HUTT AND PETONE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7023, 11 January 1910, Page 7

HUTT AND PETONE

SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. PETONE TOLL GIVE WELLINGTON A LEAD. Petone Borough Council strong for the Saturday half-holiday By 6t02 it gave its delegate.to a coherence which it was understood the law required should bo hold explicit instructions tiiat Saturday must be the day selected and no other. -The »«; lief was that Petone and Lower Jiutt must each appoint a delegate, they to fix a day to bo observed by both boroughs. The Mayor of Lower Hutt, however, ruled that this stop was unnecessary, and his council accordingly fixed a day, and fixed Wednesday. Apparently it remains for tho Petone Council to ratify its last night b resolution at its next meeting. In-tho meantime business people wiU have an opportunity of making known their sentiments on the matter. Councillor Short was tho first councillor to broach the Saturday proposition Was it not competent for the council to move in that direction? he asked. . Tho Mayor said that if the people wanted Saturday they could very easily got it. by proceeding along right lines. They would requiro to petition Councillor Piper contended that the petition was only a matter of courtesy. Tho Act did not require it. The Mayor agreed that this was so. Councillor Short then moved that tho Mayor (who had already been appointed the council's delegate) bo instructed to use iris best endeavours to havo Saturday selected. Councillor Piper: "We, don t want him to use his best endeavours at all. Wo want him to support Saturday. Let us just tell him that that's what he's got to do." Councillor Piper moved an amendment to that effect. The amendment, which was seconded by Councillor Trueman, was carried, Councillors Short, Southgato, Jones, List, and Trueman voting for, and Councillors Oolquhoun and Harding against it. Councillor Short then withdrew his motion. "It is ridiculous to talk of Saturday unless it's universal," commented Councillor Harding. "For Saturday to bo observed hero and Wednesday in Wellington would be a farco." Councillor Piper: "Petone will set the lead to Wellington in this matter the same as it did in the mattor of tho eight hours day." "A WORKING MAN'S PLACE." PETONE AND AIR SPACE. A movement in tho direction of modifying the restrictions regarding tho frontages required to sections facing streets other than the main street on which it is intended to erect business promises was initiated at last night's meeting of the Petone Borough. Council. At present tho'by-laws make no distinction between shop 3 and dwellings in the amount of air space required save in regard to sections fronting Jackson street or within one hundred feet thereof. Councillor Southgato moved that the clerk be instructed to draft a by-law providing that tho modification ruling in respect to Jackson street shall apply throughout the borough, in other words that shops in brick or concrete should bo allowed to bo erected anywhere on the smallest of sections. It was well known, said the mover, that tho erection of sho]« in tho borough had been prevented fcy the present restriobions. Councillor Short seconded tho motion. Councillor Piper said it was all very well to say "consider the progress of the town." but there wore two ways of looking at , tho question. One way, and tho best way, was to absolutely prohibit tho crowding together of houses in what had been reserved as tho residential area. Former councils in their wisdom had enacted that certain minimum amounts of air space should be provided, and there seemed to bo a tendency to make a general attack on this provision and to introduce » state of state into which the council nearly allowed the town to get a year or two ago. Councillor Southgato, in replying, said that in Petone larger air spaces wore required than in any other borough he knew. Councillor Piper: "Let's keep it so." Councillor Southgato: "Petono is going to he a working man's place, not a gents' residence." Tho motion was carried. PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tho Petone Borough Council met last night, the Mayor (Mr J. W- Mo-j

