HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 5

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

District Notes of Current Interest

The amount collected by the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board at outside collecting depots for November was £1691/12/9. Of that amount. £6a9/ 16/7 was collected at the board’s Wellington City depot. * Congratulations to Mr. and Mvs. A. J. McCurdy, of Upper Hutt, on the celebration of their golden wedding last week, were extended by members of the Wellington Hospital Board at a meeting held last night. Wafer pumped to the Eastbourne borough supply during • November amounted to 3,662,000 gallons, and the total number of .■consumers to/late is 475. The maximum supply commenced oir December 1 on a supply of 125,000 gallons daily. Miss N. Courtney, who has resigned from the staff of the Upper Hutt Borough Council after t»J years service, was recently farewelled by the Council. The Mayor, Mr. A. J. McCurdy, presented Miss Courtney with a parting gift on behalf of the Council and staff, and expressed regret that she was leaving. Miss Courtney . suitably replied. Seasonal greetings to the members of the board and the staff were extended by the chairman of the. Hutt Valiev Electric Power Board, Mr. A. Anderson, at the board’s meeting yesterday. The engineer-general maua ger/ Mr; E. F. Hollands, replied on behalf of the staff. During the afternoon tea adjournment a dainty Christmas cake was cut by the chairman and distributed. .. ‘ • ; ■ , • : ■ REDUCTION IN FARES Eastbourne Ferry Service “EXPERIMENT”. DISCUSSED . Commencing on December 18, the fares on the 10 a.m. Eastbourne ferry from Wellington are to be reduced from Mondays to Fridays except on certain public holidays. This decision-was made by the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening. The question was raised by a petition carrying about 200 signatures which was presented by a deputation, and by a recommendation of the council's transport board that the question of ferry fares be left to the full council. . Outlining the petition, Mr. 0. N. Gillespie said that the council had ample accommodation for increased traffic, and the universal experience of transport systems was that- reduced fares meant more gross revenue. Most-of the ratepayers of Eastbourne, were traders in the borough, and their businesses would obviously benefit from the added influx of visitors. The petitioners urged the council to endeavour to meet the economic capacity of the public. After the deputation retired, the Mayor, Mr. E. W. Wise, moved “that the ferry fares for adults be reduced to 1/- from Christmas Eve to the end of February.” The whole thing, he said, was a gamble, and the only way to find out was to give it a trial. If the ferries carried the same number as at present, the council could not lose much on a two months’ trial. He considered that 1/6 was.too high in present conditions for a fare across the harbour. * Cr. A. T. R. Duncan seconded the mo-' tion. As au amendment, Cr. C. H. Andrews moved “that commencing on December 18, the return and/or single fare from Wellington be 17- for adults and 3d lor children on the 10 a.m. boat only, Mondays to Fridays inclusive, but excluding December 25, 26, and <27, January 1,2, and 22. the arrangement to remain in force' until February 5, and the fares during week-ends to remain unchanged.” ; Cr. G. V. Berry seconded the amendment ■ f' ', . 7 , , ' Cr. D. Bowie said that although the council wished to popularise the Bay its duty to watch the finances of the borough must; bo remembered. The council could not afford to gamble with any experiment, and certainly should not contemplate such a large reduction. Cr. Berry said he had been authorised by two absent councillors (Messrs. V. P. Haughton and S.. G. Shearer) to say that they opposed any reduction on Sundays and general holidays, but would consider a reduction during the week. Approval of a reduction of children’s fares to 3d during the week through the holidays was expressed by Cr. A. L. Macandrew. * ..., ~ . That a reduction to 1/- would not pay the council was the opinion of the town clerk, Mr. C. L. Bishop. .There would probably be a temporary in- ■ crease in numbers, but it would not be < possible to maintain the increase over ’ any length of time, he said. During the holidays the majority of people carried to the Bay were taken at the fare of 1/- because they were members of a picnic party. A reduction in children’s fares would probably be an added attraction. The amendment was carried, Cr. Duncan dissenting.

FAREWELL BY STAFF Mr. H. P. Kidson Honoured The popularity of Mr. H. P. Kidson, who has been principal of the Hutt Valley High School since its inception, was emphasised yesterday morning, when the staff met to bid farewell to him and .Mrs. Kidson. On behalf of the staff, Mr. J. N. Millard, first assistant'and principalelect, said that the members of the staff regretted the severing of a long and happy fellowship, not only with Mr. Kidson, but also with Mrs. Kidson, but they were glad that Mr. Kidson had been honoured by being appointed head of a school of the standing and reputation of the Otago Boys’ High School. Mr. Kidson had built up a great school in Lower Hutt, and If he had a good school and a good staff it was because there was a great man at the head. On behalf or the staff, Mr. Millard then presented Mr. Kidson with a handsome smoker’s table with chased brass trays and a brass-mounted cigar fuse, also a framed enlarged photo of the school staff, past and present. Mr. Kidson thanked the staff for its gift and for the expression of its feelings toward him. His eight years-at the ■school had been important and interesting ones. Only the foundation had been laid, and he hoped that under Mr. Millard, the school would greatly develop. Later in; the afternoon the pupils of the school met Mr. and Mrs. Kidson in the gymnasium, where the senior prefect (A. James) presented the guests on behalf of the pupils with a handsome solid bronze reading lamp. Mr. Kidson suitably replied. RECEIPTS INCREASE Hutt River Board Revenue Gratification at seeing such a satisfactory position, with expenditure, well within the estimates, was expressed by members of . the Hutt River Board at its most recent meeting. The statement of receipts and expenditure submitted by the secretary. Mr. A. J. Gearing, showed that there was an increase of £5OO in receipts from rates as compared with last.year, as well as a slight increase on royalties and rents. . The expenditure was well down, the difference being £5OO for the period. EXCEPTIONALLY LOW Waters of Hutt River For the past fortnight the Hutt river has been exceptionally low, and at one place the flow is more than a foot be : low summer level. Several residents in the Hutt Valley assert that they have never seen the river at such a low level. *■;; . . The secretary of the Hutt River Board. Mr. A; J. Gearing, states that the lowness :of the river is of great assistance to the board, as its staff can be engaged in cleaning the bed of the accumulation of logs. The effect of a small volume of water in' the river was reflected in a letter to the board from a shingle comp: uy asking the board to waive royalty charges on metal which it would be necessary to take from one plant to another for treating purposes. It was further stated in the letter that the supply from one drag-lino plant, was almost entirely exhausted owing to the lack of freshes.