PETONE AND HUTT. THE BRIDGE APPROACHES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 136, 5 December 1907, Page 7

PETONE AND HUTT. THE BRIDGE APPROACHES.

RESULT OF THE POLL. Tho polling at Fetone yesterday on the question of which route should bo adopted as an approach to the proposed new pipe and traffic bridge over, tho Hutt River lvsulted : — For the Direct Route ... *„ 113 For tho Alternative llouto ... 105 There were 126 ayos and J6l nous hi regard to tho Esplanade routo query at tho bottom of the voting paper. Six informal votes were recorded. Tho direct route was declared carried. 'A CURIOUS POSITION. _ In connection wilh the poll some strong dissatisfaction was expressed by supporters of the Espnlnade route at the style in which the voting paper was drawn up. Tho position as stated by ono of them was as follows : — At the public meeting on Monday the Mayor was asked if an opportunity would be given to vote for the Esplanade approach. This was answered in tha afiirmative. It must be born»i in mind that though thero aro two bridge sites, with three approachss, under consideration, in any case they all converge to one point on the eastern r*ide of the river. On the opening of Uio polling booth, electors were, confronted with their difficulty, as the ballot paper con-tain-od two issues, viz., (1) That tho .bridge and approach bo in a direct lino with Jackson-street, and (2) That tho approach be from the present eastern end of Jackson-street to a point near (he western ond of the present pipo bridge. Under that last issue wero piintcd the words: — "For the Esplanade, Yes, No," with tho direction that tho voter who preferred the routo to bo along tha Esplanade should striko out tho word "No." If the voter did not favour this approach ho was to cross out the word "Yes." To the casual voter this looked like a straight out issue, but such proved to bo not tho case. Tho council decided at a previous meeting to lake, a vote a-s between tho direct and alternative routes, and further rle- | cided to obtain an expression of opinion only as to how ,many preferred tho Esplanade route, -w.ifch the idea of si second poll. Thus, if a voter struck out issus 1, and, the word "No," ho would voto for tho alternative route, at the same time showing that he would have, preferred the Esplanade route. Herein came his dilemma To qualify for the right of expressing his preference for the Esplanade route, he was compelled to vote for' one of two issues, both of which ho bbjected to, thus running the risk of his aversion being carried, and actod upon. If he struck oub both 1 and 2, these being tho only issues, his voto ami -ballot was informal, and equally so if ho literally followed tho instructions by striking out the word "No" and leaving Nos 1 and 2 untouched. And as* there would bo no doubt or difficulty in the way of thoso who favoured the Jackson-street route, objectors felt that they wero seriously handicapped. Tho peculiar form of tha ballot paper gavo quite an unfair advantage lo those who are interested in tho Jackson-street route, THE MAYOR'S REPLY. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) was made aware of these criticisms, and he replies :"I made no statement at the public meeting other than was covexvd by tha resolution of the council and the I returning officer's interpretation of that resolution, which I read. Tho resoluj lion dealing with Iho E&plnnade (which I certainly did not approve) was published over a week ago, yet Iho critic apparently, only discovered its real nature yesterday. In spite of his attempts to raise a duststorm I am convinced that his pet route — tho Esplanade — ia not wanted. The council had no intention of taking a second poll. If a very pronounced prcfurenco had been shown for tho Esplanade ac against cither diagonal or direct routes, it is conceivable that tho council might havo accepted this as the will of the people." THE NEW HUTT COUNCILLORTho by-election at Lower Hutt yesterday to fill the' vacancy on tho council caused by the resignation of Councillor Greig resulted in the return of Mr. M. J. Hotlgins, whose unopposed return before was upset by a technical objection. Tho polling resulted : M. J. Hodgins, 223; G. Bradley, 134; E. Fisher, "112. AMATEUR' ATHLETICS. The newly-formed athletic branch in connection with the Petone Junior Club got to work last evening with the following officers : — Starter, Mr. D. M'Gill • judges, Messrs. J. Cairns and M. Ryan ; referee, Mr. Joe. Cairns ; committee," Messrs. Smyrk, Lynskey, J. Cairns, and M. Ryan ; timekeepers, Messrs. Lynskey and Jenness ; hon. treasurer, Mr. J, Ryan; hon. secretary, Mr. C. List; handicappcrs, Messrs. \Y. Fraser and Hardham. Races for trophies wero held on the Petone Recreation Ground. Two heals were run in tho 75yds event and the final resulted :• Bowman 1, Ryan 2, Young 3. Time, " 8 3-sseu. Also started : Smyrk, Fraser. Thomson. In the 100 yds Handicap, Smyrk breasted the tape firsj;, with Young 2nd, Bowman 3rd, close on Ins heels. Time, 11 5-ssec. Also started : Ryan, Frassr, and Thomson. ,>r r i ! ""i il?^i 1 ?^ ValloyV alloy - A »-»ateui' Athletic Club held the first of a series of evening runs on the Hutt Recreation Ground last night. The competitions resulted as follows :—75: — 75 yards, Maulc, 6yds, 1 ; N. Kingdon, 4yds, 2. A very close finish. 220 yards, C. Matthews, "llyds, 1 ; N. Kingdon, 13yds, 2. School Boys Rare, 100 yards : Sinclair Cook 1, Colin Cudby 2. Thirty started, the winner being the smallest of tho number. Two separate trophies will be presented for each event, b&sides which points for the first two events will count for tho handsome rose bowl donated by Mr. C. Pole. Messrs. 11. Rix-I'rott and C. Pole judged Iho events. Tha next meeting will bo held two weeks hence. THE BATHING FATALITY. An enquiry into Iho death of a boy named Martin K. Conolly (previously mjsprinled Donnelly), son of Mr. •~ - 1 Conolly, who was drowned in Iho Hutt River on Tuesday, was held before the District Coroner. Mr. James Ashcroft, yesterday. A verdict of "accidental drowning" wah returned, and a rider was added by the jury urging the necessity of precautions being taken for the safely of children while bathing. MISCELLANEOUS. In one easo in the Ilutt Court yesterday, in which lhaia Puketapu (ropiescntcd by Mr. Cracroft Wilson) sued (Jeorgo Carwood for possession of a cottage at Waiwetu, tho magistrate declined jurisdiction as a question of title was involved. Mr. Ayson appeared for defendant. In the judgment summons caso, W. M'Menamin v. Percy Withers, claim 135 16s 9d, defendant was mdered to pay by 18th December or undergo seven days' imprisonment. A series of evening conceits, with "dancing on Ihe giccn," wus started by tho Pctone liiass iSand on the lou;il Recreation (iiound lusl cvoning, ami attracted a Ini go number of people. A collection totalling, -Co w;-s taken up The woekly se<-von ol tho Hopp <jf PcUma Luduo. J.Oli.T . was liclil iv t,nc Rahl urjy^ &aU kjtt •svpeinjg, JJrcu. X.

Townsend, G.T., presiding. The item for the evening was "'Ode Practice,"' and a very interesting time was spent. The work of tarring 1 hut part of Jat.kson-strect between Victoria and Britannia streets, as recently authoiiscd by tho Pctone Council, will be stalled on Monday next. By this improvement it is hoped lhat the" dust nuisanco will bo considerably abated, and the wear and tear of the roadway lessened. The Pctono Rifle Club (B class) will hold a competition for ammunition prizes on Iho Waiwetu range on Saturday next. Conditions, 10 shots at 500 and -600 yards The average number of sheep now being killed daily at the Gear Company's works is 5300.