Untitled

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

There was a very good attendance at the Institute Hall last night, when the Imperial Biograph was exhibited by Messrs Cooper and Macdermott. The pictures were excellent;, being clear and distinct, and as each familiar face was shown were received with applause. The illusions and trick films were very good, keeping the spectators in a sinner of merriment and wonder. The enteitainment is one of the best that has come this way’ and those absent last night will spend a pleasurable evening if they attend this evening, the last opportunity 7. Sergeant Mackay, formerly of Nelson is now in charge of the Mount Cook police barracks at Wellington. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a Racing Club in this district will be held on Saturday evening, the 17th instant. The project has been discussed for some time past and it is generally conceded a capital day’s sport can be arranged, several owners of racehorses in neighboring districts having already promised to compete.

Arrangements have been made by Mr J. A. Findlay, the local agent, for the steamer Manaroa to make two trips to Wellington, from Motueka next week. She will leave here next Tuesday evening and again on Thursday. ’

The question of reclaiming the mudflats at the port, dealt with by Mr W. J. Moffatt in our last issue is an important one, concerning which we shall have something to say in our next issue. At the next meeting of r the Motueka Borough Council to be held on Tuesday evening, the by-law relating to the driving of hoi’ses throngh the streets 4 and the fixing of the statutory halfholiday for the current year will be considered and dealt with.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a handsome calendar for 1903 from mine host of the Post Office Hotel, Mr T. G. Brougham. The s.s. Nambucca, Captain Fisk, called at Motueka to-day for the pur pose of conveying about 600 lambs and sheep to the Christchurch Meat Company’s works at Picton. The sheep were purchased by the Company’s buyer Mr Irving, and were procured from Sherry, Stanley Brook, Pokororo and Riwaka, the sellers including Messrs Thos Macmahon, Bate, Mytton, J. A. Haycock and S. Motiitt. A good hour’s enjoy'ment for old and young is to be held on Saturday afternoon when there will be a Punch and Judy show in the Institute Hall, the performance commencing at half past two o’clock. The show is an ever popular one in the Old Countiy, and has been witnessed .vith delight by 7 our fathers, grandfat’ er< and their progenitors It is cause for wonder that such a lapse of time as six years should occur since Mr Punch and Mrs Judy paid Motueka a visit, but such is the case.

Said to have happened in Motueka many years ago. on a bright Sabbath morning when all good folks were at their devotions. A “dead beat” called upon Boniface and stated that he, the d.b., could tell the man who works the pump how to draw three kinds of wine from one cisk. Both went down the cellar where the knowing one bored a hole in the top of the cask which he asked the landlord to place his finger over. This done, he bored another in one of the sides, Boniface also stopping that with his finger. Then the spile was loosened, and the tramp, making an excuse that ne would get a jug from the house, made for the- bar, appropriating a couple of bottles of whisky and clearing out, leaving the landlord pressing his two fingers against the holes for fear .the precious fluid would run to waste, and calling for some one to relieve him of his task.

A Takaka correspondeni wishes to know whether a dog trial is to take place at Riwaka this year. We believe it is the intention of the club to follow the practice observed in previous y 7 ears, especially 7 as tfte last tidal was a success. The following are the names of those selected to represent the Motueka C.C., in the cup match, to be played at Ngatimoti, against the local team tomorrow, commencing at 10.30: —R. Simpson, L. and W. Boyes, W. and A. Talbot, F. Meade, G. Boundy, H. Paaka, 0. Trewavas, F. Atkins, C. Boyce. Emergencies, S. Cana van, A. McGlashen, R. Batchelor.

An exchange writing of the Maori Elections, says : —“The mode of voting is a relic of barbarism, so simple and innocent. The voter appears and is questioned as to his name, his tribe, his family and abode. This is duly entered in a book, facetiously described as the voting paper, and signed by the deputy and his native assistant, and the voter is asked for whom he wishesto vote, which is also jotted down, and the voting is completed.