HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 123, 18 February 1935, Page 4

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

MAYORAL OFFICES Unusual Interest In Coming Elections A deputation to ask him to stand again at the elections in May will wait upon the Mayor of Eastbourne, Mr. E. W. Wise, to-night. This year the elections in Eastbourne and the Hutt Valley are arousing more than usual interest among the public, who are uncertain yet as to whether the present mayors will be in the field again. It is well known that the duties attached to the mayoral office have caused a good deal of inconvenience in the mayors’ businesses and private activities, a fact which has been stressed by some of them on several occasions. Eor that reason it appears from some of their remarks that they would be willing to stand down if other suitable candidates offered their services. No public statement as to their intentions has been made by Messrs. J. AV. Andrews (Lower Hutt), A. Scholefield (Petone), E. IV. Wise (Eastbourne), or A. J. McCurdy (Upper Hutt), but so far as the two lastnamed are concerned it is generally accepted that they will stand again. Only in one instance—that of Upper Hutt —has any definite announcement been made that an opponent will contest the office, but within the next week or two no doubt further information will be made known.

Although the opinion is freely expressed in Petone that Mr. Scholefield has done remarkably well, a rumour is in circulation that the Labour Party has considered putting up another man. Also it is said in some quarters that a deputation waited on Mr. Andrews inviting him to stand for the Petone mayoralty. Mr. Andrews, however, is not a ratepayer in Petone, and even if he became one it is questionable if the necessary measures could be taken between now and the elections to entitle him to stand. Furthermore in view of Petone’s attitude to amalgamation it seems hardly likely that Mr. Andrews, who is a strong advocate for the merger of the boroughs, would consider offering himself as a Petone candidate, unless, of course, he chose to fight the election on the amalgamation issue. Mr. E. T. E. Hogg, a member of the Petone Borough Council, has also been mentioned as a possible mayoral contender. . One well-informed person on local body politics recently expressed the opinion that it would be in the interests of ratepayers and the public generally if the present mayors would carry ou for a further term. CRICKET RESULTS Hutt Valley Association Results of the Hutt Valley Cricket Association’s, matches on, Saturday are as follow:—A Grade. Bell- - Park, 128 (Elbe .20), beat Meadows United, 66 (R. Chudleigh 23). Bowling for Bell Park, Blackwood took six wickets for 6 rune, Simpson three for 16; and'.for Meadows United, A. Chudleigh four for 39, R. Chudleigh three for 9, and Phillips two, for 29. . Woollen Mills, • ISO for six (Walker 102 not out; W. Cate 28), beat Y.M.C.A., 123 (Edwards 39, Dean 32). Bowling for the' Winners, Sanderson took five wickets 'for' 30 runs, including-the hattrick ; and for Y.M.C.A., Coleman five for 64. Meadows, 173 for eight, declared (RDunn 61,'Ji Duiin 49), beat General Motors A, 120 (Wellington 20, Dalton 47 not out, Dibly 20). Bowling for General Motors, Wellington took three wickets for 40 runs and Laracy three for 31. Gear, 132 for nine, declared (Cuinnoek 36 not out, Bradbury 27), beat Waiwetu, 83 (T. Jones 36) and six for 26. Bowling for Gear, Pollock took five for 25. Greer five, for 38, O’Halloran six for 11; and for Waiwetu, T. Jones four for 50, and Berry three for 51. B Grade. Gracefield, 116 (Sharp 40), beat General Motors B, 95 (Burnsky 33). Bowling for Gracefield, Webster took four wickets for 23 runs, Henshaw four for 19; and for General Motors, Love four for 25, Burnsky two for 23, and Beban three for 34. Central, 141 (L. Everson 25, King 29. Blandford 26 not out), beat Gear, 42 and 52 (Buller 27)'. For Central, Wilson took two for 17 and six for 21, Keown five. for. 19, Ingham three for 6; and for Gear, Martin four for 28, August three for 21, and Foote two for 8. PARKING OF CARS Possibilities of Accidents at Point Howard The parking of motor-cars on either side of the road at Point Howard creates possibilities of accidents, for people are constantly clashing across the road to the beach between cars, and more than once in the course of a day motorists have missed hitting them narrowly. On a recent Sunday 32 ears were parked on one side of the road alone, and the drivers were told to move on by a traffic officer. However, as soon as the officer was out of sight they came back again. The Hutt County Council has erected small signs prohibiting parking, but it has been pointed out by a resident that larger signs could b.e erected with advantage. Then the necessity of constant warnings by the traffic officers would be obviated, and persons who disobeyed the signs could be punished in the usual way. MOTORISTS WORRIED Unlighted Bicycles The practice of riding bicycles at night without lights has become widespread throughout the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne. Several motorists have voiced concern on the question, for hardly a night passes but when they narrowly avoid colliding with one of the cyclists. “The suggestion in ‘The Dominion’ recently that cyclists should keep on the right-hand side of the road was a good one,” a motorist said yesterday, “for it is extremely difficult to see them ahead when travelling in the same direction.” He added that one’s vision was often completely obscured through the headlights of approaching ears, and that if a cyclist happened to be on the road at that time—-and it was frequently the case—only luck prevented a collision. “If they only realised the risk they are taking, I am sure they would keep off the bitumen, or at least see that they had plainly visible reflectors behind their machines. In any case, it is the duty of the police and traffic authorities to keep a sharp lookout for the sake of all users of the road,” he said.

MURITAI SEA-WALL

Possibility of Start at an Early Date The loug-looked-for sea-wall which it is proposed to build at the Muritai end of Eastbourne is at present engaging the attention of the Public Works Department, and if its consideration of the project works out as hoped by the Mayor of Eastbourne, Mr. E. W. Wise, it is possible that a start oii the wall will be made at an early date. Mr. Wise told a “Dominion” reporter on Saturday that the department would submit its findings to the borough authorities in a week or two, and if satisfactory a start “will be made right away.” Residents will appreciate this information from the Mayor, for the absence- of a wall to protect their property has caused them a great deal of concern.