EKETAHUNA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3108, 5 February 1909, Page 5

EKETAHUNA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Thursday. ' IPiie 1 weather is keeping very fine ' ant! hw. The thermometer has not registered! so high since the drought of last year. Mr Claste has disposed of his bootmaking business to Mr J. Sutherland. Mr and Mrs Merewether, who are leaving the district, were entertained on Tufesday night at the Antrlican Schoolroom, when Mrs Merewether was presented with a silver-mounted mirror. Mr Page, on behalf of friends, and the Rev. Kitcat, on behalf of the Women's Auxiliary, voiced the regret felt at the departure of such willing workers and popular residents from their midst, and expressed every good wish for their future prosperity. Mr S. Bartlett is making good progress with the erection of the powerhouse for the electric light. He expects to complete his contract by the end of the mouth. The shareolders of the proposed Co-operative Store Company will meet on Saturday next to make final arrangements for floating the Company. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the electric light power house was performed this afternoon. The Mayor gave an outline of the proceedings leading up to the discussion to instal electricity in Eketahuna. The old Town Board had discussed the lighting of the town, and had decided that the present system which cost the ratepayers £IOO per year should give way to a better j one, which would only cost £l5O per year in interest, and he felt confident that in three or four years' time the position would be reversed, and that the profits would be £l5O or more. The machinery whkh was of a very delicate nature, would cost £I,BOO, and it was necessary to make the building dust proof and substantial. Cr Mead had suggested that the building should be built brick, an} the arguments wtre all in fav'Gtor of brick. It would cost from £125 to £l3-5 mure to builci In tha" wood, but it; was found that the eleC* trie station insurance rati on wooden or iron buildings was 45 per cent., while the rate on brick was lo ptf cgiit, whlnh_ would z saving in Insurance of £29 5s per year. The interest on the cost of construction of the power-house would be £27 10s, so that the saving by building in brick would more than cover the cost of construction In fact the saving would actually be £4O 10s per year as the walls and partitkrs were all brick, and the floors concrete. The only wcod was in the roof. It had been said that the. Council we"-e going too fast, and' spending too freely. He had just 1 looked up the official year book, and he lound that Eketahuna was the lowest rated borough in New Zealand, and the general rates in adjacent towns were:—Masterton, 3d; Pahiatua, 2d; Woodville, 3|d; Napier, lid (he only quoted the latter to show what rating meant), while Eketahuna was only in the£, with practically no special rates. The amount of the tender for the power house had not been made public. He would x.ow give the ratepayers the figures, which were: — Taylor and Hodges, £745; Cjradine and WHittaker, £725; E. Rendle, £6lO 10s; S. Bartleti, £521 10s. His - Worship then called on Mrs Herbert to lay the stone, which she did. Three cheeis were then given for Mrs Herbert. After the ceremony those present were entertained by His Worship and Mrs Herbert at afternoon tea.

Miss Grey, daughter of Constable Grey, hns been appointed to the Eketahuna Public School to succeed Miss Hill, who has left for Weliirgton_ to undergo a course at the Training College. The Ed'Jf&tion- Board have written to the School Committee stating that th-y will submit the question of establishing a High School to the Minister if the written undertaking of the parents of 60 children to enrol them is obtained, or in the case of a district school from the parents of 25 children. The committee are communicating with the country committees with a view of ascertaining the number of children eligible. The annual schcol picnic is to be held on Friday, February 19th, in the Newman Domain. The arrangements are in the hands of Messrs Kershaw, Waldie and the headmaster (Mr Demp3e.y). A meeting of ratepayers was held on Wednesday afternoon. Mr J. S-nith occupied the chair. The following resolutions were passsd:— "That a ratepayers' association be formed, and that the aims and objects be to help the Borough Council, \Vithout prejudice, in honestly administering the wants of ratepayers; to act wirh vigilance in respect to the expenditure of public funds, and to endeavour to have business appertaining to the ratepayers riiade public through the Press-, to keep down unnecessary expenditure while keeping in view the carrying out of necessary works in the Borough, and that the association's motto be "Economy, Progress and Honest Administration." The" meeting adjourned till Friday night to elect officers and committees. The following committee was appointed:— Messrs Dempsey, Bedding, Hoist, Tregoning, Prendeville. Allen, Grey, Kershaw. Symes and Greathead; secretary. Mr 0. Hoist ; auditor, Mr W. Thompson.