Ewmi) and Councillors Short, Harding, Trueman, Jones, List, Piper, feouthgato, and Colquhoun bomg present. The Wellington bocioty forwarded a copy of the Gazette " notice proclaiming portion or the catchment area a sanctuary tor birds Tho thanks of the society was tendered the council for expediting tho movement, and it was intimated that steps wcro being taken to havo tho oaxetakor, Mr J. C. Davis, appointed a ranger under tho Animals Protection Act. The .Department of Lands and burvev supplied details of work required to" allow of street survey levels being accurately defined, and offered to supply the necessary export labour if tho council would defray the cost. Several blocks, it was mentioned, wore missing, whilst others reqxiircd lowering and others raising.—Department to bo authorised to do the woTk. Tho engineer said ho doubted whether a proper search had been mado for tho blocks alleged to be missing. _ The engineer leported on the progress of the eastern drainago scheme. Certain important questions in regard to connections would be brought forward at the nest meeting. The report was adopted. The tender of Mr H. Savage for supplying dog-collars at prices ranging from 4s up to 9s 6d per dozen (total' amount £7 Is 6d) was accepted. CEMETERY CONTROL. A letter from the secretary of tho Taita Cemetery Board outlined the procedure which it was proposed to follow to give effect to tho recent decisions of the governing bodies •_ for the remodelling of its constitution. Tho local bodies would probably bo asked to appoint delogates to draw up an agreement. This, together with the resignation of the trustees, would then ho submitted to tho Governor-in-Council, with a request that it bo gazetted as effectual. The Mayor remarked that a meeting of the board had been convened to deal with tho matter. FINANCIAL. The treasurer's report showed that £1350 of the £2350 No. 1 waterworks account had been received and £125-1 expended. Tho contingent liability on tho same account amounted to £325 14s lid. Of tho £IOOO wharf loan £b'oo 12s had been expended, the balanco being to credit. Tho recreation ground No. 2 loan of £2500 was £1445 in credit, £1154 having been expended. The district fund account disoloscd tho following position : —Nelson street drainage or. £644, eastorai drainage cr. £0275, wharf loan dr. £B9B, recreation loan dr. £1173, payment gas plant (purchased by lower Hutt) dr. £4807. trust and contractors' deposits dr. £IG2, gas deposits dr. £3OB, bank overdraft £4942, actual debit balance £5172. Accounts to the amount of £699 were passed for payment. LOWER HUTT BOROUGH. MEETING OF THE CO PNOIL. The Lower Hutt Borough Council held its first mooting of the.new year last evening, the following being present: The Mayor (Mr E. P. Bunny), and Councillors Baldwin, Anson, Mowbray, Kcmpthorno, Hayes, Barlow; Pearce, and MJacaskill. Tho resolution previously passed authorising tho levying of a speoial rate of 1-lOd in the pound for the purpose of providing interest and other charges on the £IO,OOO loan for drainage works 'was confirmed. Potono Borough Council, in regard bo the question of amalgamation of the two boroughs, suggested that representatives of Lower Hutt Council should meet Pefcone in open council with a view to considering the proposal, tho proceedings of suoh meeting to be placed before the ratepayers of both boroughs. Tho Mayor said_ there would bo no hajin in discussing the proposal. It was decided to invite Potono Council to meet Lower Hutt Council at some convenient date to consider matters relating to amalgamation proposal. Wednesday was fixed as tho weekly half-holiday for the ensuing twelve months.

The Mayor was appointed to represent tho borough at the election of members of the Wellington Harbour Board on February 14th next.

The Lands and Survey Office wrote with respect to standard survey blocks that in a number of cases existing blocks required raising and others lowering, whilst some new caps and plates wore required. The department asked whether the council would make an additional fifteen or twenty blocks for use along tho Main road to Upper Hutt The request is to bo acceded to. The tender of G. Savage for the supply of dog collars at a cost of 5s 6d. per,dozen was accepted, being tho lowest.

A report was submitted by. the boTotiach ensrinopr shoivinK thai tlio plostervrnx of tho new pcffmr house for eowago works was finished, the fitting

up of tho hydraulic engines to tho intercepting chamber septic tank and tho outfall wero completed, and that the working of tho machinery was satisfactory. With tho completion.* of the sower in Railway avonuo and about five chains in Victoria street, tho r.iiolo of tho mains would be laid on the western sido as far as the railway crossing at Belmont road..—Tho council will meet at tho power houso on Friday for the purpose of inspecting tho works.

