PETONE AND LOWER HUTT.

New Zealand Mail, 21 July 1892, Page 19

PETONE AND LOWER HUTT.

The question of raising a loan of £25,000 for improving the town of Petone is evoking much discussion, and there is considerable difference of opinion on the subject. The general opinion at present is that the proposal will not be carried, but it is hoped that the Bill now before Parliament, asking for an amendment in the Act regulating the voting in regard to raising loans, will be passed. It is felt that as long as non.voters count against the proposal, it is useless to go to the ratepayers, as the requisite majoiity of votes could not be obtained. Another section of the community are of opinion that the sum asked for is too large, and that the consequent additional rates would burden property too much, and thus tend to retard the progress of the town. This class, I believe, however, ar* in the minority, and I also believe that the more enterprising and go-ahead members of the community are generally in favour of the measure —that is, under conditions of which they approve. The necessity for an improved drainage system is admitted by everyone, and our roads and footpaths are not in a condition favourable to the attraction of new settlers, or the comfort of the present inhabitants. However, until the fate of the Bill now before Parliament is known, it is idle to speculate on the matter. I trust that now that the Borough Council has put its hand to the plough, it will not relax its efforts until they are crowned with success. Mr Pinkerton, the popular host of the Railway Hotel, l ower Hutfc, took his de parture this week for Victoria, en route for the Old Country, where be intends to make a prolonged stay. He has leased his house to Mr Tait, late of Ngahauranga, who took possession on Monday lasq and who, from his previous record will make things ‘ hum.’ Mr Pinkerton has been highly esteemed during his sojourn here, extending over a period of nearly eight years, and his many friends wish him a pleasant trip and hope for his ultimate return to the district.

The young ladies of the Lower Hutt have displayed sufficient spirit to organise a Leap Year Ball, which will take place on Thursday evening. I only hope that the ladies will take full advantage of the occasion, and, if so, I reckon that some of the backward male persuasion will be induced to toe the mark, or else for ever afterwards hold their tongues. A poundkeeper’s life, like that of a policeman’s, is not a happy one. No sooner is an unfortunate animal placed in the charge of the official poundkeeper than its value suddenly seems to increase to an extraordinary degree. Its value may have been correctly appraised at 10s while it was roaming at large, but immediately it is consigned to tfc« clutohes of the poundkeeper, by an unknown law its circulating consideration is estimated at just so many pounds. A case in point happened here on Monday last. An unfortunate animal, whose career it would take a Rudyard Kipling to describe, waß, according to statute so provided, duly submitted to

auction on Monday last. Its previous performances, as described by a well-known dealer in horse flesh, were worthy of the best traditions of ‘ The Wild West ’; nevertheless, a well-known speculator in horse flesh ventured on a bid, which was accepted. The question w r as immediately thereafter raised as to what the purchaser intended to do with the animal, but to all such queries he merely answered by * winking the other eye.’ The weather on Monday last was very favourable for a pleasant day’s run with the hounds at the Taiti. There was a large attendance of visitors, the weather was favourable, and the general opinion was that the Taiti is the ‘ happy hunting ground ’ of the Wellington district. The Hunt Club are to be congratulated upon the excellence of their arrangements for this and previous meets.