HUTT AND PETGME NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 April 1908, Page 8

HUTT AND PETGME NEWS.

H'JTT PARK COMMITTEE. A meeting of tho Eut-t Park Committco was held at tho Council Chambers, Lower Hutt, last night. Thero were present Councillors Russoll (chairman), J. W. M'Ewan, J. Baldwin, Howden, ■ W. A. Southgato, and M. J. Hodgins. Mr. T.,A. PeterkiriJ Mayor of Lower l-lutt, was also present. The meeting, was mainly for the purpose of considering the lease of Hutt Park by theGplf Club as granted by a previous committee. 1 ' '" Councillor Baldwin -nioved that persons training horses bo notified that a permit was necessary henceforth. This was carried. Tlio Chairman stated-that ho had received an insuranoe policy for buildings from the Queensland Insurance Company. This policy included tho people's stand,' tea-room, main stand, and caretaker's cottage. . ' Tho Chairman read a letter from the Golf Club, asking for a livo years' leaso of tho Hutt Park and tho stewards' stand. A letter was also read from Mr. Skerrett with, regard .to. the legality of a lease, a.nd stating that, as matters stood, the committee had no legal right to grant such a leaso. ■ A discussion took placo with regard to bringing tho, matter before tho Supremo Court to decide whether tho Golf Club had any rights with regard to their, cccupancy of tho park. ( Tho Chairman thought that tho matter had reached ail impossible position, and sug-. gosted .that it should-, bo referred to tho Councils, interest©:! for directions'. Councillor Hodgins (Hutt) moved that the present position bo reported to tho Councils interested, ;and that they be asked to guaranty the expense o'f. contesting the legality, of the-leaso held by tho Golf Club from'tho lato Trustees. This was seconded by Councillor Baldwin; and, carried. , : ■ Tho general opinion of the oommitteo was that the Golf* Club had been satisfied for tho past fifteen years without a leaso, and now when new Trustees were in power,. they wanted a, leaso on terms which put . tho Trustees in an-untenable position. Tha committee, having carefully considered tho question raised, at tho recent -interview between representatives of the Golf Club and tlio committee, passed the following resolution :— "The Hutt Park Committee offers to grant to tho Hutt Golf Club si leaso of tho wholo of the ground for tho purpose of playing golf for five years from January 1, 190S, at a rental of £125 per annum to tho end of the disputed lease, made between' Christopher Heath and J. P. Peck, of tho onp part, and tho Hutt • Park and Racecourse. Board of tho other part, - and thenceforward at a rental of one hundred pounds (£100) per annum to tho end of tho leaso now proposed between tho Hutt Park Committee, and the Hutt Golf; Club, free of all rates; the Golf Ciub to have tho sole use of the stewards' stand as a club-houso, and to pay the insurance premium thereon; tho Golf Club to havo tho right to graze sheep on tile ground; tho caretaker to be under tho control of and to bo paid by tho Hutt Park Committee, but it is understood that he shall'assist tho Golf Club with the upkeep of its greens and club-house, for which services the Golf Club shall contribute the 1 sum of fifty-two pounds per annum towards his wages. The Hutt Park Committee reserves to itself tho right to let tho ground for other purposes, and tho training tracks for the training of racehorses, with a duo regard to tho conservation of the interests of tho Golf Club. Tho Hutt -Park Committee agroes to pay one-half of tho cost of putting the fences in repair, tho Golf Club to bo responsible for the remaining one-half of the cost of tho said repairs and the future upkeep of the fences."