NEWS AND NOTES.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 20, 12 January 1928, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

At the close of the last meeting of the Hutt Borough Council for the year 1927, the Councillors, staff, and representatives of the Press were entertained at supper by the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr. W. T. Strand), who took occasion to thank his guests for their loyal co-operation with himself in the work of forwarding the interests of the Borough. The past year had undoubtedly been the most important in the history of the Borough, and the year they were entering upon promised to be as busy. In thanking the Mayor on behalf of the Council, Councillor Hobbs said that few of the Councillors, let alone the general public, knew how hard Mr. Strand worked in the interests of progress. He also paid a tribute to the work of Mrs. Strand. The Council sent a message of good cheer to Councillor E. W. Hunt, who has been absent owing to ill-health. * * * With an eye to the great possibilities of this progressive Borough, Mr. George Phillips has opened a branch tobacconist's and hairdressing saloon in the Main Street (near V.1.C.). Mr. Coffey is in charge, and the needs of both ladies and gents is thus assured. ♦ * * "N.1.P." in the Christmas issue of the "Petone Chronicle" is much perturbed over the fact that the Baths Committee of the Lower Hutt Borough Council had had the audacity and effrentery fe» brand the towels issued out on hire to batheae at the local baths. Why aH the pother ? Tut, tut "N.1.P." There is no reflection upon

the honesty or integrity of the Hutt (or even Petone) residents. The branding was merely done so that the towels could the more easily be identified when sorting at the laundry— just the same as "N.l.P.'s" collars and wha,t-nots are branded, and the little "N.l.P.'s" so-so's. There is no knowing into what channels the mind will run (especially after "n.i.p.s") at Christmas time! * * * Whilst riding on the top of a hay cart recently, Mr. J. Houston, of Lower Hutt, sustained severe injuries to his back, necessitating his removal to the Hospital by the City ambulance. Enquiries elicited the information that he was doing as well as could be expected. * • ♦ Mr. J. E. Cairns Announces in another column that, owing to the great expansion of his business, he is removing shortly to Everybody's building, and in order to save removal expenses he has marked all stock at greatly reduced prices. * * * In connection with the fire at the new Railway Workshops during Christmas week, we have been asked to correct a statement which appeared in the "Petone Chronicle" to the effect that the roof was "composed of malthoid, a bituminous substance which burnt fiercely." This is contrary to fact. Malthoid is not being used on any part of the new Workshops—and there is no bitumen in malthoid. Had malthoid been used it would not have burnt, as malthoid is fire-resistant. * * • A rather unique attraction was displayed in the window of the Singer Machine Co., Main Street, during Christmas and New Year week. This took the form of a modern bungalow, and was the work of the Hutt Valley ambassador for the Singer Co. (Mr. W. Morrison). Standing on a raised platform, with real grass plots, flower garden, gravel paths, and surrounded with a picket fence, the posts o:f which comprised tins of Singer oil, it was in full view of passers-by from both sides of the street. "Home Villa" was displayed on the house front, and from its curtained windows a small Singer sewing machine peeped out, emphasising the slogan, "A Singer in every home." The clothes line could even be seen with the week's washing hanging therefrom. Grouped round the shop were all classes of machines, from the oak cabinet grand, down to the tiny tot's machine, showing the various kinds of work that could be done on them. Lit by electricity at night, it presented a pretty picture. From the thousands of both old and young folks —the fathers and mothers of the future —who viewed this display, who can tell the number of future "prospects" that would come from this attractive advertisement? * ♦ ♦ It has been stated that on several occasions the value of building permits issued in Lower Hutt for a given month has exceeded that of any other urban areas except the four large cities; that record has now been exceeded, for in October the value of the buildings for which permits were issued reached £218,000, and easily exceeded all districts, cities included.

At the annual meeting of the Lower Hutt Progress League the following officers were elected for the forthcoming year:—President, Mr. C. B. Buxton; vice-presidents, Dr. Reakes, Messrs. E. P. Bunny, H. Baldwin, G. A. Chapman; executive, Dr. Dudley, Messrs. A. G. Carver, S. Clendon, S. Henderson, R. S. James, R. Johnston, E. R. Norman, S. R. Renner, D. D. Robertson, S. T Seddon; honorary secretary, Mr. D. C. Martin. * * ♦ The many Lower Hutt and Petone friends of Mr. Harry Stiles, clerk of the Wellington Trotting Club, and clerk of the course to the Wellington Racing Club, will be pleased to learn that he has now left the Hospital and is convalescing at his home, after the serious accident met with to his legs whilst unloading girders for the new D.I.C. buildings. * * * Mr. J. C. M'Caw, who has finished his theological course in the Presbyterian Hall, has been called to the Akaroa Church. The call was widely signed, and was laid before the Christchurch Presbytery, which sustained the call and decided to send it to Mr. M'Caw (son of the Rev. J. M'Caw, of Knox Church), who has been spending his Christmas vacation, meanwhile, with his parents at the local manse, renewing old associations with the Hutt Valley before setting out upon his southern ecclesiastical career. * * * Mr. H. G. Dyer, M.A., and Miss O. M. Sheppard, M.A., have recently been appointed to vacancies on the staff of the Hutt Valley High School. Mr Dyer is an ex-King's College boy, and has been on the staff of the New Plymouth Boys' High School. He is a graduate of Duntroon, where he was given the sword of honour for his year, and has spent some years m India. Mr. Dyer was appointed to a C position. Miss Sheppard holds an honours degree in philosophy, and for four years has been a lecturer s assistant at the Wellington Training College, lecturing in English, history, and psychology. She is an excellent tennis player, and has represented Victoria University College for five years, besides being a Wellington representative basketball player. Miss Sheppard was appointed to a D position Tkere were 120 applicants for the posts. Other appointments were tentatively made by the board, but cannot be announced until the roil number for 1928 is definitely known.