Bey, William, M.B. and C.M., Physician and Surgeon, Main Street, Greytown North. P.O. Box 36. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Dr. Bey is a native of Tarland, Aberdeenshire. He arrived in New Zealand in 1880, per ship “Hurunui.” He was educated at the Grammar School, Old Aberdeen, and Aberdeen University, and took his degree in 1876. From 1876 to 1880 he practised in England. He commenced the practise of his profession in Greytown in 1882. He has been surgeon of the Greytown Hospital since settling in this district, and also honorary surgeon of the Masterton Hospital. He is examining officer for the Government and other insurance companies, public vaccinator for the district, and surgeon to the New Zealand Militia. He is also a Justice of the Peace.

Spratt, Henry Thomas, M.R.C.S. (England), L.S.A., Main Street, Greytown. Dr. Spratt is the son of an officer in Drummond's Bank, London, where the subject of this notice was born in 1827. He was trained for the profession at Guy's Hospital, taking his L.S.A. degree in 1848, and M.R.C.S.E. in the following year. Owing to a breakdown in his health, Dr. Spratt gave up the practice of his profession in his native city, and came to New Zealand in 1855. After a year's residence in Wanganui he settled in the Wairarapa, where for many years he was medical attendant to the Maoris, and also held the office of district coroner. Dr. Spratt has some time retired from the active practice of his profession.

Dr. H. T. Spratt.

Spratt, Henry Howell, M.R.C.S. (England), L.S.A., Main Street, Greytown. This medical man, who is a son of Dr. H. T. Spratt, took both his degrees in 1868, after studying at Middlesex Hospital, London. He holds the office of coroner for the district, and acts as medical referer for the Australian Mutual Provident Life Assurance Society, and for the New Zealand Government Life Insurance Department. After ten years practice he retired.

The Bank of New Zealand, Greytown, was opened in 1876 in a small two-roomed building on the opposite side of the Main Street to the site now occupied by the present buildings, which were erected about eighteen years ago. They occupy an acre section in the heart of the township, and the premises—a two-story wooden building—include a banking chamber, agents' office, and a dwelling of eight rooms.

Mr. William Henry Diddams, the Agent of the Bank of New Zealand at Greytown, hails from West-moreland, England. Coming to Auckland at the age of ten years with his parents, Mr. Diddams was educated at Mr. Macrae's private school and at Wesley College, under the late Rev. Dr. Kidd, LL.B. Joining the Bank in 1877 as junior, Mr. Diddams has occupied various positions at Tauranga, Temuka, Oamaru, and Napier. He was appointed to Greytown in 1894. Mr. Diddams is married, and has two children.

The Permanent Investment and Loan Association of Wairarapa. Directors: Messrs. C. Pharazyn (chairman), W. Booth, M. Caselberg, W. H. Diddams, J. Fuller, and F. H. Wood; manager, Mr. George Wyett; Main Street, Greytown. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This well known and popular Association was founded in 1873, Mr. J. Tully being the manager. The business soon developed, and it became the principal institution of its kind in the district. In 1877, on the retirement of the first manager, Mr. George Wyett was appointed manager. Under his able and judicious supervision the Association prospered, and has been incorporated under the Building Societies Act, 1880. The annual income now exceeds £15,000. The amount of money invested on loan is £41,366. The objects of the Society are to provide for its members the means of safe investment; to enable its members to purchase freehold or leasehold properties; to enable persons possessed of land to erect buildings thereon; to grant loans on security of freehold or leasehold property, and on security of their scrip, such loans, with interest thereon, being repaid by monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly instalments. The system of making advances repayable by monthly instalments enables persons of moderate income to purchase land and build houses, which otherwise would be beyond their means, and many persons in the district have houses of their own who never would have had them except for the assistance afforded by the Association. Every man should have a home of his own, and as an illustration of the folly of paying rent, the following example of the case of a man having a section of land and wishing to build on it may be given:—Suppose the Association advances £150 to build the house, to be repaid in eight years, the monthly repayment of principal and interest would be £2 3s. 6d., making the total payments for the eight years £208 16s. The rent of such a house would probably be 8s. per week, equal to £1 14s. 8d. per calendar month, or £166 8s. paid away as rent during the eight years, being only £42 8s. less than the amount paid to the Association for the purchase of the house. Contrasting the system with borrowing on flat mortgage shows that if £150 were borrowed on flat mortgage at six per cent. the interest paid in the eight years would be £72, which added to the principal of £150 would make £222 repaid, as against £208 16s. paid to the Association. Fixed deposits are received by the Association at the highest rates of interest. Agencies have been established throughout the district as follows: Messrs. J. G. Cox (Featherston), W. J. Lindop (Carterton), G. S. W. Dalrymple (Masterton), H. W. Briggs (Pahiatua). On the 12th of January, 1896, the office of the Association in Greytown was totally destroyed by fire. The safes page 886 containing the Society's books and papers were saved, though damaged, everything else being burnt. The directors decided immediately to build, and Mr. Bond, architect, of Masterton, prepared the plans for handsome brick building, which has been erected, and is a credit to the town.

Mr. George Wyett, the Manager of the Permanent Investment and Loan Association, has had considerable experience in connection with large institutions. In London, where he was born, he was for fifteen years employed by the Alliance Assurance Company. Owing to failing health he was ordered to seek a change of climate, and decided to try New Zealand. Arriving in 1875, he joined the Permanent Investment and Loan Association two years later. Mr. Wyett is president of the Waiohine River Board, of the Greytown Town Lands Trust, and of the Greytown Hospital, and is a prominent member of the Church of England.