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Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 154, 10 February 1903, Page 4

On his visit to the Cook Islands, Mr T; W. Kirk, Government Biologist, made exhaustive inquiries into the state of the fruit industry there, and the prospects as to future planting. On the surface a general lack of system was evident. Most of the growing was in the hands of natives, who, receiving oranges from the other Pacific islands, planted in a promiscuous manner, and waited for the fruit. There was no systematic cultivation. The harvesting is carried out with just as little method. It used to be the practice for the v natives to shake the fruit off the trees and gather it from the ground. As civilisation advanced a boy v.-as sent up the tree with a basket to pick the fruit and lower it to the ground. There it was filled into sacks, ripe and green tct gether, and sent off to the dealer ; and the native orehardist wondered why the price was so low. The shipping has been all along in the hands of the traders. Of late years a few whites have commenced planting with better method, but their trees are not yet bearing. Banana-growing has been carried on on similar lines, the general desire being to get returns with the least possible trouble. Mr Kirk’s report has been submitted to the Government. This is how the London correspondent of an Auckland paper describes the new Bishop of Auckland :—“He is a man of about middle height—perhaps rather below than above it—neither stout nor thin in figure, with a curiously alert manner, an absolutely clean-shaven face, bright, keen, blue eyes, fair hair, a head which denotes marked intellectual power, and those vertical pleats between the eyebrows which are usually taken to denote resolution and firmness of purpose. He possesses a notable charm of manner, without a trace of that forced and aggressive so called “geniality,” which is so irritating, especially in clergymen. He is utterly natural and non-artificial and his charm rather steals upon you by degrees that hits you in the eye. The “Egmont Post” relates that on Saturday last while Mr .3. Butcher, manager of the Stratford Bacon Curing Company, was placing somebßsh in the refrigerating room at the factory, the door of the freezing room became closed. Mr Butcher had a very small piece of candle with him, and this went out just afterwards, leaving him in absolute darkness. He managed |to find a small crowbar, which is used for separating the blocks of ice, and with that he worked at the door for two hours. Thinking that the clamps at the top of the door were holding the door closed, he first worked through the upper part of the door, which is 12in thick and composed of four thicknesses of wood, with woollen padding. When he managed to get through at this point he found that a like process was necessary at the bottom of the door, but he pluckily stuck to his task and I eventually liberated himself. After performing some duties in and about .the factory, Mi Butcher’s overstrung nerves collapsed for a time, but no ill effects will follow the incarceration. He had a narrow escape from death by freezing. WADE'S, WORM FlGS—the Wonderful Wor?n Worriers—arc always effecth e. rs boxes everywhere, WADES WORM FlGS—the Wonderful Wo?’m Worriers—are a safe and sura remedy, in. is boxes ; sold everywhere.