MOTU NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1077, 19 December 1903, Page 1

MOTU NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent:) For several weeks past the wea-

ther has been more like winter than summer, necessitating the wearing of heavy garments to keep oneself warm. Rain has descended almost daily, and there is every indication of this bad weather continuing, although it is to be hoped it will clear up for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The great event of the Motu is now over—viz., the opening of the dairy factory. The opening ceremony was- celebrated in style ; now the real work lias set in—supplying milk to the factory. There are few factories in New Zealand which have started operations under so many

disadvantages as that of the Motu. Tile long distance to Gisborne must be counted as no mean obstacle, and the further distance (at present) from a grading port. Then thoro ;iro the bad roads, some of which will not carry a conveyance, so ihe settlers have to resort to sledging their milk to the factory. So with indomitable courage suppliers press on with their work, arid it is an ordinary, every-day sight to sec a number of sledges laden with milkcans, intermixed with brakes, etc., awaiting their turn for the weighing of milk at the factory. The ■weight of the first day’s supply of •fast increasing. The largest supmilk was 17631 b, and the supply is plier at present is Mr Fisher. 'Tile first churning was done on the third day, and resulted in 1601 b of butter, aud to all appearance and taste the butter is of first-class quality.

On Christinas Eve (Decem'ber 21th) Mr A. Hickford gives a lantern entertainment ,in Mr Hansen’s I-lall. The admission will be one shilling, and the receipts will be handed over to the Telephone Committee, to assist in liquidating the present debt. At tlie conclusion of the entertainment. a dance will be held. 1 might say the machine,, together with the plates, lias been generously lent by Mr W. F. Crawford, of Gisborne. It is hoped a large number of persons .will put in an appearance. Mr who is an enbhusias-

tic disciple of Isaac Walton, lias been v busily interesting himself,with the object of providing trout for the Motu river and its tributaries. I understand lie lias secured valuable help from a number of settlers, and next season he proposes liberating something like 40,000 trout. All lovers oi sport should 'assist Mr Jackson in his laudable object. Last Saturday, two local sports tried conclusions over a course oi a mile for a stake of live guineas. Both horses got away well, being started by Mr J. Hansen ; fout Mr Mcßie’s Lcg-it, who was ridden by Mr T. IT. Thompson, was too good for Mr IT. Miller’s Runaway, leading from the start and winning easily, present to witness the friendly conThere were a good many, spectators test.

The Rev. Mr Tyley, representing the Presbyterian Chusch, gave a lantern entertainment in Mr Hansen’s Hall on the 7th inst., at which there was a fair attendance. Mr Ring, from Auckland, manipulated the machine, and passed through .over one hundred pathetic, comic', and interesting pictures. The lantern used was a good powerful one, thus showing the pictures dearly and to good ■advantage.) The receipts from this 'entertainment go to wipe oil the present debt of £SO on the Ormond Church. The Motu Cricket Club expect to play their first friendly match with Te Karaka Club on the ground of the latter Club on the 28th inst. They then hope to meet Gisborne cn the 29th or 30th, if arrangements can be made. At present the Motu team, although young, has some real good material in it, but require a little more work to bring out their ■best performances. I have heard that Adjutant Hildreth, of the Salvation Army, of Gisborne, intends at an- early date to pay Motu a week end’s visit and hold services. He also brings with him several good soloists and a lantern. In his lantern views, he purposes showing the wreck of the s.s. Elingamite.

For exposing bad strawberries as “fresh in to-day ” an Edinburgh greengrocer hes boon fined £B. The Bickerstaffe estate, in the liaipara district, 1 purchased by Government for settlement from Messrs Colbeck Bros., and recently opened for selection by ballot on Monday, was discussed on Friday by tho Auckland Crown Lauds Board owing to the fact that but few applications had been received. The Commissioner (Mr Mueller) said the result was certainly disappointing, but there appeared to have been misunderstandings, and he believed that, like other estates which hung fire at first, the Bickerstaffe estate would be taken up all right in tho end. It had been suggested that the rents were too high, but this was the old cry, and should not be taken seriously. It was stated that of the 51 sections five had been applied for by six app'icauts, and the papers of five other applicants bad been returned as iuformal for correction. Tho total area of the estate is 11,930 acres. Mr Harris expressed the opinion that the whole of the estate would go off rapidly. Mr Mueller expected to see moro than half of the area taken up within two months.

ONE THOUSAND of the most dainty and useful articles you have ever seen. Lovely E.P, ware, photo-frames, albums, inkstands, ladies’ and gents’ brush-sets, writing cases, tea trays, handbags,, clocks, purses, etc,, and toys of every description.— Now, showing at C. ROSIE AND CO,’Si