HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 74, 20 December 1932, Page 16

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Support to a protest from the Petoue Borough Council against the proposed legislation which made the amalgamation of boroughs compulsory if such were recommended by a commission, was given by the Eastbourne Borough Council last night. Anticipation that the water reticulation of the borough would be finished before the close of the present year was expressed by the Eastbourne town clerk at the council meeting last night. “Last Sunday we used 72,000 gallons, and the difference in residents’ gardens can be noticed already,” observed the Mayor, Mr. S. F. Fisher. Christmas festivities were celebrated by about 800 children of employees at the Hutt Railway Workshops on Saturday afternoon. The entertainment was sponsored by subscriptions by the men during the year, and the Railway Department provided free transport from Wellington for the children. A magic cave found great favour, and each child received gifts of apples, toys and sweets from Father Christmas.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Girls’ Club Entertains A happy Christmas party took place in Wesley Hall, Lower Hutt, on Saturday evening, when the Kia Kiwi Girls’ Club entertained tbe parents and grandparents of the church. There was a large attendance. Miss P. Martin .sang during the evening. and Miss Martin also sang a duet with Mrs. R. Aldersley. Games were played, after which the lights were turned low, and Father Christmas appeared on the stage, and selected a gift from the festive-looking Christmas tree for each guest. A pleasing ceremony then took place, when Mr. Bert Smith, for many years a Bible class leader, was presented with an upholstered chair. Mr. L. Phillips, in making the presentation, tendered to Mr. Smith, who is shortly to be married, the best wishes of his fellow-teachers and the members of his class. The Rev. H. Sharp also expressed deep appreciation of Mr. Smith’s devoted service. Mr. Smith, in reply, thanked the speakers for their good wishes, and said that the chair would be among his most valued possessions. An appetising supper was dispensed, Mrs. Attwood cutting the Christmas cake. The singing of “Auld Lang Sync” brought the evening to a close.

TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Interclub Results 'The positions of the teams in the Hutt Valley interclub tennis tournament are as follow Senior: Upper Hutt, 4; Petoue, 4; Taita, 2; Lower Hutt, 2; Hutt Bowling, 0; Muritai, 0. Junior south: St. James. 4 ; Muritai, 4 ; Petone, 3; St. Augustine's, 2; Central, 0; St. Stephen’s, 0. Junior north: Trentham, 3 ; Hutt Bowling/ 2; Waiwetu, 2; Upper Hutt, 2; Lower Hutt, 2; Eastern, 1. Third south: Koro Koro, 4; Pononga, 2; Central, 2; St. Augustine’s, 2; Petone West, 2 ; Wilford. 0. Third north: Waiwetu, 4; Western 4; Lower Hutt, 2; Eastern, 2; Epuni, 0; Trentham, 0. Fourth south: Central, 4; St. James, 2; St, Stephen’s, 2; Petone West, 2; Wilford, 2; St. Augustine's, 0. Fourth north: Upper Hutt,'4; Taita, 2; Western, 2; Methodist, 2; Knox, 2; St. Paul’s, 0. Fifth south: Koro Koro, 4; Wilford, 4; St. Augustine’s, 2 ; Pononga, 2; Central, 0; St. Paul's, 0. Fifth north: Waiwetu, 4; Knox, 4; Epuni. 2; Eastern, 2 ; 'Western, 0; Methodist, 0. The club championship is as follows: — Waiwetu, 10 points; Upper Hutt, 10; Taita, 8; Koro Koro, 8: Eastern, 7; Knox. 6; Lower Hutt, 6; St. James’s, 6; Western. 6; St. Augustine’s, 6; Central, 6; Petone, 6: Wilford, 6; Pononga, 4; Muritai. 4; Petone West, 4; Trentham, 3; Methodist. 2; Iltitt Bowling, 2; St. Stephen's, 2; Epuni, 2; St. Paul’s, 0.

“THE MESSIAH” BY CHOIR

Performance by Methodists Handel's oratorio “The Messiah” was given by the Lower Hutt Methodist Choir at the Methodist Church on Sunday evening. The augmented choir was under the baton of Mr. Ernest Dawson, with Mr. R, Horman at the organ, and Mr. Leon de Mauny led the orchestra. The soloists' were: Mrs. AA’. G. Schmidt, soprano: Mrs. AVilfred Andrews, contralto; Mr. C. A. Williams, tenor; and Mr. R. R. Orr, baritone. The choir was fortunate in having the support of such experienced instrumentalists, but, numerically, they were scarcely equal to the demand of the greater choruses. Mr. Orr sang splendidly and was outstanding in his interpretation of the bass solos in the half of the oratorio. Mrs. Schmidt, who possesses, a soprano voice of exceptional vitality, was in excellent form, particularly in “I Know That My Redeemer’Liveth.” which is a severe test. Mrs. Andrews, whose rich contralto voice is so well suited to oratorio work, was appealing in “He Shall Feed His Flock,’’ and Mr. Ayilliams, whose sympathetictenor voice is always pleasing, interpreted the tenor solos in a satisfying manner. The opening choruses, “And the Glory of the Lord” and “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion,” were well sung by the choir, but in “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” the basses and tenors were scarcely equal to sustaining their part. The choir entered well into the spirit of the last triumphant choruses, “Lift Up Your Heads” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.” ■ '

SUNDAY SCHOOL PARTY

A pleasant Christmas party took place in St. James’s Hall on Saturday afternoon. when mothers and the kindergarten pupils spent a delightful afternoon, which was sui>ervised by Mrs. Hansell and her helpers. The children played games, and sang Christmas carols. The Ven. Archdeacon A. L. Hansell presented prizes to the winners, and each child was presented by Father Christmas with a gift from the Christmas tree. A festive-looking tea was much appreciated by the participants.

