The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1903.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 157, 20 February 1903, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1903.

The Returning Officer for the IVLotueka Electorate, Mr J. H. Boundy, has been advised by the Colonial Secretary that the Governor has appointed the Waimea County Council to be the local authority for the purposes of the Licensing Acts within the Motueka Electoial District. The date of election las been definitely fixed for Wednesday, the 25th day of March and full details as to latest time of nomination, etc, will be published early next month.

Mr Roderick McKenzie, for Motueka. has received an invitation to join the Parliamentary excursionists in their proposed trip to the Cook and other islands, which are under the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Government. The party will leave the Colony during the month of May. Throughout the year a largequantity of fruit, eggs, poultry and other farm and garden produce is despatched from this district for sale by auctioneers in the open markets of the Empire City.. Some knights of the hammer, Have by past experience (an infallible guide, especially when such experience reaches back to a second decade) proved their ability to quit consignments to the best advantage to buyer and seller the results cementing business relations and gaining fresh recommendations and clients. Messrs Thompson Bros, Ltd., of Wellington is one of the successful firms in question, which conducts business on straightforward, commercial lines, rendering prompt account sales and cheques for credit balances on the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand. A few weeks ago a representative of this paper, at that time unknown to the principals, took the opportunity of watching the progress of fruit and produce sales, which are held daily in their new and commodious rooms m Harris street, and found them c arried out in a business like fashion a iid to the best advantage of the ship-

pe r. so Mr E. F. Johansen, barrister and a Editor, of Motueka, made his first ppears nee in the local Stipendarv Magistrate’s Court last week. ~

Mr John Woolf, of Sandy Bay, has an advertisement m this issue expressing thanks of himself, wife, and family, for kindness and sympathy shown to them during their late bereavement. As anticipated, the notifications that the talented Black Family would give an entertainment in Motueka attracted a crowded audience on Wednesday evening last and so well satisfied were the promoters with, their hearty and enthusiastic reception that a second programme was presented the following (Thursday) evening, which was well attended. ' Miss Nellie Black at once established herself a favorite by her vocal items which were most tastefully given, enabling that clever - voung lady to use her rich contralto voice to the best advantage. As a manipulator of the violin and other instruments she scored points with the audience: The younger member of the Family, Miss Elsie also won golden opinions for the manner in which she cairied out her allotted tasks. The cornet solos and step dancing of Ma-mr Bertie were highly appreciated, and Mr John LlacK, who gave two Scotch comic songs, comic sketches with his eldest daughter (both encored) besides playing the clarinet and basso, materially helped to make the evening a ‘ most pleasurable one. The selections given by the Family gave evidence of careful preparation and were enjoyable features of the evening’s entertainment. Mrs Black also efficiently supplied the

j accompaniments. A change of pro- | gramme was presented on Thursday j with equally "pleasing results. Taken : as a whole, the Black Family’s enter- ) tainn ents were any that have been given in Motueka for many a year and a hope was expressed that after visiting Takaka and Coiling wood they will once more favoi us with apother delightful evening's entertain--1 ment.

An effort was made on Monday last to ro-open the Motueka Borough schools, closed for the annual holidays shortly before Christmas, but on account of the existence of measles in the Borough, and the fact that raspberry picking has not yet been com - pleted, the attendance of scholars was most disappointing to the teachers and also to the Committee, who were hopeful of being able to secure at least a fortnight’s average attendance before hop picking commenced. Trie s.s. Huia, which was to have arrived from W anganui this morning, is bar-bound at the last mentioned place..

A former resident of Master-ton writing from Sydney says:—“Times are bad. A general curtailment is proceeding in every branch of business. There seems no provision here for the destitute and one has to descend to the Domain without the common necessaries of life, to face the unknown. The country is in a terrible state, numbers out of work, lying about the public works, starving. The worst they sav lias yet to come. The heat has been intense. The water is impure and with a burning thirst the consequences are stomachic disorders. Folitics seem a muddle ; an intense struggle between capital and labour.” Says the Greyrnouth Argus of the 11th inst :—At Marsden yesterday afternoon an old miner- named James McGlencliee had a miraculous escape from death. He was working in a tunnel in a lonely part Jof. the district when a fall occurred, burying him up to the neck. Fortunately Constable Baker- was making enquiries in the vicinity, and in riding past the scene of the accident his horse suddenly stopped and refused to proceed. The constable had to dismount and to his surprise he heard groans and proceeding to investigate, found McGlenchee as above stated, and for assistance the constable met Miss Waugh, who soon had her two brothers helping at the work of rescue. The |earth was very loose and required timbering, but after a couple of hours’ hard and difficult work the unfortunate man was rescued from his perilous position and carried to his hut. After an hour’s kindly treatment and administration ot stimu lants, NcGlenchee, though in an exhausted condition recovered considerably and seemed to be none the worse for his near approach to the border line separating time from eternity. A striking illustration was given at the Sydney Labour Council recently of the tightness with which Labour clutches at the purse strings when a proposal is put forth to raise the wages ol Its own officers. The secretary at present (says the Sydney Telegraph) receives .£3 pex - week, and does almost double the amount of work that he was called upon to perform when teat fee was fixed, yet when a motion was submitted to raise the salary by 10s per week a veritable storm of opposition descended upon the heads of those who had the temerity to support it. For almost an hour and a half the low wage element argued whether they should lisk the expenditure, notwithstanding that it was pointed out that the funds were satisfactory, and the secretary was capable in every respect. One argument strongly pressed against the 1 increase was that many of the delegates J present did not receive £3 per week i themselves.