HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) ■ «► HUTT I'IRE BRIGADE. Tlie Lower llutt Fire Brigade, held its monthly meeting last night, Captain Slinn being i» the cluvir. ■SI. John Ambulance Association, wriliiifj in reply lo a communication, pointed out that holders ol iir.-t year's certificates might sit for re-e.xnmination J'or the second and third year without attending tlie usual course of instruction. Air. Babington, proprietor ol' the Crown Pictures, stated that, owing to a letter goin" astray, he was not able to accept Ihe brigade's offer to turn nut with their band 011 the night of the Hcpple Benefit Fund performance. Foreman Greig was granted further leave of absence for three months. In answer to a question, ,tho United Fire Brigades' Association stated that it was not compulsory for owners of public, buildings to employ firemen to stand by at entertainments, etc., but, as a rule, owners were only too ready to avail themselves of tho firemen's services. In any case the Fire Inspector had power to compel owners to take such precautions against tiro as he deemed necessary. Members were somewhat indignant' at the request of the Borough Council to send a representative to meet the Works Committee for inspecting public buildings in the Hntt. One member said that -when the brigade asked to bo allowed to accompany Inspector _ Hugo on his recent inspection permission had been refused, and now that the council saw the position they wished members to go with them. Another member said that they (tho brigade) had been called panicmongers, but now they could be called nothing but heroes, as the inspector's report was in accord with the brigade's statements. Eventually it was resolved that Captain Slinn and the secretary (Mr. Baldwin) be deputed to act as the brigade's representatives. Inspector Hugo's report, on being read, was received with loud applause, Captain .Slinn remarking that it was most gratifying that their own statements had been upheld. "OUR MORM&N CO-WORKERS." Speaking at the Ministers' Association on Maori Missions the other day, the Rev. A. J. Sfamer, of Petone, said"Tho Mormons hold some absurd superstitions, and often talk nonsense, but they do not greatly surpass certain other missionaries in these respects. They do not encourage polygamy, nor (save indirectly) do they encourage immigration to Salt Lake City. Their superstitions aro harmless, and their ethical teaching often reaches a high Christian level. They teach total abstinence fro;n alcoholic beverage*, . tobacco, and other harmful drugs, and I wish all other missionaries would emulate them in this for many of the Maoris are smoking their wits away, and hundreds annually'are filling drunkards' graves. The churches that, in the last .quarter of tho nineteenth century, had a .Maori mission policy of conccntrated "taihoa." and even to-day are criminally apathetic, might well !«irn something of Christian missionary spirit' and selfsacrifice froni the Latter Day Saints, and. copy them in sending out into this needy field the cream of the young manhood of the Church. We have heard too much "dog-ioi-the-maneer" talk. The' Maori i 9 destined to wiefd an influence 011 the social future of our nation. There is grave danger unless the tone of Maori social life can be rapidly raised. I lift my hat to our Mormon co-workers."