HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1223, 4 September 1911, Page 6

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS

(From Our Scecial Correspondent.! 9 Sates in connection with the Hutt Valley Tramway Board have not' been coming iu quito freely. The secretary, Mr. AA 7 . S. Cooper, says that in some instances people have called the Tramway Board "thieves and robbers," whilst most ratepayers aro paying under protest. A personal canvass for collection, was made at Petone, and in consequence only about 21 were sued. In Lower Hutt, however, by tho board's authority there was no canvass made and 191 summonses have been issued which makes a total of 215. For the last two performances tho Petono District High School concert was largely attended. The gross proceeds amounted to .£65, which with the .£ for ,£ subsidy from tho Education Board will place the committee in a sound financial position. Tho pupils of tho High School, Hutt, gavo a very successful entertainment in Knox Schoolroom on Friday. "Beauty and tho Beast" was the subject selected. The parts were taken by Misses E. Corrick, D. Harnett, A. Ziman, L. Brasell, N. Bell, J. Seed, I. M'Caw, A. Gibbons, A. M'Lean, and E. M'Curdy. Tho object was to raise funds to furnish the walls of tho new schoolroom. The sum of .£5 was taken. The No-License party held the first of their open-air meetings in Petono on the vacant section at the corner of A'ictoria and Jackson Streets on Saturday night. The speaker of the evening failed to turn up and the Rev. A. J. Seamer stepped into the breach. There was an interested audience and some lively passages-at-arms took place during Mr. Seamer's address. He commenced by saying that all nations that were to justify their existence must make social progress. It was even moro important than commercial progress. Ho was of opinion that a step in this direction would be taken when the liquor bars were closed. The Creator's purpose "was that they should endeavour to lift men upwards and onwards to a better life." (Voice: "Why don't you help the race onwards instead of standing thero preaching?") Mr. Seamer: "I cannot hear you saying anything to tho point, or else I would answer you." Interjcctor: "It suits him .to stand thero because he is representing his party." Another voice: "Oh, yes; you get your a week for doing this." Mr. Seamer: "I don't know what party you represent; I should not' think they aro very proud of you." Continuing Mr. Seamer said that they wero not out with tho object of indulging in personalities, but to put ui> a fair fight, and ho hoped that neither sido would hit below the belt. Ono of the interjectors, on Mr. Seamer's invitation, hero took the platform and mado a few remarks, the only intelligible ono being that it was a shamo to take a man's beer from him when ho had earned the money to pay. for it. Mr. Seamer, iu reply, said that they must be prepared to make sacrifices in order to assist the progress and development of social and civic life. If they would study the matter without prejudice they would find that commerce was assisted, the moral tone of the community raised and the physdquo of our young manhood improved by tho absenco of tho open bars. In a few years, when they had swept the liquor traffic out of th'o country, though they would not have ushered in an Arcadia, they would have taken ono of the greatest steps this country had ever taken in the march of progress.