HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 308, 23 September 1932, Page 3

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

“Rates amounting to £BlO/3/5 out of the £10,500 levied have been collected up to August 31, leaving £9659/16/7 outstanding,” reported the Eastbourne town clerk last evening. The work of laying another coating on the bitumen on the Petone Esplanade is proceeding rapidly. Yesterday a number of men and a grader were engaged in coating the surface of the road with a special mixture. The repainting of the centre white line ou the Lower Hutt traffic bridge has been completed, and the line now presents a clear division of the road. Staged with full sound effects, R. C. Sheriff’s play, “Journey’s End,” vyas read by . the Lower Hutt “Garrick Players” on Tuesday evening. The cast comprised Messrs. E. Muir, C. Muir, G. D. Feist, H. 11. Babingtou, F. N. Hastings, N. T. Gillespie, A. R. Grimwood, Colbert, Vinsen and Leggett. The players are at present rehearsing oneact plays for their next production. GAS RETICULATION Proposal for Eastbourne With the object of ascertaining whether Eastbourne residents desire the installation of gas, the council is sending out circulars asking residents to give their opinions. and to indicate the type of gas appliances that would be used should they decide to take the gas. The information would be given on the understanding that no liability would be incurred. In the circular the council mentions that it is negotiating with the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Board with a view to arranging for the board to extend ns reticulation to the borough, thus making available to Eastbourne residents similar gas facilities to those enjoyed in the Hutt Valley for the same prices. The circular mentions that it is desirable to reticulate the borough for gas at the same time .as the water and drainage trenching operations are taking place. LATE OR EARLY? Departure of Ferry Allegations made at the Eastbourne Borough Council meeting last evening that the 8.5 a.m. ferry from Rona Bay had left behind time for many years past led to a discussion on the method of regulating the departure. Councillors pointed out that on occasions when the boat had left early, intending passengers had been left on the wharf. This was hardly fair to them, but on the other hand it was not fair to delay the boat, as its late arrival might be the cause of other passengers losing their employment. Councillor C. A. Reudle said that passengers could not rely on the masters watches, which were subject to variation. He suggested that the council install a clock on the wharf. “It would not remain there five .minutes,” remarked the mayor, Mr. S. F. Fisher. "Even if it did, people would be for ever altering it.” Councillor Rendle thought that all users of the boat could sot their watches by the clock. The matter was left in the bands ot the town clerk. REVIEW OF YEAR’S WORK Hutt Missionary Auxiliary There was a large attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Lower Hutt Missionary Auxiliary held recently. The opening devotional service, was led by the president, Mrs. Ballantyne. The annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The report mentioned that the attendance at meetings had been well maintained, and some interesting talks had been given during the year. It was proposed to aim at the definite financial objective of £5O in the coming year. Appreciation was voiced of the work of the secretary, Miss Enid Saunders, and a special vote.of thanks was passed. Thanks were also expressed to the treasurer, Mrs. C. A. Russell; tea convener, Mrs. Robinson; depot manager, Mrs. W. E. Saunders; and other ' officers. Arrangements were made to hold a combined social evening shortly. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mrs. Ballantyne ; vice-presidents, Mesdames Sharp, Garlick, Mount, Josephs, and W. Johnston; secretary, Miss Enid Saunders; treasurer. Mrs. C. A. Russell; secretary for box and card circle, Mrs. Jensen; secretary for penny-a-week fund, Mrs. Fothergill; tea convener. Mrs. Robinson ; depot manager, Mrs. Ray Smith ; Y.P. representative, Mrs. C. R. Russell; representative to leaders’ and quarterly meetings of the church. Miss Enid Saunders; executive committee, Mesdames W. Johnston, Hall and Crawford.

