HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 14, 11 October 1933, Page 14

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

District Notes of Current Interest

(Special to The Dominion J

The chairman, Mr. D. McKenzie, presided at the meeting of the Petone Fire Board yesterday, and there were present Messrs. K. Mason, E. N. Campbell, J. P. Gaynor, superintendent, and H. Firth, secretary.

A public presentation to Mr. A. N. Wallace, postmaster of Lower Hutt, who has been transferred to Blenheim, is to be made in the council chambers on Thursday evening. As a canvass of the district was impossible, residents who wish to contribute are asked to communicate with the town clerk, Mr, B. S. Knox.

An application was recently received by the parks committee of the Lower Hutt Borough Council asking whether au arrangement could be entered Into for the council to cut the berms on the footpaths at a fixed sum per cutting. The committee has advised the council that it has not the necessary plant available to undertake that type of work for property owners, and as a matter of policy could not recommend the council to comply with the request. The Lower Hutt Borough Council has accepted invitations to be present at the official openings of the Woburn Bowling and Qroquct Club and the Hutt Bowling, Tennis, and Croquet Club on Saturday.

CROQUET CLUB OPENS

Petone Central Lawns

Ideal weather favoured the opening of thp Petone Central Croquet Club, which was performed yesterday by the Mayor of Petone, Mr. D. McKenzie. Mr. McKenzie said that with lengthened days and evenings attention naturally turned to summer sports, and much pleasure could be obtained from healthy recreation. Games should be played with -the spirit of friendship, and not with the idea of merely winning. The ground was in splendid condition, and whoever was responsible for it deserved great credit, said Mr. McKenzie.

Mrs. McKenzie then put the first ball through the hoop, and declared the season open. Dainty bouquets were presented to Mrs. McKenzie and Mrs. M. Sharpe, the president, by little Margaret Bell. Among the visitors were Mrs. R. C. •Kirk, Mrs. W. Kelly, and Mrs. Fox. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs. Earl McKenzie, president of the Wellington Croquet Association, and Mrs. Austin. HOMING PIGEON CLUB Races to Petone The following are the results of four races flown by the Petone Homing Pigeon Club:— Palmerston North, 71 Miles. J. Eagle’s bird, velocity 1471.91yd5., 1 G. Woodward’s, velocity 1470.73y<L5., 2 R. Clark’s, velocity 1470.27yd5. 3 J. Bolton’s, velocity 1467.80yds 4 C. Culshaw’s, velocity. 1464yd5., .... 5 J. Eagle’s, velocity 1461.87yds 6 G. Woodward’s, velocity 1460.17,vd5. . 7 C. Culshaw’s, velocity 1457.94yd5. .. 8 Huntcrvillo, 96J Miles. G. Woodward’s bird, velocity 1211.71 yards 1 J. Bolton’s, velocity 1211.11yds 2 .7. Eagle’s, velocity 1210.56yds 3 Bold and Son’s, velocity 1209.42yd5. . 4 Bold and Son’s, velocity 1209.42yd5. . 5 G. Woodward’s, velocity 1209.03yd5. 6 C. Culshaw’s, velocity 1204.13yd5. .. 7 R, Clark’s, velocity 1196.81ys 8 Waiouru, 12» Miles Air Line. G. Woodward’s bird, velo. 1160.39yd5. 1 Bold and Son’s, velocity 1160.2yd5. .. 2 P. Mexted’s bird, velocity 1159.17yd5. 3 Bold and Son’s, velocity 1158.71yd5. 4 Boid and Son’s, velocity 1158.71yd5. 5 G. Woodward’s, velocity 1158.41yd5. 6 P. Mexted’s, velocity 1157.49yd5. ... 7 R. Reid’s, velocity 1154.51yds 8 Tauntanmui, 164 Miles. G. Woodward’s bird, velo. 1168.86yd5. 1 J. Bolton’s, velocity, 1167.8yds 2 Bold and Son’s,'velocity 1167.11yd5. 3 Bold and Son’s, velocity 1167.11yd5. 4 J. Bolton's, velocity 1134.42yd5. .... 5 C. Culshaw’s, velocity 1133.42yd5. .. 6 Bold and Son's, velocity 1099.72yd5. 7 R. Clark’s, velocity 1099.65yds 8 RAILINGS WANTED Awamutu Stream Culverts The danger to pedestrians in both Elizabeth and York Streets, where the Awamutu stream is culverted underneath the roads, by the lack of railing to prevent anyone from wandering off the footpath and falling into the stream was stressed by the By-laws Committee in its report to the Lower Hutt Borough Council on Monday evening. The committee considered that the localities were really dangerous, and recommended the council to Instruct that galvanised Iron pipe railings be erected at each end of the two culverts concerned at an estimated cost of £2O.

