HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 334, 22 October 1908, Page 9

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

CONCRECATIONAL BAZAAR. The Alicetown Congregationalists held a bazaar in tho Town Hall, Lower Hutt, yesterday in order to reduco the debt on t-ho nianso, which, at present, stands at about £500. Tho time for the opening ceremony was fixed for 3 o'clock) and by that hour a large number of the young folk had vronded their way to the hall, and all wore there well before tho rain set in. Considering counter attractions, tho attendance was all that could be desired, and' tho promoters have every reason to be satisfied. The hall was beautifully decorated, and a string of flags was run across tho street. The opening speeches woro brief, and in a light vein, making a fitting commencement to ■ tho day's enjoyment. Tho Rev. W. A. Keay was the the first to occupy the platform, and he called upon Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., formally to open tho bazaar. In an interesting speech, Mr. Wilford expressed his pleasure at being present, and commented on the excellence of the gifts to aid tho bazaar. Mr. Keay referred to Mrs. Williams, who was present, and whose name was associated with many public matters, and hoped she would long be spared. The Rev. Mr. Glasson (Terrace Church, Wellington), and tho Rev. W. A. Evans (Newtown), conveyed tho best wishes of their churches - for tho success of the function. In seconding a vote of thanks to Mr. Wilford, Mr. Evans remarked that at the elections before last he intended coming out for this electorate, but he knew ho would have received too great a beating. The vote of thanks was carried with applause. The following are the stall-holders:— 1 Fancy—Mrs. 'Exton.and Mrs. Barnard; toys —Mrs. Williamson and Mrs. Hansen; sweets —Mrs. Jefferey and Miss Wright; cakes — Mrs. Chat-field j produce — Mrs. Evans; flowers—Misses Barnard, Ext-on, Shardlow, arid"Keay; afternoon tea—Mesdames Wearn and Wilkerson, and Miss lieay. Tho men's cooking competition resulted as follows:—Mr. W. Wearn, 1; tho Rev. W. A. Keay, 2. Mrs. Williams acted as judge. : In tho evening a concert was given by the Musical Helpers (Wellington). The bazaar will conclude i;o-day. WESTERN PETONE SCHOOL. After more than throe years of agitating Petone is to have a second school. As far back as August, 1905, the school accommodation was found insufficient, and a deputation, headed by Mr. D. M'Kenzie, waited on the then school committee urging the necessity for a school in the west-em part of tho borough. At present, there are over 1100 pupils oil the roll at Petone,' and tho gymnasium at St. David's Churoh has to be called into service,-for which £1 per week is paid, and some classes have to .bo taught in tho playground sheds of the Jackson Street school. Tho Committee has experienced the usu,il hard fight to get what they required; mass meetings were' Tield, and last year a petition 63 feet long, containing 2037 signatures, was presented to the Minister. All efforts, liowever, were without' avail until about January last, when tho. Education Board decided to take a suitable) section of land under the Public Works Act. This course was adopted with the result that one acre three roods and three perches, owned by Maoris, was acquired on the Hutt Road, there being 150 feet of frontage. The prico was estimated at,£lsoo, the Department and Board paying half each. The value has. since increased, and the price will bo fixed by arbitration. ■

Tho building will accommodate. 400 pupils, but .provision is made in tlio plans so that room can easily bo added for 200 more. [ There Will be six class-rooms, four measuring 26ft. x 24ft. and two 30ft. ix ,24ft. .. . Thq. structure, which will be entirely 'of brickL will face the-Hutt Road, and will present' an attractive appearance. Special rooms aro provided for the headmaster arid teachers, and a _ 9ft. corridor intersects the .building. There is a Me level playground, arid, as the soil of_ the lower portion is very suitable, the Committee will endeavour r to : .geii. ; t-ho..pupils to take .ail interest in horticulture.' ' A tender for, the crection of the school is to bo accepted by the Education 'Board at its meeting on Thursday next, and-the build--ing should be; ready for occupation in aboutfour of five months' time. ,Tne Minister for Education will be invited .to lay the founda■tion stone. ... PETONE TECHNICAL SCHOOL. Tho new Technical School at Petone. which was opened by His Excellency the Governci on April 11, has been completed, and shouldbe handed over to tho board of mahagers. be'-' fore the New Year. -The first quarter* for 1909 will commence in the new.building. .At, present, technical education ,is being carried on in' the High School, and it is considered certain that thero will then be a largo influx of pupils. ; * There is trouble in the affairs of the school serving the districts of Mungaraki and Korokoro. A Dominion roporter was informed that a meeting of the settlers was held a night or two ago, which, at. times, became very stormy. The question at issue was the disposal of certain school funds, and it was decided to make a thorough investigation. _ A meeting was held at tho Fire Brigade Station last evening, when it was decided to hold a social for the brigadesmen in November, at which .the prizes won at the rccent fire brigade competitions will be presented. Tho donors of the prizes will be invited to be present. . Tho Rev. Irinis Jones, of Lower Hutt, leaves for Blenheim in a fortnight, where ho is to be married. Ho carries with him the best wishes of his Lowor Hutt friends. _ Active preparations are being made in connection with the Petone Wcsleyan Church anniversary, which will be honoured in a fow weeks. Mr. E. Lo Cren, Inspector of Awards, paid an official visit to Lower Hutt and Petone yesterday. ■ It appears that picnickers on a rccent holiday lit fires below the pipo bridge and burnt some of tho River Board's property. One of their employees was making a punt and some of the timber for this purpose was taken. If this continues, the board will have to stop picnickers using the property. The matter will bo brought up at next meting. Trafalgar Day was celebrated .at Butt and Petone yesterday by the school children saluting tho flag and listening to speechos by the headmasters. * !- Mr. John Ross, 8.A., of Petone, who is sitting for tlio M.A. degree at Victoria College, shortly intends pursuing his theological studies at tho Otago Theological Stall.