HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 596, 26 August 1909, Page 8

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

' (From Our. Special Reported) ."■■■ PETONE'S MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. , THE MAYOR IN REPLY. • The Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Etvan) by no. inean9 agrees with the viewo-expressed by Councillor 3. Piper in yesterday's r issue in reference to. the, 'peculiar .position created by the voting on the motion expressing coniicklkce in two of the council's executive officers: ; ' Speaking-' to :a . .reporter'- yesterday •morning. Mr. M'Ewah t stated I—7'lt; is -simply absurd' for Cohncillor-Piper (after having had fully a; fortnight in' which- to digest: and having before him a tablevshiwing what onesixteenth; of a .penny the JB : sn the unimproved value .would . produce) to ' say. that "it was .necessary!-for; Tiira;to-be" informed that an increase, of the rates would .be ret quired!" . Any - fourth' standard schoolboy -.would have no difficulty whether an/increase in .the, rates ' was necessary or, not.' In regard to ' the two officers concerned, I am rather pleased that Councillor .Pipef has given both Mr. Cook, and Mr. Webster a testimonial as to' ability, and .thafc "there, was practically no chargcf against them."/ ' ,:V. ■■■' - "As to 'the other questions raised, continued the Mayor, "I consider' that the council table is the proper: place to discuss .them." .' The councillor referred, to as having altered his views '■ since, the, agreement was Councillor Young. -He gives a somewhat different version of' the story. /"Councillors Colquhoun, Piper, and myself," he says, "came out of the Council Chambers one . evening,; and I said' •would have to. reduce the expenditure. Councillors Piper and Colquhoun desired' to dis- 1 penso with the/clerk,. and asked mo' if:!.- was' agreeable.. I' replied that' if wo/could. reduce the expenditure by the amount of his salary T 'would be quite willing, but >not otherwise.-,1 had 'nothing- against him. at all.-'vlfMve.were to 'call for applications - fori another'-)clerk, 'I shbiild not vote, for it, ■ because' viie ■ would ; . not benefit,' as we .already have a- good' ina.ii in :'the/present clerk; ' I was ! not, present at any jqeeliog of: councillors... .The .othijjr five held a meeting, but they were not .'how I was going to vote. I' never went to the council with any intention of. discharging the clerk."

f. THE GEAR ISLAND QUESTION. ; It is not expected that the commission set up to adjudicate on the proposed absorption of Gear Island by .the l'etone Borough will sit for 'a week or two yet. The .commissioner. (Mr. W. S. Short) has several similar cases to deal with. A , portion bf the island has "been, gazetted as :part of .the borough, along ; -with Section. 10,, as, previously stated, and it was thought that-if this was an- : error, 1 the . transfer' would be regazetted,' leaving out; the portion. of the island referred to.; Up to the present this : has " not been done. 1 This question will probably be "dealt with''by the commissioner. ■

PETONK MOWING CLUB. 'The Petone Eowing Club's eighth annual social and 1 presentation - of' prizes took '.place at the Drill Hall last night./ The''trophies, which were presented by Mr. R. 'Mothes, president of the club, were awarded as follow:— \ Trial Fours—J. Bonner (stroke),. D. S. M'Farlane (3), D. Gallaher (2), H. Inglis (bow), and J: Ryan (cox). Jiinior, Fours—J. Nuttall (stroke), D. S. MTarlane (3), S. Bland, (2), R. Wallis (bow), and B. Wilson (cox). 1 President's "Fours;-H. ' Whito . (stroke), T. Williams (3), H. Pavrant (2), R.'-Wallis (bow), and J. Ryan (cox). . ' Mothes Pairs—W. Sharon (stroke), RV~ Croft (bow), and 11., Wilson (cox).' ' . Club Pairs (Mr. 'Whitehead's; trophy)— I T. Dent (stroke), H. Inglis (bow), and H. Wilson (cox).' Double Sculls (Mr. J. W. Martin's trophy)— J. Bonner, (stroke), H. • I'nrrant (bow), and J. Ryan.(cox). .. Single Sculls (Mr. Robinson's medal)—W. Sharon. .'a .The building; was' tastefully 'decorated; and' a lengthy' programme of dances was gone through. The function was a complete success in every Way, this being owing largely to the'efforts, of the joint secretaries, Messrs. J. Canty and B. Tremain.