HUTT VALLEY BOROUGHS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2683, 1 February 1916, Page 3

HUTT VALLEY BOROUGHS

PETONE COUNCIL MEETING. There wcro present at last evening's meeting of the I'ctonc Borough Council, the Mayoy (Sir. J. W. M'F.wan), and Councillors List, Cox, Forsyth, Brocldebank, Anderson, M'Dougall, M'Kenzio, Jones, and Trueman. Favourable replies in respcct to the council's resolution regarding the War Pensions Act have been rocoivcd from the following councils: —A waters County, Pcatlievston County, Lake County, Southland County and Whangamomoiia County. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., acknowledged receipt of copy of letter to Prime Minister with respect to nensioiis, and stated that lie would do l.is best to further the matter. Applications for renewal of public hall licenses were granted to the I'resbyterian and Baptist Churches, and tho Palace Theatre. Major Corrigan thanked tho ctiuicil for assistance given in regard to recruiting, and stated that certain help as indicated by Councillor Anderson, of the National Reserve, would be if tho greatest service. Tho Government Workshops' Fire Brigade were granted permission to erect a competition platform in Nevis Street, subject to the requirements of the engineer being complied with. Mr. J. C. Peacock, acting on behalf of J. Chittenden, claimed £10 damages, for removal of sand from Bolton Street, and stated that unless the c?nini were- settled within 14 <lays,-p*. oceedings would be taken. It was decided to reply stating the facts of tho case, and to disclaim any liability.

The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs intimated that the additional numerals, 751 to 2000, had been allotted to Petone in connection wall the registration of motors.

The General Manager of New Zealand Railways stated, in reply to a lettor from the council, that the alterations to the train service on race days are of a minor character and were instituted to prevent inconvenience to passengers both for tho suburbs and the races. It was pointed ont that whenever exceptionally large traffic has to he dealt with, it is inevitable that tho train arrangements should be _ made on lines to suit the great majority or passengers, but in. making arrangements for tho race traffic, dne regard is paid to tho requirements of tho ordinary travelling public. Another reply from tho same quarter advised that usually one minute was allowed for trains to stop at petone, which, is considered ample for ordinary purposes. No instance was known of a passenger being over-carried or left 'befiind, and it was not in the interests of the travelling public to waste time at stations unnecessarily. It was resolved to reply to the effect that tho council regrets that Mr. Hiley is not conversant with tho facts of the case, and it is prepared to substantiate its statements with regard to passengers being overcarried andjleft behind; and also as to the ticket-box not being opened at the requisite time for the sale of tickets.

HUTT BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tho fortnightly meeting of the Lower Qut'b Borough Council was held last evening, when there were presentThe Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin), and Councillors Meldrum, Hodgins, Carver, Brassel, Clendon, M'Dougall, Ball, Eobbs, and Heron. t The Mayor extended a welcome to Mr. Ales. G. Heron (who was elccted to the vacancy caused by tho resignation of Dr. l'urdy). „ It was decided _to advise Mr. .L. Foster, who applied for water and gas services on Section 3, Hume ( Stieet, and also to Mr. C. H. Edwards, who made a similar request, to the efrect that the matter would be_ considered by tho council when the estimates were being framed. ' Several - residents . drew attention to what was described in' a petition as tho disgraceful state of the road and footpaths, from Orr's Lan'c to tho top of Pretoria Street, and asked that attention he given to the' matter. After some deliberation, it was agreed to inform the signatories that the matter would bo considered when tho ostimates were being framed. Tho Agricultural Department pointed out that the noxious weed (ragwort) in the borough would be brought under tho notice of the local fields inspector. Councillor Ball stated that_ tho only, successful way to combat this weed was to uproot and bum it entirely. Ho movcvl I That the Department be written to, calling attention to the fact that no. provision was being made to get rid of ragwort after it had been uprooted. Tliis was agreed to. Councillor Ball reported that, as the council's delegate in respect to the half-holiday for tho combined districts of Hutt 1 and Petone, ho had met the Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), and they had decided (according to instructions) to fix Saturday as the day for closing. The engineer's report stated that' the total cost of tarring the footpaths in Brunswick Street, Camp. Road, and Rata Street had been £61" 17s. 9d. At the pumping station tlie _'"'A" engine had been got into commission again. Two permits had been issued under the Drainage and Sanitary By-laws, making the total to date 011. The expenditure for the fortnight ended January 22 had been as follows: —District Fund account, £163 os. Id.; gas account, £10 4s. 6d.; total, £173 4s. 7d.