HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 4

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Columns of smoke could be seen yesterday morning and afternoon issuing from the hills near the back of the oil tanks in the vicinity of Point Howard, Lowry Bay. As there appeared to be little ehance of the flames reaching any buildings, the brigade did not turn out. It is understood that the proprietors of one of the tanks communicated with the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade as a precautionary measure. ‘Not a very high standard of water polo was set by either Hutt or Lyall Bay B teagis in their match at Riddiford Baths, Lower 1 Hutt, on Tuesday night. Lyali Bay won by 2 goals to 0. COMPACT LITTLE WORLD Koro Koro Looks Down on Petone Basking in a perfect sunshine, Koro Koro, which looks down 500 feet on to Petone, seems to be a compact and peaceful little world of its own. High up there in hilly and undulating land, intersected in places by deep gullies, a “Dominion reporter yesterday was struck with the magnificent panorama that this spot commands. No place in Wellington can equal it in that respect. All the extensive area of Petone, the Hutt, the eastern bays, and even the Hutt Road and Wellington city itself, can be viewed from Koro Koro. Probably that is the reason why it was given the appellation “Skytown. Koro Koro boasts 76 houses and dSo souls. There is room for many more. It has its fire station with one engine and five firemen controlled by the Petone borough, a public school, complete with tennis court, a picturesque reserve, in fact most of the amenities that one could name. One of its proudest possessions is its reservoirs. There are two of them, each with a capacity of 53,000 gallons, and a pressure of 1501 b. to the square inch. Because of the splendid water supply, fire premiums were reduced 10 pet cent. , , , “Skytown” itself is not a borough, but it has its mayor. Ait least that is the title conferred by the settlers on Mr. Joe Huggan, a Yorkshireman, and president of the Koro Koro Progressive Association, who was only too pleased to relate the history and interesting . sidelights of the village settlement in which he has lived for the past 16 years. But.although the reporter was impressed with Koro Koro as it is, Mr. Huggan, being a member of a progressive! association, is not satisfied 'yet. He wants a swimming bath and a public hall, each of tßem necessities, he said. And the bus service, which commenced operating in 1931, and which has started fo pay, needs speeding up. He thinks there is a- chance of getting more buses. As well as that there is room for improvement in the road widening scheme, which could absorb unemployed men profitably. The road to Koro'Koro is steep and tortuous from, the beginning at McKenzie Street. But it is quite safe, and if motorists heed 'the notice and “drive slow,” 1 they wni enjoy the pleasant surroundings there. Evdn the goat at the top of the hill may give' its cry of welcome. ' ;

■As a business centre Koro Koro is not brisk, but there is no need for residents to worry about.their household supplies, for Mr. Huggan, visits the shopping area every day, and he will bring back anything from a needle to groceries, and the week-end meat supply. ■ FERRY SERVICES Comparative Figures For Eastbourne . ,: : For the month of December the revenue of the Eastbourne Borough Council, ferry .service was £350 higher than In December, 1933. The number of passengers carried from Wellington to the bays from Christmas Eve to January 2 are given below, the figures in parentheses being for the same period of the previous year:— December 24, 998 (321); December 25, 611 (589); December 26, 2686 (1661); December 27, 799 (349); December 28, 830 (619); December 29, 773 (382); December 30, 1202 (408); December 31, 860 (687); January 1, 2721 (2999); January 2, 262 (923). Totals, 11,742 (8938). The town clerk of Eastbourne, Mr. C. L. Bishop, stated yesterday that the bus revenue for the month of December was £5O higher than for December, 1933. Unlike the ferry service, the increase in numbers carried took place at the beginning of the month, and the tendency was for the increased traffic to the bays later in the month to be all ferry. In fact, as the weather became hotter as the month advanced, there was an actual decrease on buses, yet a substantial increase on b&ats, showing that the weather played an important part as regards the means of travel. Mr. Bishop mentioned that more than 800 people were carried yesterday on the harbour excursion by the Muritai, and that about 500 travelled by ordinary service to the bays. Another excursion, he said, would be run next Wednesday. EXCEPTIONAL ENTRIES Swimming Carnival at Riddiford Baths Au exceptionally large entry has been received for the handicap events which will figure on the programme of the Hutt Valley Amateur Swimming and Life-Saving Club’s carnival at Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, this evening, commencing at 8 o’clock. Ninety-nine have entered for the 66yds. race, 30 for the ladies’ 50yds., and 34 for the 66yds. open breaststroke. On the programme also is the 220yds. Wellington centre championship, 100yds. intermediate girls’ and boys’ races, a relay between Hutt and Petone for the Fenwick Memorial Shield, presented by medical practitioners in the Hutt Valley in honour of the late Dr. Fenwick, and a polo match between Lyajl Bay and Hutt A teams, neither of which has been beaten this season. Last year each team got a win against the other. On January 26 the Petone carnival will be held at the McKenzie Baths, EXCITING FINISH Petone Sports Gathering A thrilling finish between Disley, Roberta, and Morris in the three miles cycle event was a feature of the sports meeting conducted by the Petone Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club on the Petone Recreation Ground last evening. Good fields competed in all the events, which were watched by a big gathering of spectators. Results are as follow: — Half-mile cycle: Morris, 1; Houston, 2; Pennington, 3. 75yds. Women: Greenfield, 1; Chambers, 2; Walker, 3. 100yds. Men : O'Connell, 1; Thompson, 2; McGurth, 3. 880 Yards: Taylor, 1; Walker, 2; Turner, 3. One mile cycle: Disley, 1; Biggs, 2; Walsh, 3. 100yds. Junior: Jackson, 1; Battersby, 2; Chambers, 3. 100yds. Ladies: Greenfield, 1; Chambers. 2; George, 3. 220 Yards: Thompson, 1; O’Connell, 2; McGurth, 3. Three mile cycle: Disley, 1; Roberts, 2; Morris, 3. Junior half-mile cycle: Anderson, 1;