HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 545, 28 June 1909, Page 3

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

IFBOM ODB BPECUL nEI'OIISKB.i THE FATE OF CEAR ISLAND. It should not be long now before a decision should bo arrived at as to whether or not . Geur Islund is to bo included; in the Potone Borough.- Potone wonts it,' Hutt. wants it, and, therefore the constitutional method of settling the matter has been resorted to. Under Subsection C, of Section 118 of tho Municipal Corporations Act, tho Governor-in-Council may appoint a commission relating to' the inclusion of any'"portion of a county in a borough. That step has been taken, and Mr. \V. S. Shortrof the Lands Department, has been appointed a commissioner to make'the inquiry.' The procedure is. as; .follows:—The commissioner has the power of a Magistrate in respect to tho citing of V the ; parties interested, calling witnesses, administering the oaths, hearing evidence, etc. Every witness:is entitled to travelling expenses." The commissioner may determine the wholes or any portion of the costs of the inquiry shall be paid by any of the parties, or by any persons ■i? . P rocß .rod tho inquiry. Mr. Short' will probably view the ground before hearing evidenco, and he will fix'-'a time for the openmg' sittings. V . /.Speaking to a reporter on the question, the Mayor of Petono (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) said: Section 10 has been conceded to us, bnt we want Scction 9, generally known as ' The forfficr section consists : of about, 100 acres this side of Gear Island, the. Gear 1 , Meat Company's manure works are erected. In the vicinity, there are-a considerable number'of dwellinghouses. . J/he land is contiguous to Gear Island, includes the l>c<3 of the river, and touches the island,, thus making sections y, and 10 one continuous area; This contiguity may give us a 'leg-in;'i' J PETONE RATES. Borough Council. is in the enviable posjtoan of having -no rates outstand?Jcn 6 owing by Natives was about .some,difficulty was experienced in its collection, but it was eventually done. The 1 figures, are. &s. follow:-r-General?rate, £5379 ■es. ls/j/sanitary'mte,' iE1076 Is." 3d.: sDeeial dramage rate, ,£602 19s: 10d.; interest rate on street, improvement loan, £481 19s. lOd • ratos, £1351 6s. lOd.; total, being tho Moint-ooliretablo and collected, £8891 12s. lOd;. In no. case wan litigation resorted to. JOTTINGS. ■ ,:'Now<that tho Hutt pipe,; and traffic bridge « ,well -under way,', tto question of tho approaches ; from both' sides •of I the river will have to .bo .considered. .■, Tho. Potone Borough I Council has to spend about £3000 to form the approacti from' the Jackson street, to the/foot .of the bridge, quite "outside of its contribution to tho structure itself, but .tie cost ; of- the eastern approach will, require attention. ,That phase of .the question ' will-to-night's,meeting, of the oounciL Tie rates and estimates for the-year will probably be decided' by the'-Potone Borough Council to-night. :. \Conflideration of the gas 'agreement. with Petone and the reports of Messrs Meason and Marcbant' on-the adminisjration of the engineering..; department; are'.among thebusiness ,to.cpme, before the Lower Hutt. Borough' Cpuccil to-night. < ... ' . 4 •A meeting of the. .Hutt . Valley , Tramway .Boaro will be held on Thursday , night at Petone i to' further, consider the report of the consulting engineer,: Mr. H; S.'.King: ■. : ."That a Recreation and. Reserves-Commit-tee be formed"'will be .moved bv Councillor Trueman at;.the;mee.ting of -the Potone'Boroughs Counoil this, evening. ~TKe election of .the,Potone .'West School Committee .takes place on Wednesday evening.-. It is expected that there will be a good deal 6i, competition for the nine seats. , ! The Bible-inrsciook question has beon raised in oonnection with tho election. . . Artillery Efficiency i Shield, which 1 , is "competed, for by all the Garrison " Artillery Volunteers in New Zealand, will bo pre: sented to tho Petone-Navals by Colonel' ■ Bauchop at the Petono Drill Hall' on Tu<sday night. .■ • ..•