Local and General News

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 5, 3 July 1946, Page 7

Local and General News

Shops at Naenae Several shops are to be opened at Naenae within the next few weeks, thus filling a great want. Upper Hutt Rates The Upper Hutt Borough Council has fixed a consolidated rate of 1/ in the £ for the year 1946-7. Calls to Fires The Lower Hutt Fire Brigade received three calls during the week. The fires were minor outbreaks and very little damage was done. Hotel at Glacier Negotiations are proceeding fior the purchase of the Glacier HoTel. at the Franz Joseph Glacier, by the Government. Facilities at Railway Station The matter of storage facilities at the Lower Hutt railway station will be discussed at the next meeting of the executive council of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. Success at Bird Show 1 At the Wellington Canary and Cage Club’s annual show last week E. and F. Monks, oi' Lower Hutt, were first and runner-up in the class lor best foreign bird. V High Prices l'or Concqrts For concerts given in London by Jeanette MacDonald, the film star singer, the prices charged for admission were five, three and two guineas. Flowers and Bank Balances “1 get more excited over bulbs, or bluebells, or begonias, than 1 do over bank balances,” said Lady Duff, in opening the Hutt Valley High School’s winter flower show last week. Hutt Players Chosen The following members of. the Hutt Football Club have been included in the 'Wellington team to play New Zealand Universities at Wellington on Saturday:—King (three-quarters), Paewai (halfback) and Rogers (forward). Taxation Kills Initiative “Taxation has killed the initiative of millers and everyone else,” said a speaker at the last meeting of the executive council of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, when the housing shortage was under discussion. Debt on Hall It was reported at the annual meeting of the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society that the Society’s indebtedness on account of debentures was reduced by £3OO during the year, leaving a balance of £I7OO now owing on the hall. Royal New Zealand Navy H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia, '•which, is' in the United Kingdom reverting to the. Royal Navy, will be replaced in the Royal New Zealand. Navy by H.M.S. Bellona, also of th'e improved Dido class, and not by H.M.S. Diadem as ..originally announced.

Relief for Poultrykeepers According to the president .of the Hutt Valley Poultry Breeders’ Association, Mr. B. Matthews, the introduction of a standard poultry mash, announced by the Minister of Agriculture, has met with the approval of breeders. He said he considered it was the best way of overcoming the present shortage. Manpower Control Ended ~ All manpower controls ended on Saturday. The industries covered by declarations of essentiality up to the end of June were freezing and casing works, sawmilling, forestry; and coal mining. / Naval Men Entertained On Saturday afternoon and evening the Gracetleld School Farents’ Association will entertain fifty members of the crew of H.M.S. Achilles in return for hospitality shown to children during their visits to cruisers. Parking Problems The Petone Borough Council, at Its last meeting, set up a committee to make a long-term study of parking problems. One councillor said that congestion was reaching an impossible stage and the council should support any suggestions which would improve the position. New Public Slot Telephone Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., has been advised by the Post-Master General that his Department has agreed to erect a public telephone at the junc'tion of Normandale and Miro Miro Roads, Normandale and that he expects the work to be put in hand as soon as labour is available. Dominion "Bowling Tournament The council of the New Zealand Bowling Association has chosen February 4 as the opening day of the 1947 Dominion championship tournament in Wellington. This is several weeks later than usual. The principal reason for postponing the tournament is the lack of hotel accommodation in Wellington early in January. Drift to Towns A remit pas'seS at the annual conference of delegates from Agricultural and Pastoral Associations expressed grave concern at ‘‘the drift of population from the country to the towns and the general growing apathy toward farming, particularly: by the younger members of our rural communities t ”

Parliament and Transport Parliament assembled to-day instead of yesterday this week owing to transport difficulties between the North and South Islands. Next week, too, it will not assemble until Wednesday. Why Not Petone? Mr. W. A. Fisher raised a laugh at a meeting of the executive council of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce during a discussion on a suggestion that Lowef Hutt’s name should be altered by the omission )f the word “Lower.” “Why not call it Petone,” he asked. Thanks to Press “We extend our special thanks to the local press for the space it devoted to the reports of the various shows; this has materially stimulated public interest in our organisation, and we desire to acknowledge it,” says the annual report of the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society. New Zealand Singer’s Success Cable news was received this week that Mr. Keith Priscott, of Hamilton, won the Baritone section at the London Music Festivals Mr. Pfliscott, who served in the merchant navy during the war, was granted a bursary at the Royal College of Music, London, by the New Zealand Government last year. “It’s An 111 Wind!” The old adage, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good,” was exemplified in ,the Hutt Valley recent, ly. At the last meeting of the Hutt River Board the engineer, Mr. H. Sladden, stated that a fresh in the river had washed away a considerable obstruction. “It finished the work very satisfactorily,” he said. Eager Purchasers “Ninety-nine per cent of the trouble is not caused by the vendors, but by the purchasers, who are so eager to get a property that they will offer anything,” said Mr. N. T. Gillespie, at a meeting of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, when discussing new regulations under the Land Sales Act. Rail Tickets on Buses The schedule of hours during which rail tickets are available for travel by bus between the Hutt Valley and Wellington during the railway restrictions has been revised and extended. The new schedule permits holders of rail tickets from Melling to Wellington to travel by bus between 7.45 a.m. and 8.30 a.m„ on Saturdays. Address to Rotary Club At the last meeting of the Hutt Rotary Club a very interesting address on prison conditions was.giveiu by Mr. B. L. Dallard, Under-Secre-tary of the Justice Department and Controller-General of Prisons. The speaker was introduced by Mr. E. F. Rothwell, and at the. close of the address a hearty vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. N. T. Gillespie. Victo'ry Day—Bread Rationed “London to-day (Victory Day) is . a mass of seething humanity. All the buses and underground trains stopped running at 9 a.m.,” says a New Zealander in London, writing to a representative of the Hutt.. News. “It seems, a farce to hold such a parade, with all the present shortages. Bfead is rationed now, and it is nearly black. There is not much savour of victory in things and everyone here says so.” Young People Help Church At a meeting of the Young Members’ Club of St. James’ Church last week plans to help the Vicar to make the schoolroom more comfortable for church services were discussed, and it was decided to hold an entertainment on behalf of the furnishing fund on July 29 and 30. It is hoped that the public will give the move the support -it deserves. Just in Time Members of the Hutt - River Board got through their business at the last meeting just in time. At.the end Of a long meeting there was just one job to be done—the affixing of the signature of the chairman, Mr, F. S. Hewer, to three documents. Mr. Hewer had signed two of the papers when suddenly there was darkness; the electric power cut had come. The third document was signed by the light of a match. Still Interested at 91. The local horticultural veteran, Mr. H. J. Poole, who has been confined to his home for some time, attended the annual meeting of the Horticultural Society last week and was warmly welcomed by the president, Mr. N. B. Gibbons, who expressed the hope that Mr. Poole would attend many more annual meetings. In reply Mr. Poole said that lie doubted this as he would be 91 years oT age in September. Nurses’ Convalescent Cottage An interesting brochure issued by the Wellington Hospital Nurses’ Convalescent and. Beach Cottage Society states that £3500 has been raised towards the £6OOO or possibly £6500 required to purchase and equip a suitable site ancf building. An appeal for help in establishing the project will - doubtless receive wide support, as a way of expressing gratitude and appreciation of the splendid work done by nurses,