HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 101, 23 January 1933, Page 4

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Services run for December by the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board amounted to 49.

"Rates amounting to £53Q5/16/- in respect of the current year, and rate arrears to the value of £44(1/4/2 have been collected Io date,” reported the Upper Hutt acting-town clerk, Miss N. Courtney. to the borough council on Friday night. .... .

NEW FIRE STATION

Ceremony at Koro Koro

The new Koro Koro fire station was officially opened by the Mayor of Petone, Mr. D. McKenzie, on Saturday. Gailycoloured flags decorated the road, and the Petone Pipe Banff, under Bandmaster Roy, was in attendance. On behalf of the Koro Koro Progressive League and the fire brigade, Mr. 11. L. Fabian extended a welcome to Mr. McKenzie aud all who were present. The fire station, he said, marked another milestone in the progress of the district, which was slowly but surely getting the necessary, benefits. Apologies were read from Mr. Nash, M.r., Mr. Hilton, secretary of the Education Department, and Mr. E. F. Hollands, engineer-general manager of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board. “There is no body of men which needs assistance and sympathy more than a fire brigade,” observed Mr. McKenzie, in performing the opening ceremony. The new station, ho continued, wap an important and valuable asset to the district. Once there was a lack of essentials to the settlement. but now there was an abundance.

Speaking on behalf of the Underwriters’ Association. Mr. J. E. Quinn said he looked on any advancement of firefighting equipment as a very good thing. Tbe fire loss per head in New Zealand was .the highest in the world, and anything which tended to reduce that was to the advantage of tbe community. He congratulated the district on a remarkably fine brigade, . Superintendent J. P. Gaynor, of the Petone Fire Brigade, said that he was very pleased with the selected men. There had been a number of applicants, all of whom had been keen, and quick to grasp the essentials of fire-fighting. In the recent competitions they had actually beaten some of the older and more experienced men. The work was not altogether a labour of love, for there was plenty qf hard work attachecl, and he urged the residents to support the men in their movement.

Competitions for a trophy, presented by Superintendent Gaynor, were then held, the cup being' won by Fireman Packwood. Results of the competitions were as follow:—

Kor o Koro dr.v union event : H. Haines, 40 1-osee., 1: H. L. Fabian, 43 3-ssec., 2; B N. K. Fleet. 48 3-ssee.. 3; J. Wilson, 48 4-ssec.. 4; L. Packwood. 49 1-5 sec., 5.

One-man wet: L. Packwood. 35see.. 1; J. Wilson, 37 l-ssee., 2: B. N. K, Fleet, 41 sec.. 3; U. Haines. 45see., 4: H. L. Fabian. 47sec.. 5.

One jnan wet. Petone brigade: Martin, 26 2-ssee.; Hugties, 27 4-ssec„ 2; Horne, 29see., 3: Williams. 29 2-sscc., 4; Shardlow. b. 0.. 5.

Cup competition : L, Packwood. 36 2-5 sec.; 11. Haines. 40 3-ssec.. 2.

. HUTT PERSONALS Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Wynne Watkins. Pitoitoi Road,, Day’s Bay, have left for a fortnight’s visit to Pelotons Sound. Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Roskruge and family are spending the holidays at Eastbourne. _ Miss N. Courtney, acting-town clerk of Upper Hutt, has returned from a visit to the South Island.

RIVER BOARD CHAIRMAN

Mr. F. J. Jones Elected The first meeting of the newly-elected ‘Hutt River Board was held on Friday, when Mr. F. J. Jones was unanimously elected to the position of chairman. Thy nomination was proposed by Mr. Hodgins and seconded by Mr. Brasell. Members present were Mr. F. J. Jones. Mr. M. J. Hodgins, Mr. W. T. Strand, Mr. J. Mitchell, phd Mr. J. Brasell. Mr. Jones thanked the board for its confidence in him, and intimated that although he had not before served on a. river board, he had had a great deal of experience with rivers.

The secretary, Mr. A. J. Gearing, explained that it was the custom to cleet tbe chairman annually. On the motion of Mr. Strand, the hoard decided to make a tour of inspection of the river, accompanied by the secretary and engineer.

DANGEROUS GOODS FEES

Difficulty in Collection The difficulty of collecting the renewal fees of dangerous goods licenses was stressed by the Upper Hutt borough inspector, Sir. J. Lerwill, in his report to the.council on Friday night. The inspector stated that some holders had promisee! to obtain the necessary licenses, and others had declared, their inability to meet the charges. Where the charges could not be met, the licensed part of the business should be cancelled. The loss of revenue from the delqyeff or non-payment of fees was serjous, and was unfair to those who had met their obligations. The inspector suggested writing to the persons concerned, giving them 14 days to pay, failing which legal proceedings be taken for the recovery of the fees and for an order of the court restraining them from continuing business until, the charges were met.

The inspector’s proposal was approved by the council.