HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 262, 1 August 1933, Page 4

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

District Notes ot Current Interest

(Special to The Dominion.)

Niue hundred demands for the current year’s rates have been issued by the Eastbourne Borough Council, and the total amount involved is £10,600. A discount of 4 per cent, is allowed if the rates are paid within thirty days oi demand.

The mayor, Mr. D. McKenzie, presided over the regular meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening, and there were present Crs. V. A. Noble, W. 11. Edwards, ,1. Cumming, A. Scholefield. E. N. Campbell, ,1. C. Burns. G. London, and R. W. Toomatb.

Cr. V. A. Noble was appointed by the Perone Borough Council hist evening as its representative to vote on the election of the local bodies’ representative to the Board of Managers of the Petone Memorial Technical College.

The mayor, Mr. D. McKenzie, was appointed by the Petone Borough Council last evening to attend a conference of local body representatives to consider the apportionment of the maintenance costs of the Hutt pipe bridge.

Shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Petone Eire Brigade received a call to a house owned and occupied by Mr. T. Woodward, at 61 Adelaide Street. The fire started in a shed abutting the house, and witli the exception of the charring of the eaves of the house little damage was done. APPROACH TO PETONE Beautification Scheme Pointing out that.visitors found difficulty in identifying the approach to Petone, a resident wrote to the Petone Borough Council last evening suggesting that a garden plot be constructed in front of the railway station. “The first impression of Petone is not very edifying,” remarked Cr. A. Scholefield. Personally, he said, he would favour an extensive scheme if the finance were available. When better times returned be hoped something would be done to commemorate the memory of the Ifite Mr. R. C. Kirk, who had done so much for Petone, but the scheme could not be undertaken in the present- circumstances. “When the slump is over the section will be built on,” observed Cr. J. C. Burns, • “The council certainly cannot do it now,” said the mayor, “but probably the Beautifying Society could give it attention.” It was decided to refer the question to the society. MINIATURE RIFLES Club Entertains Council The second series of friendly shoots between the Petone Central Miniature Rifle Club and the mayor, councillors, and executive officers of the Petone Borough Council took place recently in. the club’s range at Petone. The president, Mr. A. E. Ffrost, welcomed the guests of the evening, and expressed pleasure at once again having the representatives of the borough to spend the evening with them, and hoped the shooting would reach as high a standard as it did on the previous occasion. The guests entered into the proceedings with much enthusiasm, and as the evening progressed the interest increased. The company was divided into two teams, one being captained by Cr. A. Scholefield (the council’s last year champion), and the other team by ,Mr. W. B. Gough, borough inspector. Although some of the councillors had not handled a rifle since the last shoot with the club, the marksmanship was of a very high standard. The result of the rifle shooting was a win for Cr. Scholefield’s team with a total of 531 points, against that of Mr. Gough’s team of 523, which indicated that the .teams picked for the match were fairly evenly balanced. Mr. H. Firth, town clerk, proved to be this year’s champion of the council, with a score of 49 out of a possible 50. A quoit and darts competition was also held, the results being a draw in the quoits and a win for Mr. Gough’s team in the darts. At supper the president eongratulat ed the winning teams on their meritorious shooting, and addressing the mayor and his colleagues, said that although the work of the council must cause them much anxious thought during such depressive times, he was pleased to have their company for at least one night away from their duties. The mayor. Mr. D. McKenzie, expressed pleasure at again being on the ranges with members of the club. Cr. Scholefield thanked the club for the pleasant evening, and Mr. Gough and others also spoke. Three cheers, given by members of the club for their guests, anil the singing of “For They are Jolly Good Fellows” brought the evening to a close.

MAN FOR SENTENCE Breaking and Entering ' Several householders in the Hutt Valley have complained recently of a man attempting to force an entry by day, and in the I’etone Police Court yesterday John Asher, seaman, pleaded guilty lo two charges of breaking and entering with intent to commit theft. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence by Messrs. A. Anderson and G. D. McEwen, J.P.'s. Mrs, Lillie Egliuton said that about 3 p.m. on May 30 she left her bouse at 10 Cornwall Street, Lower Hutt, securely locked, but on returning three or four minutes later she found that she was unable to open the front door with her key. On going to the rear of the house, she .saw a man who had just come out of the back door, which was slightly open. When asked what he was doing, he did not speak, but pulled up liis coat collar and covered his face with a handkerchief, and, walking quickly io the back of the motorshed, jumped into the neighbour’s garden. Witness chased him, but he escaped through the side gate and was lost to sigh.t down the road. Mrs. Ellen Perfect said that at 3 p.m. on May 16 she was sitting with her niece at her house at 20 Te Momi Road, Lower Hutt, when they saw a man go to the back of the house. He opened th.e back door and then tried the kitchenette door, which lie found to be locked. He then went to a side window, which he opened from the fanlight. His bead and shoulders were through the window when witness’s niece asked him what he was doing, and be Immediately got down and disappeared. Detective W. McLennan, of Petone. said accused had made a statement to him in Wellington in which he admitted breaking into the two houses at Lower Hutt, although he stated that he had not stolen anything. MONUMENT MISUSED Rugby Game Grandstand A complaint at the manner in which the war monument in the Petone Recreation Ground was being used as a grandstand on every Saturday for thfc purpose of watching football matches was received by the Petone Borough Council last evening from the Hutt Valley branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. The branch asked the council'to make some endeavour to protect. the monument from that misuse. The town clerk, Mr. IT. Firth, reported that he had given the necessary instructions to the caretaker. “I think the action of the town clerk fits the bill.” remarked the mayor, Mr. D. McKenzie. Cr. A. Scholefield’s motion for the council to approve the town clerk’s reply was carried. FIFTY YEARS MARRIED Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Attwood Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Attwood, of Lower Hutt, celebrated their golden wedding on Friday. They were the recipients of congratulations from all over the Dominion. Mrs. Attwood received many posies and bouquets from [her friends at the Hutt, and also from 'friends elsewhere. In the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Attwood entertained relatives and a few friends. The wedding cake, which was sent froth Auckland, had the names of the bride and bridegroom inscribed on it, and the dates 1883-1933, which represent the years of their married life. TEACHER FAREWELLED By Petone West School Miss Catherine W. Beard, senior woman assistant at Petone West School, who has lieett promoted to the head teachership of the Stanley School in the Taranaki Education Departmeat’s district, was farewelled by her fellow members of the stuff at a complimentary morning tea yesterday. In making a presentation of a crystal powder bowl, the headmaster (Mr. .1. C. Burns) stressed the happy relationship which existed between Miss Beard and the staff, all of whom sincerely regretted her departure. However, in view of the fact that her new position was promotion for her, he could only extend the staff’s best wishes for her success in the profession. Mr. Burns also thanked Miss Beard tor her conscientious and efficient work during her 2i years of service on the staff Miss Beard feelingly replied. Proof of Miss Beard’s popularity among the children was evidenced by the numerous parting gifts she received from them.