Untitled

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 32, 29 November 1901, Page 3

The friends of Mr T. Wilford, M.H.R" will regret to learn that he has been compelled to leave for Sydney to undergo a somewhat serious operation for an affection of the throat.

The Ohristchureh Cathedral Chapterhas decided to at once take down the damaged portion of the Cathedral spire ' The question of its reconstruction was left over for further consideration.

"The hotels in New Zealand are so conducted that the European and American traveller must be delighted with them, as I have been," says Mr Charles W. McMurran. He remarks favourably upon the fact that "tipping" has not become a custom in this colon v.

A touching instance of fidelity came under our notrce recently. During the heavy shower of rain last Thursday a water-cart might have been perceived calmly pursuing its watery way, in spite of its evident superfluity. The driver pull up ? Not he ! He had got the. job of driving that superannuated water-cart, and not all the Sychems in Antarctica should make him quit. Semper fidelis.—Christchurch Truth. The Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin Evening Star, says there is a general consensus of opinion that after the Premier has attended the Coronation, he will cease to take an active part in M L. politics. The s-ame correspondent says that Sir J. G. Ward is the only possible successor to the burly Premier, and that when Sir Joseph's time d >es arrive, he will thoroughly reconstruct the Cabinet. Of course, all this is in the air, but less unlikely things have been foretold. The Electoral Boundaries Commissioners will meet during t he Parliamentary recess, in order to re-distrib-ute the Electoral districts. The petition forwarded by those residents of Havelock and the Pelorus Smmd included within the Nelson district, praying that such may be included in the Wairau district, will be placed before the Commissioners by the Hon C H Mills. *%. Subscription to the MOTUEKA STAR : — Three Shillings and Sixpence a Quarter which may begin at any time^

The correspondent of the Taranaki Budget, who sends in contributions from Tataraimaka, evidently thinks a lot of the locality and takes great pains to place on record the sayings and doings of the cow spankers there. On the 11th of this month he says "the British Errsign was to be seen proudly floating from the flagstaff at the school, which has been recently erected." It is not clear which has been recently erected, the staff, or the school. He concludes by saying "for the first time in .he world's history, the British Ensign was to he seen flying at the Tataraimaka school." At another township, Ngariki, "Our Own" of .the same paper, says "The Bang's Birthday was appropriately kept at Ngariki Road by hoisting the school." Ngariki, is evidently a one-pub power township, the inhabitants of which are addicted to horse play and "strong" patriotism.

There have been many descriptions of the waj' irr which John Bull builds up his Empire, but it was left to a Malay journalist to tell us that the British Empire rests on a foundation of prayer. "Africa," says the writer in a Malay journal, "is a British colony I will tell you how England makes her colonies. First she gets a missionary, when the missionary has found a specially beautiful and fertile tract of country, he gets all his people round him, and says, 'Let us pray' ; and when all the eyes are shut, up goes the British flag!" "Why did you file ?" asked a creditor at a meeting in Christchurch the other day (reports "Truth"). Because 1 got threatening letters from some of my creditors," was the reply. "Ah !. but you should not have taken notice of threatening letters," retorted the creditor. "There's nothing in them. You should have waited till you got a summons ; that's business."

The following story is said to be authentic and to have happened not a hundred miles outside of the Taranaki district : A wedding couple and their friends duly presented themselves before the Registrar to be "spliced" in that ordinary and unromantfc way. The Registrar went about his business in the usual professional manner, and had got half through the necessary "switching-up" formalities when the bridegroom suddenly checked him with the remark : "Hold on Mister. How much is this going to cost ?" The Registrar promptly replied : "£2 10s." The bridegroom then turned to his prospective mother-in-law, who was present, and in an injured and interrogative tone said: "I thought you told me it was only going to cost "25 bob ?" The good dame replied that she understood that was goino- to be the cost. A long "barney"* ensued over the point, but finally the bridegroom settled matters by turning to tde bride and remarking : "Well I woirt lose you for the matter of '25 bob." The ceremony was then proceeded with and duly carried out.

The Free Churches' million pledge crusade is a formidable arrangement, It appears that eight teetotal bishops have been appointed to oversee the the movement in eight different parts of England, and great things are expected . Eleven organisers are at work and 30,000 churches are to be attacked. House to house visitation is another item in the programme of propaganda, and the circulation of pledge forms is regarded as an important form of the crusade. At Sheffield 150,000 such forms are being handed out, a»d the temperance ladies of that town are sending a written letter to every woman, begging her to sign the pledge. Liver-pool is following on the same lines. The house to house visitation in particular seems a very large order-, especially if it be undertaken in London..

TO THE-EDITOR.-...-* - Sir: 1 would like to jlraw the attention of feMbw members, of our local Farmer's. Union to a subject which ought to> be discussed ""at the meeting: on, Saturday night. I refer to the question ofi freights. According to a. scale of changes in force at Auckland the-TDTriion Conipaiy s tariff for a ton of goods, tp Nap e , Wellington, Dunedin, is 12s 6d,.t0 Nelson it is 15s. This tariff is the result of combination and was supplied to the Auckland FruitGa-owers Association. When it is remembered that, according to the statement .issuedlby the Agricultural Department, only ,£6OOO worth of fruit was exported from Auckland in 1900-1 f and the people in this district shipped away 32,862 cases of fruit during the same year,.it strikes me, at any rate,, that we are bearing a burden that needs to be lightened, and if the question of direct subsidy is discussed. 1 hope the Union will insist upon reasonable treatment from the Steamship Company which secures the service. ' - I am, etc., . . A Member,