The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "Te Ora Mota Iwi" FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1903. A PROSPEROUS YEAR.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 145, 9 January 1903, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "Te Ora Mota Iwi" FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1903. A PROSPEROUS YEAR.

Below we publish the Motueka Wharf returns for the year ended 31st December, 1902.. A perusal of the will reveal the fact that a suband satisfactory increase is ®own in our exports, especially as regards fruit, eggs and flax. With.reference to the first mentioned the output during the past six years has been phenomenal, demonstrating the undoubted superiority a nd adaptability of the soil in the Motueka, Riwaka, and adjacent districts for the cultivation c.f large and small fruits. Orehardists and others have now come to look upon the raising of poultry as a valuable and paying adjunct to their chief occupation and as a result they are devoting more attention to it,, by improving the strains and working the industry on business lines. The shipments of poultry show an increase ovei last year’s, but it can-

not be looked upon as indicative of the dimensions of the trade because the district was depleted some two years ago, when every available and marketable cock and hen was shipped to Wellington and other parts of the Colony. However, the export of eggs still continues to grow, one million one hundred and fifty four thousand and six* teen having been consigned to outside ports during the year. The high price now ruling for New Zealand hemp has no doubt induced flax millers in this locality to pay some attention to the industry which is the means of circulating a considerable sum of money amongst tradesmen. The return prepared by the wharfinger, Mr MofFatt, also shows increases in wool, oats, chaff", potatoes and butter, so that taken altogether the district is steadily and surely forging ahead. There is also every indication that the present year will be a most profitable and satisfactory one, as the prices for all our products promise to be good, especially for hops. In this connection it may be stated that the members of the Motueka Wharf Board have shown themselves alive to the growing requirements of this locality by’ extending the present wharf and providing additional storage room. We trust the revenue of the Board will so increase as to warrant the devising of some means whereby better shipping facilities and deeper water will he provided for the steamers trading to Motueka.

Mr H. L. MofFatt, wharfinger, supplies us with the following leturn of Produce, etc., exported from Motueka during the year ended Slstof December 1902: Fruit, 45,712 cases, each 4olbs. Raspberry pulp, 1758 cases, each 100 lbs. Butter, 2c>6i cases, each 561bs Eggs, 4007 cases, each 24 dozen. Bacon, 219 cases, each 4cwt —'Wool, 642 bales -rßops, 429 bales Flax, 652 bales, 5 to ton Potatoes, 4553 sacks, 11 to ton Chaff, 8123 sacks, 24 to ton Oats, sacks, bushels to sack Flour, 441 sacks, 10 to ton Bran, 209 sacks, 16 to ton Melons, 187 sacks * Walnuts. 84 sacks Rye, 30 sacks Peas, 6 sacks Barley, 47S sacks Swedes, 937 sacks, 13 to ton Carrots, 252 sacks —--Sheep, 1620 Pigs, 79 Poultry, 282 coops, each 10 pair Sheepskins, 1612 Hides, 59 Lard, 27c\vt Jam, 38 cases, each 4 dozen Tow, 8 bales Honey, isoolbs Timber, 141,500 ft