much brighter. Where before shopkeepers could bo sen disconsolately pacing tho front of tho shop window, vainly waiting for customers, now ho is busily engaged. A visitor to tho Hutt Valley could hardly believo it to bo tho same deserted-looking district that it was a fow weeks previously. Probably the only trouble is that of coal, but- this difficulty is easily surmountable, and tho Christmas pudding will, no doubtbo treated somehow, coal or no coal.' ,\.' FUTILE APPEAL. '' Tho Petono Distress Committee-'8 laudable attempt to brighten, tho Christmas of tho littlo ones of those affected by tho striko in Petono has not been a very fruitful one. So far, the appoal has only mot with a .solitary response (from a baker), to supply a slab of cake. Tho committee, however, intends to mako another appeal, and crcn travel further afield—to Wellington, in faet — with a viow to gathering funds to provide for somo thirty-five children during tho festive season, Mr. H. Baldwin intends to contest tho Hntt Mayoralty. . Mr. A. M. Samuel will be a candidate for tho Hutt electorate at tho next general election. HUTT MAYORALTY. . ' Mr. T. C. Dawson, who has been; a member of tho Hutt Borough Council for tho past eighteen months or so, intends to contest tho Hutt Mayoralty at: tho elections in April next. 'Ihero are now two probable contestants for the seat, Mr. 11. Baldwin having also stated . his intention of standing. Mr. E. P. Bunny, tho present Mayor, will not seek re-election. THE LATE MR. USMAR." Tho. funeral of tho lato Mr. Henry A. Usmar took ]>laco yesterday afternoon at Petono, and was largely attended. Members of tho New Zealand Branch M.U., 1.0,0. F., attended, and tho Government Railways Workshops workers were also well represented, tho deceased having been for upwards of fifteen years employed in tho Petono Railway shops. Tho service was road by Mr. M. Johnston (Church of Christ). Wellington. Many floral emblems of sympathy were sent, 'i'ho interment took place at Taita cemetery. -