The Motueka Star. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, JANURAY 7, 1902.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 42, 7 January 1902, Page 3

The Motueka Star. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Oranga Moti Iwi.” TUESDAY, JANURAY 7, 1902.

At the first meeting of the Motueka 'Wharf Board, held last week, the actual business done was of a preliminary character. We were, however, pleased to note that the members one and all, are alive to the fact that something must be done to improve the present channel leading to the Motueka Wharf, i n order that steamers may trade here without being liable to detention through insulficient water. According to what we hear, the channel can be deepened, involving no heavy outlay, with beneficial results, and if, as has been suggested, the services of an experienced civil engineer were called into requisition, some simple and inexpensive scheme might be submitted to the Board for approval. There are indications of an expansion of both t'.e import and export trade of the district and if such trade is to be fostered the state of things which has existed at the whaif for some years past must be altered. As an independent body it has j> >wers conferred upon it similar to those of other Huber Boards. We nave every confidence that the present members will stndv the interests of r.his district. . They have made a good start in deciding to increase the stuff at the wharf .during the busy seas >u, ami remove causes for complaint and delav, which were inevitable when the whole of the work--clerical •and mechanical—had to Vie done by one individual. We have no doubt, when fuller investigat pus are made by the Board, other improvements will be brought about.

Owing to pressure on our advertising space, we are compelled to hold over our report of the School Committee meeting, held last night. On account of the holidays, no sales < f stock were held at Christchurch or Johnsonville last week. We republish the Motueka Wharf returns in this issue at the request of some of those who were unable to procure a copy of the last issue of the Motueka Star. is on view at Tyree’s photoMflNvc studio, Nelson, an enlarged of the late Robert Pattie, who died at his residence Riwaka, on the 13th of June last. The , photograph is an excellent likeness and has been enlarged in order to be placed on the walls of the District Lodge of Oddfellows Motueka of which . society the late Mr Pattie was Prov, C:S. ; for over thirty years, holding office up to the time of his death. The;s.s. Te Kapu left Motueka* for Wellington direct on Saturday morning with an exceptionally large : consignment of fruit, .principally raspberries.

A short, time sitice.„we bad an opportunity of looking,through the extensive oichard cif Mr Thomas Pattie, of Biwaka. Those Who pass his property eaniiot fail to notice from the road the healthy appearance 01 the trees, and the almost complete absence, of docks, fat hen and other weeds, 1 often noticeable in o char Is A closer inspection, such as tnat made by us, strengthens the, impression, and,as one. goes .over the ten acres devoted to fruit growing the conclusion is arrived at that he has shewiL great judgment arid foresight in the selection of suitable tiees. Those planted, chiefly, have been apples, peaches, plums, apricots with- other varieties such as damsons, cherries, and a few .nuts,’ 1 ' The .whole of the trees look vigorous and clean, and Mr Pattie has demonstrated that by the use of approved insecticides, and good spraying machinery, those pests which infest the trees, and the fr.uit thereof, can be kept in check, if not eradicated altogether. Mr Pattie looks upon fruit growing as a business which must be watched and attended to, the same as any other occupation, if payable results are to be expected. That he has spent labor, time, and thought over liis plantation is self evident ; it is to be hoped his enterprise will be bounteously rewarded. We are informed that the coming season’s hop crop is being purchased by Nelson and other merchants. This is a good sign, and an indication that the pr ice will be an improvement upon that offered growers during the past year. By advertisement appearing elsewhere it will be noticed that JO 9 aeies of rural land in the Gordon Survey District, and 52 sections in the village of Bulwer, Pelorus Sound, will be offered for sale by public auction at the Land Office, Nelson, at noon on the 3rd of Febi-uarv.

Mr Ernest James, of Brooklyn, sends a good sample of peaches the Sanders —which are very acceptable. They are of a rich fleshy color, lusciou-, and altogether the best we have seen and tasted for many a year. They should fetch a good price in the outside markets. Mr Wm. Boyce and Mr 0 Avery, of Motueka, deserve a word of thanks for some baskets of cherry plums which have been sent in. We hear that stone fruit is not so plentiful this year .as hist: it is, tlferpbn e, to be hoped, those who are fortunate enough to have good yields will secure top prices in the market. The following is a statement of the vital statistics for the Motueka district during the years 1900 and 1901 respectively. Births 93 and 84, deaths 28 and 28, maariages 21 and 28. The Royal Insurance Company, for which Mr P, 0. Moffatt is the local agent, sends us a very neat and handy calendar for the present year. In addition to the usual weekly slips of dates, blank spaces are left for entering up engagements or times of meetings etc , which should prove useful to those unable or unwilling to trust to memory. We have received from Mr Hume, secretary of the association complimentary tickets for the show, which comes, off on Friday next. Special excursions will be made from Nelson, and, as a large number intend going from Motueka, Riwaka and the adjacent districts this popular show will, no doubt, be well attended.

'The'annual tea-party of the Brooklyn Sunday School was held on New Year’s day, when there was a good attendance of teachers and scholars, and the interest and enthusiasm shown by th'Qse present should, and , no doubt will,; be the means of encouraging the Teachers, who Are of the gentle sex, in tlib good, work they ha ve taken in hand. A most en joyable time was spent by all, tennis and juvenile games being the order of the day . An excellent tea was

provided during the afternoon, towhick ample justice vvas;done. In the evening a.concert was given in the public school. The Rev. Mr Wilis,: who occupied.the chair, gave an interesting address and Mr Jas Holdaway also spoke. Recitations, songs and, choruses constituted the programme, the entertainment'bring a great, success. At the close of the concert a bountiful supper was -provided, We may state that the gathering was attended by many friends -and sympathisers from the ; Moutere and.qther portions of the district. A lad named Reginald Bpyes,, sen. of Mr B Iward Boyes, of Riwaka, had the misfortune to break his leg on Sunday afternoon. It appears that he was assisting a neighbors son with some horses, when one of them lashed out, with the above result. Dr Deck,Who was called,in, set the broken limb.

0 Mr C. E. Lowe, of Riwaka, is evidenfl? r ly a firm believer in combination. At last night’s meeting of fruit growers, he said that he would like to have one pulping concern in the district with all the growers as shareholders. In his opinion that is what is wanted. Mr Thomas Hume, delegate of the Takaka branch of the New Zealand Farmer’s Union, passed through Motueka yesterday in order to ! be present at the. provincial meeting which was to be held at R'chpiond on, Monday. Mr Stuart Wi-att, the delegate of the Mo-

tueka branch, was also present at the council.

Ancordinsr to the wharf returns, published in another column, over 510 tons of fruit (28,583 cases, each 40 lbs) were expoited from Motueka during the year 1900. Not.a bad record for the district. .: ’

Mr J. C. Blackmore, Government Pomologist, is at present ? in this district. During his absence from Motueka, Mi - Blackmoie has been busilv engaged with departmental matters.

An advertisement from Messrs S. Kirkpatrick and Co. Ltd., Nelson, I aving reference to their justly celebrated condiments, will appear in our next isMie.

The Reg strar-Genernl (Mr Von Dadelszen) left for Hobart last Thursday to atte id a < onf n-ence of Australasian Goven Irm ntstat>tieians which is about to he held in that. city. During his absence his duties in Wellington will lie discharged by Mi* Drury, Chief Clerk of the Department. Mr Drury spent a part of his holidays in Motueka and was favorably impressed with the district.