It was reported that fourteen connections had been mado with the water .mains since last meeting, making a 'total of 513 to date. The extension of tlio water mains at White's Lino East was completed. Some discussion • ensued regarding the necessity of facilities being given to residents" of Alieotowiij who were 'una.ble immediately to bear the expense, to connect with the sewerage system. Councillor Baldwin moved that a. committee, consisting of the Mayor, tho mover and Councillor Anson, be appointed to consider ways and meaus of assisting the ratepayers in that locality to connect with the system, j This was carried on division by five votes to three. Tho borough engineer intimated that the drains would be (Complete for connection with the sys- i tern within the next two weeks. It | was suggested that no compulsory steps should be taken until it was ascertained how many owners or residents would voluntarily connect their residences with the system. Consideration of tho reports by the borough engineor and Mr Laing-Mea-son in reference to tho diversion of Everest's creek was deferred imtil next mooting, the engineers" not yet having had an opportunity of consulting on ■tho matter. Councillor Baldwin moved, on behalf of Councillor Clere, "That.tenders ho invited for tho first section of tho sewage drainago works on tho eastern side of tho river." With the consent of tho oouucil tho mover was permitted to proposo an amendment to tho motion calling for alternative tenders .—one for the completion of the whole work and the other for the opening and closing of the trenches after the pipes had "been laid by tho council's own men.—Tho amendment was lost and tho original motion earned, the tenders to bo returnable by 'tho 29th inist. A roquest was made that tho council .should do certain work for the Lower 'Hutt School Committee, the cost thereof to bo charged against tho committee. Aftor a discussion concerning (the othics of tho council doing work, ifor other local bodies in competition with tradesmen, a motion that tho work should bo done* by the council's employees lapsed for want of a seconder. The next meeting of the council will bo hold on tho 26th inst. UPPER HUTT RIFLE CLUB. On Saturday the Upper Hutt Rifle Club continued ite competitions for fcroghiea presented by Messrs J., T., and r. Benge, H. A. Anderson, W. Greig, and A. Armstrong; scores also counting for the Wilford, Keys, and Tod aggregates. W. Greig and A. AUam secured "logs in."' Following were the highest

The Potono Borough Council commenced the Now Year well last night. It got through ah order paper _ embodying some fairly important subjects in tho record timo of fifty-five minutes. The qualifications of tho Petone borough engineer are not confined to the sphere recognised by his profession. Reporting last night on his .■stewardship over a period (extending through the holiday season) during which he had combined tho duties of Town Clerk with those ordinarily filled by him, ho mentioned that the sum paid in at the office •by ratepayers during tho period amounted to £921, as compared with £420 and £SSS paid in during'tho Christmas seasons of 1907 and 1908 respectively. The efficacy of a threat of service of a "blue paper" has been discovered by.,in© Petone Town Clerk. His council showed an inclination last night to delay giving him authority which he sought enabling him to sue for rates. "I may tell the council right away that the rates will not bo collected either by mo or by anyone else if you do not give me tho authority," said Mr Webster. The request was granted, the clerk giving his assurance that the expedient would bo resorted to only as a last resort. Vagaries in the.volume of tho flow through the borough water mains wore the subjeot of a comprehensive report (recently submitted by the Petone Dorough engineer to his oouncil. At one point the pressure recorded-on one day during December was as low as 251 b. The substance of the report was that wasteful practices on the part of users was responsible. _ The theory that there was a defect in the mains between the Wbollen Mills and the intake was discredited by the fact that the tank v was filled in 11 hours 57 minutes —twenty minutes, less than the. time based on the calculated delivery of 370 gallons per minute.

scores: — W. Graig L. Kitchen' J. Whitemaj 200 500 yds. yds. ... 32 32 ... 29 . 31 i ... 33 25 600 yds. SO 27 32 Hp. so - G60 - 'n. -91 -93 - 90 Tuko Whitemam (4), 88; (4),'86; F.'Wilkie, 83. T. F. Thou aeon B Class. A. Allan C. AHan A. Boyd. J: Muttin. ... 26 30 ... 27 22 ... 26 29 -;..- 29 28 21 19 20 18 8 • 9 - eo - ' SO - - 80 — 77 -75 -75