LINK WITH THE PAST

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2627, 24 November 1915, Page 6

LINK WITH THE PAST

HVTT PARK RAILWAY CO

TO BE WOUND UP

Tho fact that the Hutt Park Railway Company is to ba wound up to-day takes one oack to interesting times in the hi&» tory- of horse-racing in Wellington. The history of this light lino, which tuns from the main Hutt lino along tho Petono foreshore to tho western takeoff of tho old pipe bridge across the Hutt River—a distance of a little over a mile and a half —ig interesting. It apjSodrs tliafc the Hutt Park was under leaae to the Wellington Racing Club,' some th'irty-two years ago or so. when, a syndicate" x&s foiliiod to acquire the fiat at Island Bay (an area fairly well built- over now) from the late Mr. Jacob Joseph, for racing purposes. When this little company was formed to establish racing so much nearer to Wellington fi a, \*r i?. kower Hutt, the stewards of tho Wellington Racing Club had to consider moans of giving the public better and quicker transport to the Hutt Park racecourse, instead of their having to proceed by train to the Hutt. 1 and thence via the ordinary traffic bridge and past the Bellovue (then M'Njibs) wardens to tho course, a roundabout and extremely dusty journey on race days. By scouring the right to lay down a light railway, and doing 50. the Racing Club were able to convey their patrons to within a short distance of the course. Tho race trains UGed to Divert from the main line opposite the Marine Retreat Hotel, and proceed slowly along tho Hutt Park Railway Lompany s line, pulling up on a shinglo track near tho river. Rs eoou as the tram slowed up it was a common sight to see hundreds of mon dropping from the train and making a headlong rush j- b ridgo. It was not an ordinary kind of bridge, but just two or three planks floored over the Wainui water mains with wooden hand-rails, and only wide enough for tho crowd to walk "one abreast.' It was because it was such a slow, business that tho men used to rush, whilst the ladies, who had some respect for tho race-day dresses, wore wont to group up at the entrance to the bridge until tho unchivalroiis mob passed on. This method of reaching the Hutt Park racecoUrse obtained until the Racing Club terminated its lease, and pitched its camp at Trenthaih.

In the meantime the Island Bay Company staggered along precariously, until all the original money subscribed disappeared, and it then went into liquidation. Another company was formed to carry on, but the fates were unkind, and after a .brief career as a racing course it lapsed into the fallow, still owned by Mr. Joseph. That portion of the Hutt Park Railway Company's line, which traverees the Gear Meat Company's property, lias been purchased by that company, but from thence on to the bridge, it is understood that the line is to be pulled lip and the rails sold. Though the Hutt Park is about to spring into life once more as a trotting course (it has been leased by the Wellington Trotting Club) the <SW means of access along the foreshore aro no'longer necessary, nor do they exist (as far as the bridges are concerned), for splendid access is provided to the park by the . now pipe and traffic bridge erected over the Hutt River directly .in a lino with Jackson Street, tho main thoroughfare at Petone.

At to-day's meeting of tlie Hutt Park Railway Company the following motions will bo submitted to shareholders:—

(1) "That the company bo forthwii wound up voluntarily."

(2) "To consider the appointment of a liquidator or liquidators and his or their remuneration."

(3) "To fix tho remuneration of the directors for tlio present and past years." '