MORE FIND WORK Employment for Pupils HUTT POSITION EASIER “During the year 35 boys and 19 girls left to take up positions, as against 15 boys and 14 girls for the corresponding period last year,” reported the headmaster of the Hutt Valley High School, Mr. H. P. Kidson, to the Board of Governors last night. Detailing his report, Mr. Kidson said that offices had absorbed 15 boys and 3 girls; shops, 2 boys and 2 girls; farming, 7 boys; home, 1 boy and 7 girls; trades and factory, 7 boys and 1 girl; university, 3 boys and 1 girl; domestic, 1 girl; dressmaking and millinery, 4 girls. The figures exclude those whose parents left tlie district. Employers Doing Best. “This is an indication not only that employers are doiug their best to help the situation, but also that there is a definite advance of confidence in the business community,” continued Mr. Kidson. “The position has eased as far as this school is concerned, and the number of old pupils who are unemployed is very small. Included in the above figures are six boys who are -being assisted by local bodies and others until they can fiud permanent employment. The boys concerned are getting valuable experience. “With the exception of accountancy, the so-called professions are, for the time being, closed. My chief, regret here is that some excellent material that would Have gone into the leaching profession and into the Public Service has been diverted to work that is not of such value to the community. A Salutary Lesson. “There is not the least doubt that in the trades and industries more boys could find work if. the apprenticeship regulations were revised or their application made less stringent,” went on Mr. Kidson. “One clear result of the slump is that boys and girls will have to be content with a lower beginning wage. This will do no great harm provided there is a good wage obtainable in the future. “The effect of the difficulty of obtaining employment is in many ways salutary to the pupils of the school. They are far more serious over their work and far less casual in every way. Although we hope the depression will soon end, we hope that some .of its lessons will not be lost.” TENNIS DANCE Social at Petone Given by the Misses M. and J. and 11. E. Collie, in the club pavilion, the Petone Central Tennis Club's dance proved an unqualified success. The proceeds are to help defray the cost of the two new hard courts. More than 100 guests attended. Many nbvelty danfes were staged, including Monte Carlos, spot dances, and statue dances, all the winners receiving appropriate prizes. During the evening little Miss Joyce Webster gave an impression of a servant girl practising to become an actress, and on being encored, gave an, elocutionary item entitled “I Hate Boys.” Those present included the president of the Central Bowling Club. Mr. G. J. Campbell, and Mrs. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. C. Neilsen, Mr. and Mrs. R. Dawson (Lower Hutt), Mr. and Mrs. Roy Clark, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Shand, Mr. and Mrs. E. Pratt (Wellington). Mr. and Mrs. B. F. B. Webster (Lower Hutt), Mr. and Mrs. Nesbit, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Weeber, Mesdames Steedman, McKinnon, Potter, Misses Cargill, Caley, Rossborough, Baker, Horniblow, Knight, Watson, Findlay (2), Nicholls, Lowry, McFarlane, Edwards, Rowberry, Betty Collie, H.lda and Joyce Webster, Finch, McDonald. Neilsen, Weeber, Messrs. Lindop, Hoskins, Olds, McFarlane. Edwards, Broad, Smith, Finlay, Fry, McLean, Wyllie, Leyland, Hardy, Dunderdale, Creswell, Wilkins, Senior, Watson, Cummings, Watt, 11. Collie. EASTBOURNE BOROUGH Meeting of Council The Eastbourne Borough Council held its regular meeting last evening, the mayor, Mr. S. F. Fisher, presiding. There were present: Councillors J. Rockstrow, E. N. Battersby, Margaret Magill, A. Varney. W. F. Hornig. A. Walker, O. A. Rendle, and E. W. Wise. The Municipal Association advised that the conference of delegates would be held in Rotorua next March. Appreciation for the council s granting the use of a shed was received from the Eastbourne Life-saving Club. ■ The mayor was appointed to represent the council at a conference in reference to the allocation of heavy traffic fees. The chief engineer reported that for the month’s running of 31 round trips by the s.s. Muritai, 18.5 tons of fuel oil was burned, the average consumption petround trip being .596 tons. The ..s. Cobar ran 140 round trips during the month, burning 60 tons of coal, and an average consumption per trip ot .-iDuring August the Eastbourne buses did 441 trips to town, including the replacement of boat trips, giving a total mileage of 15,393 miles. The amount of benzine used was 1768 gallons, which gave an average of 8.7 over the whole fleet.