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Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 14, 27 September 1901, Page 4

The selection of a site for the forthcoming Horticultural Show in Motueka evoked some discussion at the meeting on Monday night. The chairman, referring to an outside suggestion that poultry agricultural implements etc., should be included, advised the members to remain as they were. There were Agricultural and Pastoral Shows at Takaka and Richmond ; thete was not sufficient scope, in his opinion for one here. As to the site, personally he had no particular leaning towards either, but thought Mi- Tarrant 4 s ground most suitable. Messrs Thorpe and R. Rankin spoke in favor of the" High Street site, as against the cricket ground, both mentioning the objection of ladies on account of the muddy state of the road in case it rained, Mr Canavan favored the cricket ground and thought if a cricket team were got from Nelson it would prove an additional attraction and increase the attendance. Mr Manoy also supported the cricket ground site. Mi- Fry, replied at some length to the speeches of Messrs Gilbert and Thorpe, pointing out that the argument as to Mr Tarrant's ground being closer to the town was a, trivial reason for advocating the change.

Twenty nine years is a long time for a business man to successfully conduct a business in New Zealand. That he has done so is evident of the fact that complete satisfaction has been given to the public. Mr W. R. Parmenter, mine host of the Royal Hotel, Nelson, is the person we refer to, ana he has reason to be proud of his record. The house is popular with all sections of the community ; travellers speak in hio-h terms of the accommodation provided, and a right royal welcome is accorded to all by the proprietor and his worthy helpmeet, Mrs Parmenter. The Nelson Education Board has accepted the tender of Mr C. J. Bartlett, Motueka, for the necessary repairs to the head masters residence in Stafford Street.

At the annual meeting of the Horticultora.l Society, the chairman Mr H. E. Gilbert, gave some very interesting particulars as to the origin and progress of the institution. It was unfortunate that through change of secretaries in the past, the early records of the society had been lost, but to the best of his remembrance the idea of establishing a Horticultural Society was mooted some twenty .two years ago, when Messrs Saxton, H. L. Moffatt and Thorpe issued a circular asking the settlers to meet to consider the question. The result of the gathering was that the society was bronght into existence, the first show being held in the old school

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loom, and during later years in a tent. The late Mr Wilson was one of the early members; arid had filled the office of president. Mr Gilbert believed he was right in saying there was only one association in the Colony that could claim u longer existence. He remarked that places like Wellington and Nelson had similar societies, but the shows were poorly attended and generally resultde in financial loss. The Post says : The steamer Te ELapu, belonging to the Golden Bay and Sounds Steamship Company, will probably be re-placed by a much larger vessel, now in Brisbane, which is under offer to the Company. Captain Allman leaves for Brisbane nest week to inspect the vessel. She is a compara- \ tively new vessel, built of Australian 'hardwood, and her dimensions are as follows: Length, 108 ft.: beam, 25ft; drught when fully laden(l9stons dead weight) She has a speed of betweeii eight and nine knots an hour. line volunteer news contribute!- to the* Napier Daily Telegraph strongly advises that the bands on the new rifles issued to New Zealand Forces should be kept a bit loose ; otherwise when the barrel gets heated and expands(when shooting) the bands if they are tight, will prevent that particular part of the barrel from expanding, and eventially the bullets will get stripped, leaving part of the nickel in the barrel and spoiling it for good shooting. The same writer says :—"lt is a practice among vofunteers when they get their pull-through jammed in the barrel to fire it out. This is a very dangerous thing to do, for if the rag or pull-through is near the muzzle" the barrel is liable to explode ; in fact stripping of the bullet or dirt in the ban-el near the muzzle will sometimes cause I it to explode."