HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 525, 4 June 1909, Page 2

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(Fnoii oon er.:ciAD hepomteb.} HUTT BOROUGH ESTIMATES.

NO ALTERATION IN BATE. Two special meetings 'of ' tho Lower Hutt Borough Council hare been hold to consider the yearly estimates submitted by the town clerk - and the engineer. Only a few small, items now remain to be discussed before the estimates come up for confirmation at ■ the nest council meeting. V • A considerable reduction has been made in the proposals for expenditure, and some slight increases have also been agreed to. It is understood that the net result will be a reduction of about .£BOO in the proposed expenditure. As it is possible, howovor, that further alterations may bo made-before the council considers the matter of confirmation, particulars are not yet made known. .

Chief among the items of reduction is £471 from the estimates for street maintenance, nbout «£435 coidos off tho proposals fot dedications. A very considerable item of expenduurb is the sum of .£921, for hospital and charitable aid purposes. The general feeling among councillors is that this is an excessive amount for a borough like the Hutt to haw to find; being nearly one-oighth of its revenue, and consideration is. to bo given to the question whether soijio reduction of this levy can-not-be brought about.- The Recreation. Ground, a splendid asset, costs the borough about .£l5O per annum. Dedications form a heavy • tax on the borough finances. If the whole of the dedications, agreed to and contemplated, were carried out, the municipality would be committed to an' expenditure of 'about' .£1350, but, as already mentioned, the sum of M 35 has been struck ont of these proposals. Undor the heading of "Dedications" are included (1) The payment of compensation to tho landowner who has dedicated' hiß land for streetwidening (in most cases in consequent of the Publlo Works Act of 1908), and (2) the cost of tho construction, of footpaths: over the parts dedicated. This law as to compulsory dedication, which has existed since 1903, involves a serious expenditure, especially to small, boroughs: ' TJie estimates deal with the expenditure of general revenue, not of loan money, the two main departments being the engineer s and the town dork's. In tho engineer's department the; following works are provided for:—Street maintenance, dedications, sanitary depot, waterworks, recreation ground, fire brigade, and. street lighting, and the town olerk'e department includes the disposal of salaries, office expenses, insurance, and miscellaneous expenditure! . ' On account of the large amount outstanding on March 31 last, namely, a sum of .£7500, the general rate this year . will probably be the same as that for the past twelve months—2d. in the This rate, is expected to yield a revenue of a rather smaller 1 amount than l was received last year, owing to there having # boon a reduction in. tho valuations amounting to>£2o,ooo.' This means a decrease m the revenue for' the year of J!200. ... - ■ MASTERTON VISITORS. After a brief visit to Petone, the boys of St. Matthew's Church, Masterton, returned honie last evening. They obtained a fair share of honours in the playing field; yosterdny. The liockey team 1 defeated a team representing St. Augustine's Church by six goals, to two." Tho Rev. T. A. Williams was referee, and-'tho scorers were :~For Masterton: R. Hatch,' L. Nicol, and Potter, two goals each; for Petone; G.Noble, two , goals. St. Augustine's youns men woit tlio football match- whicli was playea in tlie_aftcrnoon. The visitors were a Digger pack, but, had not the enthusiasm which brought their opponents victory. After a hard: game, referoed by. Mr. H;-Johnston, the Masterton toam_was defeated' by.nine points : to : three. . R._ Hill scored twice, and B. Bowman onco. for St. Augustine's . class,. and N. Boyd sqoured honours for the other side. No goals ! resulted. An_injured knee caused the retirement of' D. Hebenton (St. Matthew's) in the last few minutes. . . ■ -The trip: was .a pleasant one for the MasterW.' Raino i t'ci. « , ant ' Hie, Rev. J. D. Russell (of St. Augustine 6) believe in encouraging members of the Bible Classes to tako part In S I ReteaS Ground." y ' S^ day , 0n - FORESTERS' ANNIVERSARY. .Tho twenty-third anniversary of- Court ts varans Ellington courts tfere "°n n fillo.wing" toasts': were hfth-' - ' Dis- . : BRASS BAND BAZAAR' ' ' \ _,The bazaar at ihe Petone .Drill Hall goes merrily on. Yesterday afternoon was a festive fori the ohjldren, and in the evening the under Acting-Conductor R. Hutchison, headed a torchlight procession through the streets, and later made music in. the hall.' Excellent business was done in all departments. ■