PETONE AND HUTT ITEMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 121, 18 November 1909, Page 2

PETONE AND HUTT ITEMS.

V HUTT VALLEY TRAMWAY BOARD. The proposals of the Hutt Valley Tramway Board were fully explained by the chairman and members, to a rrieeting of Petone ratepayers, held last evening. Mr. J. W. M'E-wan laid stress on the fact that syndicates considered not the interests of the community, but those of their shareholders. He quoted figures to show that municipal enterprise in regard to trams was a complete success in Wellington. Auckland tramways (owned by a joint stock company), last year made a profit of £26,700. " Applying the same methods of bookkeeping, the Wellington trams would show an even better result— a profit of £36,700. The speaker next referred to the probable- non-detrimental effect upon the Petone gasworks of the electric lighting scheme of the Tramway Board. The gasworks would have nothing to fear whatever as^to competition. As a matter of fact' the Tramway Board had no power to sell electricity to either Petono or Hutt for any purpose whatsoever, "without the consent of the two borough councils. Mr. Robert Stevens, a member of the board, asserted that he was quite certain that \vhen put to the ratepayers fn' January next, the tramway loan would be carried by a_ lar.g« majority., A question that was agitating the minds of a Jarge section of 'Hutt ratepayers was whether the board was prepared to extend the proposed route from White's line, Lower Hutt, to the Hutt Park. The board was quite willing to concede this, provided the necessary funds were available. , Mr. Baldwin also spoke. Several questions were answered. The chairman of the meeting was Mr. S. V. Burridgo. LOWER HUTT POLICE COURT. At a sitting of the Lower Hutt Police Court tin's morning; Messrs. Eliott, Purdy,, and Cudby, J'.P.'s, being on the Bench, a young man named Neil Smith, was fined £5, with the alternative of one month's imprisonment, for inciting a -prisoner to resist the police constable in the- execution of his duty. Mr. Dix appeared, for accused, who admitted the offence. CIVIL CASES. Judgment for plaintiffs by default, was^ given in the following cases: — E. Feisli and Co. v. C. Jackson, £1 9s 3d, and costs ss ; T. P. Allen v. George Taylor, £1 3s 6d, costs 6s ; G. MTrvride v. W. True, £7 19s 6d, with costs £1 Is 6d. PETONE JUNIOR ATHLETIC CLUB Under -the auspices of the Petone Junior Club, tho first of the evening runs — to be held throughout the summer — waa successfully "got off" on the Recreation Ground in the presence of a 'large number of spectators. The entries were numerous. The results were as follow :—: — 75yds Handicap. — First heat — White 1, Strickland 2. Second heat— Bold 1, Miller 2. Third heat— Parker 1, Mould 2. Final— Parker 1, Bold 2, Miller, 3. 100 yds Handicap.— First heat— White 1, W. Ryan 2. Second heat— Bold 1, Smith 2. Third heat— Parker, 1, Howe 2. Final— Bold 1, W. Ryan 2, Smith 3. A GROWING BODY. The Pe'lone United Methodist Church was the scene of a successful function last evening, when the reopening of the church was commemorated by a large social gathering. The old building .was neither attractive nor convenient, but £600 and the builders' art has transformed it into a most presentable structure, with accommodation for 400 worshippers. A good programme of music and song was presented last night, and the various speakers congratulated the local Methodist mm iste'r (Rev. A. J. Seamer)^and congregation on the great progress made by them in eyery way during the past few months. Contrary to what was experienced at Lower Hutt on Monday evening, perfect order prevailed at the public meeting in the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone,, held last night in connection -with the Tramway Board proposals. Not once were the speakers interrupted, and appreciation of this fact wa3 expressed by the chairman of the board (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan). Advocates of the trams contend that tho tenor -of the meeting augurs welT for a vote favourable to the proposal being cast by a majority of the Pelone ratepayers. At the same •time, it is not gainsaid that the "silent vote" njust be taken into accoiint. Speaking to a Post repiesentative, the Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewati) gave him to understand that he preferred not to say anything at the present on the subject of amalgamation.