CORRESPONDENCE.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 70, 15 April 1902, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir: One of the things which I think (and I have thought so for some years) will be of very great benefit to Motueka and surrounding districts is a wharf into deep wate». Not a wharf built somewhere hear high water mark, and an excavation made for steamers and other shipping to get to it. Now, I say we have to thank Mr McKenzie for getting lis the present Haibor Board, and as it is but the thin end of the wedge in (for as now constituted,, the present members can be only nominees of the Government), w 9 should use our best endeavors to assist our member, to get the Board an elective body of say seven members, two for Biwaka. two for the Borough of Motueka, one for Lower Moutere, and two for Ngatimoti, Pangatotara, and the remaining portion of the Motueka distriefrnot included in the Borough.* It seems tq me that it is time for the people to wake up, Sad see what is their interest, for I believe there is a great future for-this district, if the people will but push hard together to make things go forward. Some years ago it was thought ridiculous, when it was spoken of, to have the village of Motueka made into a Borough, but it is a fact now; so is the High School. So I hope in like manner will be a wharf, to which a steamer, of at least a. 1000 tons, will be able to come at any time. It is trade or commerce that, makes a people (History proves that) ; indeed, I doubt whether you need go further than Wellington for proof of what energy and go does. Do you think the ocean going steamers would be going to and from Wellington if the people had not made a place for them to come to ? Why if they had not they would be as bad as a people, we sometimes read about, who prefer to cut a channel through a bank, rather* than build their wharves outside -of it. Oh course, some people will ask where do you think is the most suitable place for the wharf at Motueka ? Well, sir,. I think that question will be best answered, after we have succeeded in getting, our Harbor Board, constituted an elective body, for sooner or later, th» voice of the people will have to be taken „ and I say the sooner the better. . I am etc., J- A. Guy_ Ngatimoti, April Bth, 1902.

TO THE EDITOB

Sir : According to the Hobart correspondent of the Australasian, the position of the small Fruit Growers of Tasmania, as regards markets and price, is very similar to that of our local growers. They have also managed to introduce the San-Jose Scale. It certainly behoves the Fruit-growers of New Zealand to take every possible means to prevent the interduction of the dreaded San-Jose here. W T e have quite enough pests to contend with, but San-Jose would be worse than the lot put together ; it seems the only possible care is to destroy the orchard. Now that New Zealand has become self sustaining, the importation of Fruit and Fruit trees should be completely stopped. The following letter taken from the Ausrralasian speaks for itself. I am etc., ' T. Pattie. Our Hobart correspondent writes :—The fruit business has become very prominent owing to several circumstances, one of which, at least/must be regarded as a great misfortune and.danger. The small price given by buyers last season for small fruit, that is, raspberries and currants, which caused large quantities to be left to rot upon the bushes, has led to the formation of a growers' association, which proposes l to dispense with the middleman. There can be no doubt that something of the kind is required, for the jam-makers in Hobart are believed to have formed a ring, and thus fix their own prices. Last season the

prices were so low as to cause many to decker©' that* they will grow no nv :C~ final! irui*,.butifr is hoped that the association wM : find some means, by pulping or otherwise, to-keep up prices to a reasonable average:. There should be a practically unlimited market for good jam, and good jam cannot be made without good fruit, though it is said* that some of the makers find means to dispense with much of the fruit. It remains to be seen what the association will be able to do to secure pure jam and reasonable returns to the growers, who are a large and hard-working class. The misfortune is the discovery of the presence of the San Jose scale, both in the north and the south, which means a terrible danger, and maybe the destruction of many orchards- The scale was first detected at Launceston, and is supposed to have been brought from New South Wales on some persimmon trees some time ago, but there is nothing certain about the introduction Jpf the pest Strict precautiors were at once taken to stop the spread of the scale, and the output of plants and trees was prohibited, while all the affected trees were destroyed. It was hoped that the pest could be at once stamped out, but suddenly the discovery was inade that a large orchard is widely affected by the pest at New Norfolk. No one can account for its presence there, and the owner of the orchard seems to have had no idea that this terribe enemy was npon him. The discovery was accidentally made by the Government entomologist, who happened to look over the orchard. Rigid measures, Erobably of wholesale destruction, will ave to be taken, and some means devised to get rid of useless local fruit boards and sham local inspectors. When it is remembered that our export apple trade to Europe alone has reached some 300,000 cases a year, it will be seen that an enormous quantity of property is involved. The Government promises to do all that is required, and it is to be hoped that, it will be equal to the occasion, for all depends upon prompt and efficient action. American advices warn us that no saciifice is too great to prevent the spread of this worst of all orchard pests.