HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2339, 22 December 1914, Page 8

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

DIFFERENCE AS TO HALFHOLIDAY. (From Our Own Correspondent,) The Lower Hutt Borough Council recently appointed Councillor Ball as its representative at the annual conference between the Hutt and Petone Councils, to be held in January, for the purpose of deciding on the half-holiday for the combined districts. Tho Mayor of Pctono (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) will represent Petone, and advocate Wednesday for the half-holiday, whilst Councilor Ball strongly favours Saturday. In this connection it has been ascertained that a large section of Hutt shopkeepers desire the retention of tho present day (Wednesday), and it is understood that a petition requesting that no change should be made in tho halfholiday, will be presented at the conference for consideration from the Hutt shopkeepers. A meeting of ladies interested in the Belgian Shilling Christmas Gift Fund was held at Lower Hutt last evening, the Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin) presiding. The total amount handed over by the various collectors was £26, which is to be cabled to headquarters to-day. At the annual meeting of the Gear Company Employees' Fire Brigade tie following officers were elected:—Captain Parrant, Lieutenant Wright, Foreman Pollock, secretary, Fireman List. Votes of thanks were accorded Captain Parrant and ex-Foreman Featherstone, and several musical items were delivered by members during the evening. At "the Petone Salvation Army Barracks last evening, a "Christmas Tree Social" was held, Adjutant. Wellington presiding over a good attendance. Several appropriate items were contributted to an interesting programme, and much to the delight of the little ones "Father Christmas" superintended the distribution of toys from the tree.

Yesterday the employees of the Potone Borough Council's Plumbing Department were busy removing the contents of the building recently occupied by them on the corner of Jackson and Bay Streets, Petone. The site has been secured by a syndicate upon which it is intonded to erect a picture theatre, and a start in this direction will bo made shortly.

Bro. Greenwood, A.D., presided at last evening's meeting of the Poneke Lodge of Druids at Petone. The bards reported four members on the sick fund, and the balance-sheet showed the lodge's finances to be sound. The auditor stated that the books were satisfactorily kept, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the musician, Bro. Head. A recent visit of members to the Mungaroa Lodge, with the G.S. in attendance, was reported to have been a successful enterprise. A visitor welcomed was P.D.P. Bro. Cunliffe, and Christmas greetings were extended to him by the AID. The District President, P.A. Bro. Gough, wished all members the compliments of the season during the evening.