Hutt Valley —Weekly News Letter

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12356, 28 January 1926, Page 6

Hutt Valley —Weekly News Letter

(From /3ur Special Correspondents.)

PETONE BEACH IMPROVEMENT. The council has at last decided that our beach is worth some thought. Councillor Scholefield is to be congratulated on the motion brought forward hy him being carried unanimously. The Beautifying Society, during the last three years, has held three carnivals, and has endeavoured by other means to make our citizens realise the beach is one of our big asset. It has placed on the beach seats, section of ornamental fences with several gardens, but the motion now passed •by the council will bring that body and the Beautifying Society together for the purpose of having a design ,at once prepared for the laying opt of the beach from the Koro Koro stream to the river, the successful competitor to receive £IOO. The whole scheme is one that should meet with the approval of the citizens as a whole, and when completed should place our beach beyond question as the best equipped and safest in New Zealand. Of course, this can be accomplished only by "the whole-hearted support of the townspeople, but we feel sure this support will be accorded the Council and Beautifying Society. ROWING More than ordinary interest is being manifested in the contest for the Mothes Shield, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 6th. The local crews are in hard training, and will without douht give a good aocount of themselves against the city clubs. TENNIS. The Pononga Tennis Club, which has leased for' ten years from the council enough land for four courts, has had the same put down in bitumen, and they will he officially opened on Saturday, January 3C)th next. PERSONAL The borough inspector (Mr W. B. Gough) will attend the annual _ conference of sanitary inspectors, which is being held at Dunedin. Mr J. Jacobson has been appointed to attend the Methodist Conference as delegate from Petone, to be held in Dunedin.’ Mr H. A. Appleyard, manager of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Boards works, will attend the annual conference of gas managers at Timaru. The 28 Scouts under Scoutmaster R. Nelson of the Petone troop returned from the Dunedin jamboree on Monday morning. The boys all looked fit, and reported having had a good time. Lieutenant Dorun and Foreman Silberg, of the Lower Hutt , and Petone fire brigades, have been nominated for president and vice-president of the. United Districts Fire Brigade Association. , Mr A. Coles returned from Dunedin last Saturday. VALEDICTORY The farewell to Captain and Mrs S. Inwood, of the Salvation Army, took place last Tuesday night. The hall was packed to the doors, and farewell addresses were delivered hy the Rev. Lochore and Loun. Captain and: Mrs lnwood have made themselves very

popular . during their stay here. They have given good service to the townCommandant and Mrs Glanville were welcomed to .fill the vacancy last week. THAT SHARK! Quite a sensation was caused here ilast week when it was reported that a large shark hhd been caught off the beach, but on making inquiries we find that it was captured near the Koro Koro stream, and well away from the bathing area. FIRE BRIGADES The conference bf the United Districts iFire Brigades’ Association will be held in Petone, and will extend over four days. LOWER HUTT PERSONAL ' Mr Win. Hughes, a prominent member otf the Hutt Cricket Club t who has recently undergone a very serious operation, is still in a private hospital in a very critical condition. Miss Aileen Noble has returned from a visit to Dunedin. Mr H. Harman and family are spending a few days at Lowry Bay. Mr D. G. Ewen returned to Lower Hutt from his English trip by the s.s. R.uahine last Sunday. Mrs Noble is visiting her daughter in Nelson. SUMMER CAMP ~ The New Zealand Methodist Young Ladies’ Bible Class Union recently held a summer camp in Lower Hutt. They were quartered in the rooms of the Eastern Hutt School, and spent a very enjoyable week. They were loud in their admiration of the beautiful grounds attached to the school. A considerable area of the school grounds has been laid out in lawns, gardens, and shrubberies, and is kept in order by the school children with assistance from the school committee. Eastern Hutt School is fortunate in having enough playing area to be able to spare ground to make the school more attractive. TO LESSONS The school holidays are finished, and once more children will have to commence at their various schools. The schools in the Hutt Valley have received their summer clean up, and in both the Eastern and Western Hutt Schools increased spaces have been laid down in asphalt, providing further tennis courts and clean places for the children to romp; The Hutt Valley is well off for schools, no fewer than six public and one private schools being situated between the Hutt railway station and Taita. ’ The Eastern Hutt School picnic is to be held at Maidstone Park on February 27 th. LOWRY BAY PROGRESS Lowry Bay, Lower Hutt residents’ nearest seaside resort, has so grown in popularity that within the lasi; week the ratepayers there formed a ratepayers' association called “Thei Lowry Bay Extension Ratepayers’ Association.” Representations have _ been made to the Hutt County Council for various improvements, and hopes are entertained for the immediate erection of a bathing shelter for .the use of visitors and residents. On a fine ijay as many as 200 people bathe in the bay, and during the summer months there are over 300 people living in the residences. Five years ago the total Hummer population numbered about 30.

The proprietors of the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, are proceeding to enlarge and renovate the present structure. Provision has been made to erect a dress circle, bringing ; the seating accommodation up to 1300 people, making it the second largest picture theatre in Wellington district. A new danpe hall is also being arranged for. UPPER HUTT personal Mr A. J. McCurdy, chairman of the Upper Hutt Town Board and member of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, is leaving with Mrs McCurdy Oh a visit to Dunedin Exhibition. While in Dunedin Mr McCurdy will represent the Upper Hutt Town Board as delegate to the Municipal Conference, and with Mr J. W. McEwan, who is going south hy the same boat, will visit the Waipori power station. Mrs Dr. Spencer, of Hamilton, is spending a holiday with her mother. Mrs E. Balcomibe-Brown, at Maori Bank. Mrs L. Benge, of Taumamnui, 's visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs J. A. Hazelwood, Main road, Upper Hutt. ELECTION NOTES At the forthcoming election the following liavp signified their intention to seek election as councillors: .Tas. Blevvman. Jas. Greenwood, and T. 8. Bttrrcil for No. 1 ward, and J. IC. Johnston, chairman of the Trentlinm Ratepayers’ Association, A. Howell, and L. Kitchen for No. 2 ward. The Mayoralty promises to he a straight-out contest between Messrs A. J. McCurdy and W. H. P. Barber. BOWLS ’ The Upper Hutt Bowlins' Club played two friendly panics with Tliorndon Club and one with Petone Central during the week-end, and had three wins. The rink against Tliorndon, at Tliorn•lnn, Forrest, Allan. Pepner, and Goodwin (skip) won hy six points, and Burrell, Butler, Robertson, and Greenwood (skip), against the same club at home, won by the same margin. A GOOD SAVE At'2 p.m. on Sunday last a fire broke out in Milne’s drapery store, Main road, Upper Hutt. The local fire brigade was quickly on the scene and effected a splendid save. Mr Milne was "laying howls at Petone at the time. The building, which is very old. is owned by Mr Edward Wilkie, of Wellington. WEDNESDAY HALF-HOLIDAY At a special meeting of the Town Board held on Tuesday last it was decided to adhere to Wednesday ns the statutory weekly half-holiday in the town .district-