The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi” TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1903.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 168, 31 March 1903, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi” TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1903.

The continuous rain which fell last night will be most acceptable to the settlers throughout the district, especially as feed for stock was getting scarce and prospects for the coming winter discouraging.

It is the intention of members of the local Medothist Church to hold a harvest festival during the latter part of April, when advantage will be taken to bid farewell to the Rev W. Wills, and to welcome the new pastor, Mr Reader.

Yesterday Mr A. Manoy had the misfortune to lose a valuable draught horse, the like of which it will "be difficult to replace in this district. The animal, which was in splendid condition appeared unfit for work in the morning and was, therefore, turned into a paddock. At noon he was dead, the cause being unknown. We understand that five or six weddings are to take place in Motueka next month.

A lecture of more than ordinary interest will be delivered in the Church of England School on Friday evening next by Mr E. Hercus, M.A., B.S.C° on the life of James Chalmers the martyred missionary of New Guinea. The life, labors and subsequent death of this remarkable man are well known to all students of history ; as the storv is to be retold by a relative, who may possibly have in his possession facts and reminiscences hitherto unpublished, the lecture will be well worth hearing and as the proceeds, if any, are to be devoted to mission work, we trust there will be a large and appreciative audience. Admission is free and Dr Dukes, who has seen service as a missionary in China, will preside. The arrival of another shipment of the iamous Oliver Ploughs is announced by Mr A. Manoy. The price of them should by within the reach of farmers, orchardists, and others.

The Riwaka Road Board will meet on Friday evening next.

Some of the workers in the Takaka district indulge in a joyous state of independence. The other day, a sawmill proprietor upon going to see how work was proceeding found the mill closed down and all the employes away hop picking. The mill will be started again when that tired feeling wears off. Meanwhile o ders booked cannot be executed.

I We understand that several letters have been forwarded to the postal authorities asking that the Motueka telegraph office be kept open in future from seven till half past, as has been the case for some time past. It is contended that the bulk of the fruit, grain and hop products have still to be marketed and that telegraphic facilities should be given to tne business people and others. The concession inflicts no great hardship upon anyone, as during certain days in each week an officer mu&t be in attendance to receive mails etc. The benefits, although perhaps not immediately perceptible, are sure to follow and it will indeed be strange if an important office like Motueka cannot be placed upon a similar footing to others less favored than we are. If the office is closed at five as hitherto the public will be shut offfrom the outside world from that hour until nine o'clock next morning. A good general servant is required by Mrs Rankin, of Woodlands. The vital statistics for the month ending today, as recorded by Mr Tarrant, Registrar for the Motueka district, are • —Births 8, mairiage 1, death I. Mr J. S. Harwood, of the Upper Takaka Accommodation House, is engaged in replacing the old building with a new two storey structure, provided with all modern conveniences, which when completed will be a credit to the locality. Asa half way house it will be of great convenience to the travelling public and wh trust Mr Harwood's enterprise will be liberally rewarded. The building is expected to be completed in about three months' time. A useful hack, broken to harness is required by an advertiser. Particulars at the Motueka Star office or to *fr John Hunt. The special order made by the Motueka Borough Council, reducing the number of Councillors from nine to six has been gazetted. Anglers are having good sport in the Oreti, Southland. On a recent evening the day's catch of trout by one man weighed 501 b, the heaviest fish' being a female trout 111 b. The same angler on the following morning caught 361 b of trout, one weighing 7| lb, keeping him occupied for forty minutes in landing it. The Palmerston branch of the Farmers' Uni» n has resolved : '-That the farmers of New Zealand consider that the recognition of Almighty God as the source of all true success should be the first plank in the platform of the union." A storekeeper at Oparau, named John Crotty, was taken seriously ill after eating honey from tame bees, which had apparently collected honey from waeriki flowers. He was taken to Kawhia on Saturday, but his recovery was doubtful. To Mr P. T. Dunne, author of ''Mr Dooley," is credited a" story which may jbe new to our readers. When he was I editing a very unsuccessful paper in I Chicago a funeral passed beneath his 1 window. He eyed it thoughtfully. I Then he turned to his assistant editor, "I wondei if that's our subscriber," he said gloouaiby.