EKETAHUNA NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7950, 27 January 1906, Page 6

EKETAHUNA NEWS.

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR HOGG. M.H.R. (Prom Our Own Correspondent). Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R. for Masterton, was entertained at a public dinner at Eketahuna on Thursday afternoon. Owing to his being de--1 tained too long in the South Island the Premier was unable to be present. About sixty persons sat down to a sumptuous spread provided by Host Seymour, of the Eketahuna Hotel. Mr A. H. Herbert, Cnairman of the Town Board, occupied the chair. Ou his right sat v Mr Hogg, and on his left Mrs Hogg and Miss Hogg. After the toast of "The King" had been drunk. Mr Mead proposed the toast of "Mr Hogg," referring at some length to the cood work done in this electorate by the member for the district. Mr Hogg, on rising, was received with applause. He said that if in ariy period of his life he felt proud it was on that occasion, and the enthusiasm with which his health had j been drunk was a reward for nis political labours. He was pruud of Eketahuna. Eketahuna. he said, spelt "progress." Mr Hogg then dealt with the growth of the district and said that although pessimists had predicted Eketahuna's downfall when the "iron horse" went through, he had never lost faith in the place. He could see that all that was required was good communication and the demolition of the hush to keep it going. Eketahuna was making better progress than most towns, aud even put Masterton in the shade in this respect. The Eketahuna district was far and away the most thickly populated one in his electorate. The population of the Masterton County was only five to the square mile, Castlepoint three, Mau'riceville 9, and Eketahuna fourteen. He bad no hesitatiun in saying that there was no more- staunch Liberal stronghold than Eketahuna. The people stuck to him staunchly. The majority had never altered their views, and though some probably differed with the Government, yet they had never swerved from true Liberal interests. If any portion of the province helped Wellington in the matter of supplying produce it was Eketahuna, and the Forty-Mile Bush. Therefore, ,he could not be blamed if he bad secured more than his share of public money for the district His experience during the last political contest had drawn him close to Eketahuna. A desperate attempt had been made—over Barton's Line—to hang him first and then hear him after. It was the Barton's Line episode that had given him the lift. He then concluded by thanking those present for the unstinted manner in which they had done honour to him. Mr Hogg sat down amidst applause. Mr A. Aulin then proposed the toast of "Local Bodies." Mr T. Moss, County Chairman, was the first to respond. He said .that although he differed with Mr Hogg in political matters, yet he gave testimony to the good work that Mr Hogg had done for the district. He then went into the question of roads, aad.said'that io the early days settlers bad bad to raise loans and rate* themselves heavily in order to get access to their holdings. And yet, said Mr Moss, some politicians stated that they had no right to the unearned increment. Let the politicians gu through the privations that some of the settlers had experienced, and they would quickly alter their tune. Of recent years, said the speaker, settlers had obtained their roads in a much easier manner, and he considered Parliament should take some steps in connection with equalization of the taxes borne by the early settlers for road-' ing purposes. Messrs A. H. Herbert, Chairman of the Town .Board, and Mr J. A. HasweiJ, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, also responded. The gathering then terminated.

social. minister for public wobk3 PRESENT. In the evening Mr A. W. Hogg was tendered a complimentary social in the Eketahuna Publio Hall. There was a large.attendance of supporters and others from all parts of the district. Mr J. Smith presided, and read telegrams from the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Hornsby, M.H.R., regretting their inability to be present. Mr Hogg made a speech claiming credit for promoting the welfare of settlers of the district. He also read an imaginary Governor's Speech at the opening of the House. A dance then followed, while at an interval Mr Hogg contributed a song. At about lOo'olook Mr Hall-Jones, who had travelled by special train to be present, put in an appearanoe. He stated that Mr Hogg w«s one of the most energetic men in the House, and'when anything pressing was required for the district Mr Hogg always worried the Minister till the want was an accomplished fact. Mr Hogg, he thought, took a stand on the land question which he (Mr Hogg) cohsideied was in the best interests of the settlers generally. • In congratulating the electorate nn returning Mr Hogg, the Minister said that the members return had pleased him greatly. The remainder of the evening was devoted to dancing, songs etc., and altogether a very enjoyable time was spent.