It was also pointed out that the banks at each end of the culvert were slipping away, and the committee recommended that the River Board complete the work of protection. The board had previously attended to one place with boulders and wire netting. Cr. J. E. Napier considered that the work was required for the protection of life and the protection to the council’s property.

“It is very desirable that the defect be remedied,” agreed Cr. H. Anderson. The matter was referred to the Works Committee,

Y.M.C.A. BUILDING

To be Erected in Valley NATIONAL MEMORIAL Plans are almost completed for the erection of a Y.M.C.A. building in the Hutt Valley to the memory of men who fell In the war. The site is at the corner of Manchester and Cuba Streets, and tenders will be called for the building In a few days. Details of the hall were discussed at a meeting of representative citizens held in the Hutt Valley in August. Mr. H. W. Kersley said that the two boroughs, containing a total population of about 26,000, and an important industrial community, offered a great field of service and a great need for institutions such as the Y.M.C.A. There would bo no difficulty In regard to finance, as the premises would be handed over free of debt.

Speaking as chairman. of the Bible Class Union of the Hutt Valley, Mr. J. S. Reid said that members of the Boy Scouts and Toe H were brought together to do social work, and there had been trouble in finding avenues of service for them. The Y.M.C.A. would fill this need. As to the site, it would not be possible to find a section which would serve both Petone and Lower Hutt, but a site had been obtained near the ramp (the boundary of the two boroughs), and his fears had disappeared. The site was on the bus route, and would serve Moera and the closely-populated part of Petone, including the Ava Railway Station and Alicetown. The provision of shops was wise. He did not think a more suitable site could be obtained than that proposed, and he suggested that the municipal bodies might assist in the scheme.

Association Established.

The following resolution was carried unanimously: “That having heard the representation of members of the National Executive Committee of Y.M.C.A.’s of New Zealand, this meeting decides to establish an association to be known as the Hutt Valley Y.M.C.A., and hereby makes application to the National Council that the Hutt Memorial Fund be expended on the necessary building site, and equipment for such association.”

At a meeting of the provisional committee in September, the following were appointed provisional directors: Revs. J. C. Loan, J. T. Crozier, J. E. Lopdell, Messrs. J. R. Carey, sen., J. C. Burns, V. A. Noble, Carey, jun., J. S. Reid, W. B. Nicholson, H. W. Kersley, J. S. Barton, and J. W. Andrews. The following members of the National Executive Committee were appointed to act as advisory directors: Messrs. C. S. Falconer, A. H. Wallace, C. R. Edmond, and H. D. Grocott. History of Trust Fund. Dealing with the history of the trust fund, Mr. C. R. Edmond, who was leader of the Y.M.C.A. serving with the Army of Occupation, states that when the New Zealand Division arrived in Germany at Christmas, 1918, they welcomed by the New Zealand Y.M.C.A., who had established a refreshment booth just opposite the detraining point.

At this time the suggestion was made by certain members of the division that many of the soldiers would appreciate the opportunity of contributing toward the erection of a Memorial Y.M.C.A. Hut in New Zealand. This suggestion was taken up, and as a result approximately £l3OO was raised from the different units of the division. A portion of this money was donated by battalion canteens as they closed down prior to demobilisation. Tills money was transferred to New Zealand by the National Council of Y.M.C.A.’s, who created a special trust fund to be operated by Major-General Sir Andrew Russel], Officer Commanding New Zealand Division, Mr. J. L. Hay', secretary of New Zealand Y.M.C.A. Overseas, Mr. W. C. Hemery, treasurer of the National Council of Y.M.C.A.’s.

During the intervening years the money had been carrying interest, and the amount now available was £2lOO. ■ The Convention of Y.M.C.A.’s of New Zealand held in Christchurch in March last resolved that the Memorial Hut should be erected in the Hutt Valley. This was considered a suitable location as most of the men who went overseas during the war were trained at Trentham, and passed through the Hutt Valley on their way to the troopship.