MOTHERS’ UNION MEETS

Taking the form of a farewell to Mrs. Graham Carlyle, who is leaving the district to take up nursing at the Masterton Hospital, the final meeting for the year of the Fastbourne branch of the Mothers’ Union was held recently. There was a large attendance of members. On behalf of the branch, Mrs. AA T . Raine presented Mrs. Carlyle with a handbag and n colourful bouquet, which was made by Miss Stace. of Muritai. Mrs. Carlyle thanked tbe members for tbe gift, and expressed the hope that she would soon return to Eastbourne. During the afternoon the following items were given:—Solos. Afesdamcs Greenwood and AA’ilkinson. accompanied by-Mrs. Reesby.; humorous sketch, Mrs, Carte and the Misses Carte and MacCrae: duets. Mrs. Les. Foley and Miss Audrey Bowie, accompanied hr Airs. Carte: humorous recitations, Mrs. Carte and Afiss Naismith.

MONEY FOR WORKLESS

Silverstream Allocation COUNCIL HEADS PROTEST Following a resolution passed by the Upper Hutt Borough Council, the act-ing-town clerk has written to tbe Minister of Employment, protesting against the inadequacy of the allocation of unemployment money beyond the Silverstream bridge. In the letter the town clerk points out that the council is of opinion that as a result of the decreases in the allocations made since the first week in November, it is practically impossible for many nieh and their families to carry on. The council urges that the allocation be revised immediately to permit the local unemployment committee to grant a relief payment of 37/6 a week to married men with one or two children, and 50/- a week to married men with three or more children for the three weeks during which relief is claimable out of tbe fourweekly period. Explaining the position to "The Dominion,” the mayor, Mr. A. J. McCurdy, said that for the week ended October 3 the allocation of £3SO was made for 230 men. in addition to which there were 55 men standing down For that week £379/17/- was required. For the current week ending December 17 there are 226 men to be provided for in addition to the 62 men standing down. The allocation was £294/16/-. and £362/10/6 was required, leaving the men £67/14/6 short. Tbe result was that the single men were reduced by 5/6. the married men with one or two children by 7/6, and the married men with three or more children by 10/-. “The outlook for the weeks ending December 24. December 31, aud January 7, is anything but bright for the relief workers in the district," remarked Mr. McCurdy. “The allocations for these periods have been fixed at £293 3/- a week, which involves possible cuts equal to those obtaining this week and the two previous weeks-” O'lie borough offices will reopen on January 4, and relief pay for that week will be made as usual. For the week ending December 31 the payment will probably lie made ou December 23 or December 24.

BUILDING INCREASES

' Eastbourne Borough Figures Substantial increases are shown in the number and value of building permits issued by the Eastbourne Borough Council during November as compared witli the previous month. During November 14 permits to the total value of £3237 wereissued, and the fees amounted to £B/15/-. “The returns clearly indicate that Eastbourne is going to forge ahead very quickly,” remarked the mayor, Mr. S. F. Fisher. “The water and drainage will be to the advantage of the borough, and not to its detriment as some people assert. ’

MAHINA BAY WATER

Position of Residents The position of residents of Mahina Bay in regard to the recently-reticulated water supjfly was outlined by the Eastbourne Borough Council last night, following a letter from the district public trustee asking whether the council proposed to connect such houses to the supply. The mayor, Mr. S. F. Fisher, said that some time ago the council sent a letter to the Hutt County Council setting out the position, but no reply had been received. In view of this he thought that the district public trustee’s letter should be passed on to the Hutt County Council. Cr. A. AValker was of the opinion that the Eastbourne council did not have the power to connect up any resident in the Hutt county. The mayor considered that the new reticulation would gfive Day’s Bay residents a better supply than they wore getting at present. On the motion of Cr. E. AA’. Wise, the council decidetl to refer the district public trustee to the Hutt County Council, informing him that the council had communicated with the Hutt County Council six months ago and had received no reply.

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH

Council Holds Meeting The Eastbourne Borough Council met last night, the mayor, Air, S. F. Fisher, presiding. There were present Crs. Al. Magill, J. F. Rockstrow, E. N. Battersby, A. Walker, AV. F. Hornig, E. AV. AA’ise, and C. A. Rendle. Support was given to a request from the Kaiapoi Borough Council that the Government be asked to effect a compulsory reduction in the bank interest rate. Cr. Battersby thought, that the matter referred only'to overdraft rates.; The secretary of the G.P.O. advised that a stamp-vending machine would be installed in the Eastbourne Post Office as desired. The AVellington Free Ambulance was granted permission to hold a street day at Eastbourne.