HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 October 1908, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

—: 9 —: — PETONE FIRE BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Petono Fire Board was held at the Municipal Chambers yosterday afternoon,' there'being present:— The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), Councillors Southgate and Castle, Messrs. Ewen, ■ Mallard, Simpson (insurance), and Superintendent C. -Lapper. A letter was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs in reference to a request for a copy of a report of the In* spector of Fire Brigades upon' the Petone Fire Brigade and plaint and'premises, stating that the matter would receive consideration. ■ It was decided to vrrite to the Minister again on the subject. •• • It was decided to allow the Borough Engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) 200 feet of disused hose at .4d. per foot without the couplings. A petition was received , from thirteen members of the Fire Brigade-asking for'several concessions' in the conditions of service. It was decided that for false alarms during the day (7 a.m. to 7 p;m.) the men should be paid at the rate of 2s. per hour or part of ail hour and Is." from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. ■ ' V " In his first report, Superintendent Lepper stated that, the various 'hotels had.their.' escapes and appliances in ; fairly good order. He had inspected all the premises where ammunition and kerosene were stored, and found them well within 'the limit. Inspector Hugo and the Superintendent went over the borough on October 9 and inspected the proposed fire alarm system, and, with one exception, the positions already selected for the alarm boxes were approved, The alarm bell needed attention, as it could not be heard at any distance. - The attendances at practices had been very satisfactory, and discipline was well, maintained. As to the ineffectiveness, 'of the present alarm, the Superintendent said that heavier hammers were required. The.Superintendent ■was authorised to expend up to £5 in the necessary improvement. ..The matter of fire escapes in the school buildings was left in the hands of the Superintendent. Various small requirements were also dealt, with. The report was adopted. The tender of Messrs. George' and George was accepted for uniforms for firemen..at 475. 6d.

; Tenders for fire alarm services were referred to Inspector Hugo' for a. recommendation. . •'

PETONE CHESS AND DRAUCHTS CLUB. The Petone Chess and Draughts Club expects to finish the-season' in a fortnight's time. The club is a new one, but very satisfactory progress has been made. The following are' the present positions of the chess and draughts tourneys: — . Chess Handicap.—Buckley, 4 wins; Butler, 4; Kirk, 3J; Cooper, 3; Hope, 3; Thomas, 3; Fogden, 2; Woolley, li; Reynolds, 0. Three or' four matches have yet to be' played. Buckley and Butler, the two.leading men, were both beaten on Monday night, thus bringing the. others ..nearer their.'level. Draughts Handicap.—Woolley, 8J wins; Lappago, 8; Butler, ; Buckley, 5; Hope, 5; Young; 4J; Reynolds,' i: .'Several 'matches have yet to bo decided. OUTBREAK OF FIRE. At a. quarter to two yesterday • morning a fiie broke out in a;two-story. wooden dwelling in Alicetowri, occupied by. Mr.vT. Coffey and his wife; and six'- children." The'family retired ; at 10.30 the- previous''evening, and knew nothing until -Mrs. Coffey was awakened by her eldest son, who'slept upstairs.' He was almost suffocated by'smoke, but-he woke up. and aroused' the family,' who were compelled to'-find their'way Ito the street in quick time and but scantily clothed. Tho youngest boy had a very narrow escape.. He seemed somewhat-.confused bad-to be "fTEe-'Htftt' • Fire Brigadej-'iljider r Captaiii :; S!iiiii , , I .itf(i;e:gi*omptly '6n' tfie°apbt, : :but''it r, wSs c f<suild thaf'the fire had too iirni a hold, and their attention was mainly concentrated upon_ saving the stables at the rear of the house, in which they were successful. The house was burnt ground,_absolutely nothing being saved: ' Included in the losses are a new, piano (uninsured), property deeds, silver watch- and gold chain, and cash comprising a five-pound note and a half-sovereign. As far as can be ascertained, the fire originated •in the dining-room or in the rear portion* of the house, but the cause is not known: The house was insured-for £500, and the furniture for £100 in tho National Fire Office. ■

PETONE BOWLINC CLUB. '.The. Petone Bowling Club is; sending two teams to play the Victoria' Club, Wellington, on Saturday afternoon, for the senior pennant. They are as follow: Jones,. Henry, Southgate, and-Wylie, (s.), and Russell. Hay, MaTsden, and Gilraour (s.).- The-following will- play at Petone on Saturday.:—P. M'Arthur, Castle, Coles, and Ross (s.), and Melhuish, Renai, Cowie, and-Udy (s.); emergencies, S. R. Johnson, Alexander, ■ and Kingdon. Four rinks are going to G.reytown on November 9, King's. Birthday. -The contest for the Edwin Feathers will commence about the end of the month. • ' ' ■ Active preparations are being made in connection with the Petone AVesleyan Church anniversary; which tak«« place in about three weeks' time, tho Rev. R. Wilson being busily engaged. PETONE TECHNICAL SCHOOL. The fortnightly meeting'of , : the Board of Managers of the Petone Technical. School was held last evening. There were-present: The Rev. A. Thomson (in the chair) and Messrs. Castle, Coles> Findlay, M'Kenzie, Baldwin, and Mothes. ■ > : A committee, consisting of-the chairman and Messrs. • Findlay' and Coles, was- set up to approach the respective companies and bodies interested for contributions to help 011 the new Technical School, as there aro considerable' expenses having to be met. - A discussion on the Education Board's proposal to put secondary pupils, in the school is reported elsewhere. The levels of the new school .ground have been completed by Mr. Cowie. Tho work was considered very satisfactory, and it was decided that tho money bo paid over to him.

.Speaking to a Dominion' representative yestorday afternoon, tho Mayor of Pefone (Mr. J. \V. M'Ewan) said that he wis in favour of tho amalgamation with Potonei of the portion of tho Lower llutt en tho western side of tlio Hutt lliver up to Delmont, and Alicotown people had soon him on the sub-, ject. A matter ho would like io point out was that under tho present arrangement; overlapping was caused, resulting in confusion in public works. Tho chairman of tho l\ N t one School Committee (.Mr. 1). M'Kenwe) lias forwarded a letter to the Kduoation Poarvl applying for a medical examination of tho shutouts. It is expected that, as the contractors for tho Upper Hntt. School removal have not completed their contract within the specified time, tho Education Hoard will (jivo notico of its intention to take possession of tho building. The .I'clone lloroujih Council meetings in and after November will commence- at S o'clock, instead of A few by-law eases are set down for hearing at Monday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Petono. A sitting of tho Court will he held at. Lower Hntt on Monday week, when a eh awo of being on'licensed premises during prohibited hours will como up. Tho Hutt Valley Gun Club is having a shoot at Tnita to-morrow for a £l's sweepstake, and a.tio has to bo shot <)(1" between M. Ilancock and AV. Tulloch for a trophy. Kightoon nominations liavo been received for tho sweopstako. Tho nicotine of tho Lower Hutt householders, calloulhy tho school committee in oonnootion with tho erection of a school on tlio King's ltoad section, will bo held on Monday night. Pormission has been given the l!ev. W. A. Koay, Congregational minister at Alicotown, by tho Lower llutt liorough Council, to run a string of Hags over tho main road in front of tho Town Half on Tlmi'silny, in connection with tho l'auoy fair.