KAPONGA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 September 1926, Page 10

KAPONGA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) TOWN BOARD ESTIMATES FOR. 1926-7. A special final meeting of the retiring Kaponga Town Board was held, on .Thursday evening, when there were present: Commissioners A. R. Bates (chairman), C. E. Betts, J. A. Dawson. A. J. Herbert, D. J. Kehely, R. A. Law, and R. E. Williams. In reference to levelling the surface of the playing area, on Victoria Park, the Town Clerk (Mr G. P. Cook) reported that no tenders had been received. He had been approached by Mr J. Murphy, who undertook to do the work on day labuor (supplying all drays and requisite implements free of charge) at the rate of 14s per day per man for labour and: 10s per day per horse, subject to the board’s appointment of a. supervisor to undertake the passing of all levels required and generally direct, the placing of material in position. The board approved the principle of day labour, and directed the clerk to endeavour to secure the .services of Mr E. Blackwell to work in conjunction with Mr Murphy.

THE ESTIMATES

The clerk then presented the estimates for the year 1926-7. These provide for a total expenditure of £7702, the principal items comprising: Office salaries, building alterations and l supplies,- £536; roads and streets, £420; annual l reduction of antecedent liability, £385; general, £2oo;' town hall (maintenance and custodian), £116; street lighting, £35; electrical department—salaries, £650; maintenance, £525; rental (Kapongai Dairy Company), £820; meters, £200; new governor,' £210; transformers, £100; travelling expenses, £160; stationery ' and sundries, £80; power house renovation, £1020; interest accounts, £l7lO. . The major portion of the estimated income -will fie drawn from the following sources: Surplus from 1925-6, £800; subsidies, licenses and fees, £227; town hall receipts. £SO; extraordinary water supply charges,- £80: municipal cinema, £720; electrical sales, £3500; insurances, etc., ini respect to damaged pow T er house, £628 housing -loan, repayments, £317. GENERAL RATE STRUCK.

To balance the estimated expenditure of £7702, it was decided to levy a rate for the current year of 3|d in the £, made up of general (town, district), lid (county), jjd; street, lighting, gd ; water and drainage Joan, Jd; town district loan, §d. In commenting upon the estimates, the chairman said that, on -account of the newer, house loss by fire, the present, "would no doubt -prove the most strenuous year in the board's history, as, not only were thev faced with the replacement of the plant actually destroyed, but in addition, in order to ensure absolute certainty of a regular supply of power, there will be -a- considerable outlav on spare -parts for the generator, besides the new governor and extensive additions to the meter equipment. These items alone entailed an . extraordinarv expenditure of £560. The chairman also remarked on the alterations to the office buildings arising out of necessity of providing a showroom in connection -with the newly-established trading department. The latter was already showing a substantial margin of profit in regard to installations' and repair-s, and it was confidentlv expected that the completion of the showroom, by allowing the display of electrical appliances, would open a still -more remunerative avenue in the board’s enternrises. COMPLIMENTARY.

At- the conclusion of the meeting, the chairman stated that this was the last meeting of the board prior to the forthcoming election and he wished to place on record his appreciation of the spirit of amity and co-operation which had marked the conduct of the board’s business in the past. The standard had not been lowered one iota during their term of office. He knew that he always had the loyal support of every member and, though he had not always satisfied himself, he could nevertheless look back over his term in the light of a happy memory. He much regretted the fact that Commissioner J. A. Dawson had decided not to seek re-election In his opinion Cr. Dawson had consistently viewed board matters with a fair and open mind, and had earned the respect- of every one of his fellow members

Commissioner Dawson, in reply, thanked the chairman for hi® expressions of goodwill and voiced his regret that pressure of private business debarred him from again seeking a seat on the board. He felt sure that the close of this year would see the electrical business firmly established, proving a profitable- asset, to the town, and extended his best wishes for the success of the in-coming board. CROQUET CLUB BALL,

The annual ball held under the auspices of the Kaponga Croquet Club was, from both a, financial and social view point, a decided success. An energetic committee, under the supervision of the club’s president (Mrs. A. V. Tait), consisting of Mesdames C. H. Biewer (secretary), R. G. Cook, J. A. Dawson, .1 Evans, J. H. Gardener, J. Guy, A. H. Hawkins, J. Hey, W. C. Hislop, S. C. Knight, W. O’Neill, S. Renton, K. Rothe, J. Scanlon, and J. Tattersall, had made complete arrangements for the conduct of the function, and to them much-of the success thereof is due. The hall, stage and supper room decorations in flowers, evergreens and- streamers, were artistically executed by Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Kniglit, the club’s colours being cleverly and pleasingly represented in a wealth of blue anemones, yellow narcissi and intricate mazes of blue and yellow streamers. The lay-out of the supper tallies was in the capable hands of Mrs. R. D. Dagg and reflected credit. Messrs. C. H. Brewer and S. C. Knight carried out the duties of M’s.C. and their untiring efforts, combined with music supplied by Boulton’s full orchestra, left nothing to be desired. During the supper interval extras were played by Misses Bennie and Evans. Messrs, W. H. L. Roberts and R. E. Williams rendered valued assistance to the ladies’ committee as jointtreasurers.