UPPER MOTUEKA VALLEY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 63, 6 March 1876, Page 2

UPPER MOTUEKA VALLEY.

On Thursday last the inhabitants of this district and the surrounding valleys, being desirous of testifying their appreciation of Mr Oliver's former services when a resident amongst them, met together at a public dinner in order to welcome him back to New Zealand. Early in the forenoon vehicles ot all descriptions began to arrive at the Institute, and at three o'clock upwards of 100 sat down to a bountiful entertainment spread in a large tent that had been erected for the purpose. Mr QuiNNEY,who presided, proposed posed Mr Oliver's health in very feeling and appropriate terms. Mr Oliver replied : Mr Quinney, Ladies, and Gentlemen — I rise with feelings of deep emotion to thank you all for this kind welcome back again to New Zealand. I am indeed deeply touched at being thus kindly remembered by you after an absence of nine years. In that interval I have been in many lands and amongst many people of Europe, but have seen no population which surpasses that of New Zealand iu wealth and comfort. The piogress of this district is perfectly marvellous ; it amazes me to see these long tables, crowded as they now are. I see improvement on every side — fine farms, fine homes, but what pleases me most of all is to see my old friends, tbe early pioneers, still occupying and extending their properties, and to find that my action iu bringing them into the wilderness beyond the range has not at any rate injured their prospects or success in life. I remember well the sneers of the Nelsonians when I first started tbis settlement some, twelve years ago, but the Provincial Government soon followed in my wake in Dovedale and Stanley Brook, and now see the results. I have always contended that the true source of extended trade, wealth, and importance for the city of Nelson lay in the opening of the back country, that being the only port deserving of the name in the province, and what I want now to see is the trade, traffic, and mineral wealth of the Buller Valley pouring direct into Nelson. The Government seem, however, still as unhappy as ever about the choice of roads, an I am astounded to learn that even within the last year or so some thousands of pounds have been spent by ifc upon the upper road by the Lakes and Devil's Grip, whilst they have stopped short in completing that by the Hope, just as a little more outlay would have made it passable for drays. Those here employed in carting tell me that one day's journey from the railway station at Eoxhill to the Buller, or from £3 10a to £4< upon every load of goods to Hampden, would be saved by the Hope and Motupiko route, and this fact musfc be impressed upon those who administer affairs. My intention now is to settle down in New Zealand, and I trust at any rate to be able to pass a few months in every year amongst you in this valley. I thank you for your great kindness in this welcome back. You well know what pride and pleasure I shall take in serving you iu any private or public capacity, or in promoting the interests of men whom I regard and esteem, or to speak in less formal language, who possess my warmest friendship. The rest of the afternoon was pleasantly spent in cricket, running races, and jumping, &c, for prizes, and a ball at the Institute, kept up till daylight, terminated one of the most pleasant and successful entertainments thafc has yet taken place in this district.

The Omaha Bee gives a full description of a seciiou of a big tree of California arrived in that town on its way to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. The Bee says:—-" The tree grew ou the west elope of the Sierra Nevada, at an elevation of 6500ft above sea level, The age of the tree as indicated by the yearly rings was about 2250 years, the rings beiug so close on the outer edge that it was almost impossible to count thera. The height was 276 feet. The diameter at the surface of the ground was 26ft; at 100ft above the ground, where the first limbs project, 14ft; and 200 feet abovo the ground the diameter waß 9ft. The bark averaged Ift in thickness, and in sonje places it waß 16in. thickThe bnrk of some of this species of tree is 3ft thick. The estimated sum-. ber of lumber feet that it would muke was 375,000, and the uumber of cubic feet about 31,000 — enough to make lumber and poses for sixteen miles of ordinary fence. The weight of the wood when first cut was 721b per cubic foot, making the weight of the lumber producing portion 2,282,001b. Tt took two men ten days hard work to fell the tree, aod when it fell it broke, in ee? eral pieces.*'

Travellers by sea on the New Zealand coast between Wellington, Canterbury, and, Otago, are likely to have ample choice of steamers for tbe future. Eirsf, W.e have the very excellent and efficient line of steamerabelonging to the NewZealand Steam Shipping Conipany, and hailing from this port. This company now generally runs two boats each way weekly between Wellington and Dunedin. Then the Union Steam Shipping Compauy runs a weekly steamer each way, and will run more frequently when the Rotorua and Te Anau arrive from home. Messrs M'Meckau and Blackwood's fine boats are now running weekly each way, the Arawata and Ringarooma each performing the double coastal round twice monthly. Fourthly, the s.s. Easby makes the trip once each way every four weeks ; and, fifthly, we have the gigantio Califomian mail steamers doing the same. This gives an average of about fourteen steamers per month each way between AVellington and Dunedin, or one every other day. — Post. With regard to the horticultural show lately held at Wellington, says the TV. Z. Times : — When it is considered that liberal prizes were offered, it seems that something infinitely superior might have been looked* for. There is yet another subject of complaint, and we hope that a reference to it may have the effect desired. It is that certain competitors will place their exhibits in a variety of odd; sometimes dirty-look-ing, and never prepossessing boxes, the effect of which is not only to spoil the appearance of their own exhibits, but to detract from the appearance of the show generally. The committee should certainly make it a rule that exhibitors have some little regard to this matter, because it would be quite as easy and more creditable for them to show their plants in vessels more presentable than boxes marked '* Windsor soap," and innocent of anything approaching decoration. With regard to the fruit and vegetables, one exhibit alone was worth the whole collection, namely, Mr Brandon's grapes, a single bunch of enormous size and weight. Blondiu has been appearing in Wellington in connection with the Darrells. The Times says : — At the conclusion of the drama, Mr Blondin went through his performances on the tight rope, and .further, he carried Mr Darrell across on his back. Opinions were divided as to who deserved the most — Blondin or his burden. Mr Darrell looked more composed, and even bland, than a man unaccustomed to that style of riding could reasonably bo supposed to do ; but he took occasion to remark afterwards that it was the first rope he had ever travelled across, and he rather thought it would be the last. In the course of an article in the Australasian, "Augur" mentions thafc the proprietors of that journal being fully alive to the, importance of the subject, propose to send him to New Zealand in the mouth of March, with a view of visiting and reporting upon the principal studs of the colony. The Sultan of Zan__ibnr has founded an order entitled '• The* Star of Heaven." A great land swindle has, says an American paper, just been unearthed in Soulh-Eastern Missouri. It appears that deeds to lands in Northern Arkansas and South-Eostern Missouri have been forged for some years pisf, and tbat agencies for this work were established in Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Now York, and Manchester, England. It is estimated that deeds to over 12,000 000 acres of land have been forged and diepossd of, the valuation being 25,000,000 or 30,000,000 dollars. The land operated on is owned by non-residents, and as the records were mostly destroyed during the Civil War, the "ring" bad every facility to carry out fhe enormous swindle, and the deeds have been sold all over the United States and England. (.For continuation qf Newt see fourtFi pager)