The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1901.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 29, 19 November 1901, Page 2

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1901.

The position of the Motueka Brass Band is still undecided. The bandsmen have, so far-as we can learn, made no move to place their views before the public, in order that the question*

can be discussed. The members may have discussed matters privately and decided to communicate with the Council which holds its monthly meeting this evening. Whether they have, done so remains to be seen. In our opinion, the best way out of the difficulty will be for the Corporation to take over the assets and place the band under its sheltering wing. Such a course is consistent with the Act under which the Council works. There would then be- no fear of the funds disappearing like the morriig dew, as lias been the case here during the/ past twelve months. If men can be found in the borough willing to give wheir services and lose a lot of . time,

Xi order to provide music for the public, surely they have a right to ask for the assistance and moral support of the ratepayers. It is no new idea to devote municipal funds towards the maintenance of lands; in England, America, and on the Continent there are many wholly supported by the municipalities. Even in New Zealand grants are given by the Corporations of Auckland, Christchurch, Napier, Ashburton, and Hawera, the only stipulation made being that the bands shall play at any public demonstration within reason and occasionally during the summer evenings. Residents of Motueka will remember the excellent music discoursed by the band under the direction of Mr A. Miller. The want of a baud is felt even now. Is it not possible to infuse new life into the organisation ? If the matter is taken up heartily by those who have the interests of the Borougt at heart, and who were, in the past, proud of their Band, .then all will be plain sailing, and the '•little " trouble which has been the " fly in the ointment " during the past twelve months will bo rightly buried in oblivion.

We are informed by Messrs Irvine and Stevenson, of St George Preserving Works, Dunedin,. tnat the}" purpose purchasing and preserving fruit in the Motueka District during the incoming fruit season. Their requirements will be about the same as in former years.

We u iderstand the Motueka Mounted Rifles have secured Mr Thorp's paddock to hold their sports in on Boxing Day. Being- centrally situated we have no doubt a. large gathering will assemble to witness the various items to be included in the programme. Captain Langridge, of the Takaka Mounted Rifles, has received word that the sum of ,£26 4s has been placed to the credit of the corps by the Government, in settlement of expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the late visit of the Duke and Duchess of York.

The gale which sprung up on Monday evening raged with unabated force during the night anff present appearances indicate that it has not yet spent its force. About eight o'clock this morning the Horticultural Society's spacious tent, erected behind the Motueka Star Oifice, collapsed. In c. msequence, the show, which was to have been held to-morrow, has been abandoned. It is intended to hold a Floral Fete on the Ist January next. T l :e steamer Manaroa is being altered so that she will not draw more than 6ft of water when loaded. This will enable her to work without difficulty small stations around Havelock and the Sounds.

The nomination of officers of Court Preservance, A.O.F. for the ensuing year was fixed for last Friday evening, but owing to the paucity of attendance the matter was adjourned till next Court night when the nominations and elections will take place. The district officers ate expected to pay their

annual visit to Court Preservance in January next.

We mentioned some time ago that the raspberry crop promised to be unusually heavy this season. Already the growers are on the lookout for pickers and it is understood there will be a dearth of them unless the ranks are recrinted from Nelson.

At the last meeting of Court Preservance A.O.F. Bro. W J. Moffatt in the chair, the sum of «£45 was transferred from the Management to the sick and Funeral Fund.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Motueka Borough Council will be held this evening.

Quite a number of earth tremors were felt in this district on Saturday and Sunday last. The first shock was experienced about 7.45 a.m on Saturday, and was shortly after followed by a prolonged shake, not at all severe, but sufficient to induce unpleasant sensations.

The earthquakes which visited us on Saturday last were felt nearly all over the South Island. At Christchurch the Cathedral Spire again suffered, having been cracked in two places, necessitating repairs which are estimated to cost £BOO. The township of Cheviot suffered severely, scarcely a dwelling house being habitable. A child was killed there through the collapse of a mud whare, and the corpse of a medical man was thrown out of the coffin. Damage was also done at Waikari.

The following members of the Motueka Cricket Club will play against Ngatimoti to-morrow (Wednesday). Play commencing at 1.30 p.m.,:—L. Boyes, S. B. Canavan,, Horace Boyes, L. Manoy, J. Greensill, M. Jackson, L. Drugemuller, Walter Boyes, L. Hurst ouse H. Trewavas, B. Curtis ; emergencies, C. Avery, Harold Trewavas, G. Gilbert. The match will take place on the local cricket ground. We have to acknowledge the receipt of the "New Zealand Official Year Book, 1901, issued by the Government and compiled by E. J. Von Dadelszen, Registrar General, who is to be congratulated upon the production of an excellent work, full of information—official, statistical, together with articles on special subjects, descriptions of the various land districts, and maps, diagrams and illustrations. The book has now become a standard work valuable alike to the colonist stateman and others who take an interest in the progress of the Colony. . 11 is reported that a New Plymouth resident has received, with his brother a legacy of L 13,000, through the death of a relative in England. Mr P. G. Moffatt announces the arrival of Christmas goods, presents etc., which are now on view at his Cash Store. A more extended notice will appear in a later issue.

The Sounds and Goiden Bay S.S. Co, anuounce in our advertising columns the rate of freight to be charged on wool during the season ending 31st of March, 1902, shipped by their direct steamers, the S.S. Manaroa and Te Kapu. The coast line of New Zealand has been more than once referred to as undergoing slow but certain changes. Professor Park, in a paper laid on the table at a meeting of the Otago Institute on the possible movements of the New Zealand coastline, pointed out that the land was either gradually rising or sinking. It was highly desirable that the Government should erect posts at suitable points, carefully noting the distances from tha sea at the time they were put up, and giving all data for estimating, after a number of years, whether the sea had approached or receded from these fixed points.