HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2458, 11 May 1915, Page 7

HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL

1 The first meeting of the newly-elected Hutt Borough Council was held last evening, there being present: The Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin), and Councillors Hodgins, Meldrum, Carver, Brassell, Clendon, M'Dougall, Ball, Hobbs, and Purdy. With respect to somo applications from the council's labouring staff, for an increase of wages, it wai decided to hold the matter over till next meeting, the clerk in the meanlimo to furnish a copy of the wages sheet to the new councillors. A ratepayor asked for a refund of a 10 por cent, penalty on but the council, after discussion, decided ihat it oould not depart from the course laid down which enforced 10 per cent, on ovordue rates. The Rev. Dean Lane asked permission to erect a temporary shelter shed for boys on a ctrtain section. It was pointed out by the Mayor that the site mentioned was within the brick area, and unless it were erected outside, it would be contrary to the by-laws. After somo discussion, it was agreed to grant permission, on the understanding that the building was u<ed for 110 otner purpose than a shelter-shed for boys. The Devonport Borough Council forwarded a copy of a resolution passed asking the Government to remove restrictions governing the fishing tryTho Mayor stated that a suggestion had been made by the Mayor of Petoiie (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) that two delegates should be appointed from the ,Hutt, Petono, and Hutt County Councils, and the Hutt River Board, to wait on the Government in respect to land owned in the above ureas, from which 110 rates were recoverable. In answer to Councillor. Ball the Mayor said that tlho Hutt "Borough was losing about £800 per year in rates by these means, and lie considered that the request from Petonc should bo supported. The Mayor and Councillor Hodgins were appointed to represent Lower Hutt on the deputation. Tho engineer was instructed to report on the most suitable site on the recreation ground for a swimming bath. A committee consisting of the Mayor and Councillors Ball, Clendon, , Hobbs, and Brassell was set up to go into the question of the erection of a Towu Hall. The bank balance was reported as follows:—District !fund account, dr., £1456 15s. 9d.; temporary loans, dr., £8021; interest account, dr., £142 Is. lid. Total, £9619 17s. Bd. The engineer's report was submitted showing the work done' since tho last meeting. The expenditure for the fortnight ending May 1 was: District fund account, £182 18s. Bd.; gas account, £12 Bs. Bd.; total, £195 6s. lOd. The following committees were set up:—Works and Finance: Councillors M'Dougall, Clendon, Hodgins, Hobbs, Ball, and Brassell. Library: Councillors Clendon, Purdy, M'Dougall, Carver. Hutt Park: Councillor Hobbs, Hodgins, and Brassell. . Technical School: Councillors Hobbs and Meldrum. Recreation Grounds: Councillors Ball, Clendon, Hobbs, Meldrum, and Brassell. Fire Brigade: Councillors Clendon, Meldrum, and Carver. The Queen of the Belgians has been very devoted to the wounded soldiers since the present tragic war began. She transformed the Royal Palace at Brussels into a hospital, and at Antwerp she was both day and night by the bedsido of the wounded, only leaving her patients for a few days to take her children to England, so that they might be fairly safe from the bombs dropped from the Zeppelins. It is a strange coincidence tnat these dirigibles should bo constructed on the borders of Lake Constance, in the locality where Queen Elizabeth in her girlhood days, as a Bavarian Princess, spent many a gladsome hour. The Queen was at the retreatfrom Antwerp. She was at the terrible battle of the Yaer, and Bhe has known all the hardships of the past winter, as she has been constantly by her husband's side. Her Majesty continues to devote herself to the wounded, and has sent many comforts to the soldiers in the trenches. The men naturally love their "little Queen," so frail, so delicate, yet so full of kindness and energy. On St. Patrick's Day,, thousands of women sold shamrocks in the streets of London in support of a scheme devised by ;he Countess of Limerick to provide free refreshments for troops at railway stations. The Queen sent a message of sympathy, and among the sellers were Lady Jellicoe and the famous French actress, Mdme. Rejane. This year Queen Alexandra sont her usual' gift of shamrocks to the Irish Guards, but it- was dispatched to the front instead of being distributed as usual at their barracks in London.