HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 13

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Rate demands for the current year are at present being prepared, and the demands will be issued on August 1, reported Mr- C. L. Bishop, town clerk of Eastbourne, at Thursday evening’s meeting of the borough council.

Senior-Sergeant 11. C. D. Wade, from Gisborne, who is replacing Senior-Ser-geant G. Sivyer as olliccr in charge of the police in the Hutt Valley, arrived in Petone last evening. He is accompanied by his family.

The Eastbourne Borough Council decided on Thursday evening to support Petone’s protest against the increasing hospital levies. Ci\ M. Magill remarked that Petone’s view was similar to. that which Eastbourne had already voiced.

The last of the bodies concerned, the Eastbourne Borough Council, on Thursday evening agreed to the setting up of the committee proposed by the amalgamation conference.

Traffic revenue on the Eastbourne ferries for the first three months of the financial year is approximately. £250 higher for the corresponding period of last year, but the trading expenditure was somewhat heavier owing to the fact that only one boat was in use during June of last year. “The net result in both years i s approximately the same,” stated the Eastbourne town clerk, Mr. C. L. Bishop, on Thursday evening. The trafiic receipts on the buses were approximately £lOO higher, the trading expenditure being normal.

CYCLIST’S DEATH

Inquest Following Taita Accident MOTORIST NOT TO BLAME A verdict that William John Cowley died from the injuries received when his bicycle was struck at Taita on July 16 was returned by the coroner, Mr. E. Gilbertson, J.P., at the inquest at Lower Hutt yesterday. Evidence of identification was given by Harold Charles Gilbert, a fellow-em-ployee of Cowley at the Taita Hotel. The bicycle had been fitted with electric light back and front, but he could not say whether it was working or not. Sergeant J. W. McHolm, who conducted the inquest, explained to the coroner that the rear and front lights were run from separate electrical systems. Chandos Rough, insurance superintendent, the driver of the car concerned, said he had been coming toward Wellington and the cyclist going in the samo direction. He did not see the man or the cycle until the moment of impact. Prior to the collision he had been travelling quite close to the left edge of the bitumen and at the time of the impact was travelling at 20 to 22 miles per hour, having just slowed down from 25 to 27 on account of brilliant headlights approaching and an intersection. “The only explanation I can give for having failed to see the cyclist before the impact is that I had dipped by headlights,” he stated. Harold Edward Pither, bookseller, of Masterton, the driver of the approaching car, said that he had not seen the light of a bicycle coming toward him. He could not say whether be had dipped headlights. The speed of Rough’s, car was not excessive; after the accident he had pulled up and assisted to move Cowley. ~ „ Mrs. Edith Florence Pither, wile of the previous witness, corroborated her husband’s evidence. Mary Lydia Pither, their daughter, who'- had been in the back of the car, said that she had seen the lights of au approaching car and the light of a bicycle. There had then been a crash and a cloud of dust. The lights of the approaching car were not dazzling. Her impression was that she saw the light just before the impact. , o. , Dr. H. W. Nash said tliat Cowley had died a few minutes before he saw him. Death was due to a fractured skull and cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. E. S. Parry, for Rough, commented on the complete absence of evidence as to whether the cyclist had been riding along the bitumen or had just come into it from the footpath, where bicycles were frequently ridden at that point. Mr. Gilbertson said he was satisfied that it was purely an accident and no blame was attachable to Mr. Rough.(

MINISTER’S FAREWELL

Tributes to Rev. N. R. Wood Shortly to take up the pastorate of the Colombo Street Church, Christchurch, the Rev N. R. Wood, minister of the Petone Baptist Church, was fa re welled by his congregation on Thursday evenThe Mayor, Mr. A. Scholefield, praised Mr. Wood’for always speaking his mind, and he thanked him for his ministry, as well as wishing him a happy future. Other speakers were the Rev. J. S. Loan, president of the Ministers’ Fraternal the Rev. 11. Lloyd, of the Lower Hutt Baptist Church, Mr. D. P. Power, president of the Central Auxiliary of the Baptist Union, the Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles, on behalf of the Baptist Union and the missionary society. The secretary of the church, Mr. . Haddy, presented Mr. Wood with an electric reading lamp. Mrs. Hodd'nott, on behalf of the Baptist Women's Missionary Union, presented Mrs. Wood with an entree dish, and. Mrs. Haddy presented Barbara Wood with a doll. Responding, Mr. Wood spoke appreciatively of the friendships he had made m the church and of the fellowship of his brother ministers. Items were given by the choir and by Messrs. F. Jackson and A. Nudd. FATHERS AT MOTHERS’ MEETING A meeting of the Eastbourne League of Mothers, at which fathers were present—by invitation —was held . recently, Mrs. S. G. Shearer presiding, in the absence, owing to illness, of the president, Mrs. E. W. Wise.

Mrs. Kersley, provincial president, who attended, spoke briefly on the aims and objects of the league. The Rev. C. Wilcox gave an address on the life of the child. Items were given by Mesdames Collins and Fraser Tvler, and Misses Cheyne and Wileox. The Mayor, Mr. E. W. Wise, on behalf of the fathers present, thanked the committee and members for an enjoyable meeting.