ELECTRIC POWER AT RAPAKI

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24679, 24 September 1945, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER AT RAPAKI

♦ AMENITIES AT MAORI VILLAGE KUIA SWITCHES ON LIGHTS When Mrs K. Couch, “kuia,” or oldest woman resident of Rapaki Pa, switched on the electric lights in the meeting hall on Saturday night, one of the final amenities of modern civilisation was brought to the little, cen-turies-old village. Some years ago a water supply was laid. on to Rapaki from Lyttelton, recently a telephone bureau was established, and, served by a tar-sealed State highway, the village is a very different place from that iff which, m the sixties, Canon Stack spent an uncomfortable night as the guest of “Happy Jack” and his wife when overtaken by darkness on a journey on horseback from Little River to Lyttelton. To mark the occasion of the introduction of electricity to the pa, a banquet and social was held, about 150 residents and guests attending. Mr Ruru Watene, chairman of -the Upoko•Runanga, presided, and welcomed the guests, who included the member for Southern Maori, the Hon. E, T. Tirikatene, and Mrs Tirikatene, the Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr W. T. Lester) and Mrs Lester, Mr J. Thompson, town clerk, and Mr R. N. Thomas, borough engineer, of Lyttelton, and the deputychairman of the Banks Peninsula Electric Power Board (Mr F. R. E. Davis). Mr Watene said that, although only one mile and a half from the power lines of the Lyttelton Borough Council. Rapaki had for years been unable to obtain a supply. He thanked the Mayor and councillors for their action which resulted in current being obtained from the power board. 'There was a touch of sadness with the passing of the kerosene lamps, said Mr Tirikatene. The old lamps had shone on many joyous gatherings, and some sad ones, during long years. But there could be no doubt abotH the benefits of electricity and he hoped the residents would avail themselves of it to the fullest extent, not only for lighting but for the many laboursaving appliances which it brought within their reach. He agreed that charges for current should be more even as between town and country districts. He thanked the Lyttelton Borough Council and the Banks Peninsula Power Board and their respective officers for the good wofk they had done. “It is nice to have two local bodies competing with their offers,” said Mr Tirikatene, “then we do get something done, and speedily.”

Meat for France.— R.A.F. machines yesterday flew 850 tons of meat to France. This is part of the 50,000' tons which Britain has promised to pass on to France out of her purchases from the Argentine.—London, Sept. 21. Turkish Ambassador To Japan.— General Mac Arthur has asked the Japanese Government for information concerning the whereabouts and welfare of the Turkish Ambassador and his staff.—Tokyo, September 21.