NOTES FROM OTAKI.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 78, 4 April 1910, Page 2

NOTES FROM OTAKI.

(BY TCtECKAPU — SPECIAL TO THB POST.] OTAKI, 2nd April. Kain fell here on nino days during March, the total fall being 1.87 inches, and the highest 1.02 in on the 10th. During the whole of the rocent bad weather only about one-sixth of an inch of rain was recorded here. The tender of 'Ihomas Griggs, of Palmcrston North, has been accepted for tho necessary buildings on the new Otaki Racecourse. A further presentation was made to Mr. F. Sims, who leaves shortly for England, the members of the Methodist choir presenting him with an enlarged photograph of the choir members.

It is reported by the Taranaki Daily News that the refuse oil from the bores at Moturoa is now finding its way into a, creek from which the Maoris resident on the beach draw their drinking water. The Maoris complain bitterly of this, and allege also that the oil is having the effect of making the shellfish a most unpalatable food. An showing the large amount of oil deposited on the beach, it is reported that on Sunday evening the sand was set afire, and a big blaze resulted. Mr. W. Jaques, formerly canning expert to the Government, and now in business for himfelf at Motueka, arrived in Wellington last week. In course of conversation with a Post reporter on the experimental shipment of some 5000 bushels of New Zealand apples for London by the Paparoa, Mr. Jaques said most of the fruit was the finest he ever saw. He thought, however, that some of the apples were too large for dessert purposes. The colour, generally speaking, wns most i«howy and would, no doubt, attract, much attention in London. It was quite impossible to h-ay what the fruit should fetch, as so much depended upon the condition in which it arrived, 'ihe Pride of tho youth (ctrictly speaking Alfrixton, an old favourite in tlie Hutt Vnlley in "former days) should make nn excellent impriftiJou. Of the packing and general get up of the fruit Mi. Jacjuos spoke highly. but there uns not wanting evident* that more hod still to be learned in thi« connection. What buyern would like to know when the fiuit lench^d' Home would be, Where and when can v.< get more of this? It wiih ii pity then. Hint only one lot was going l'oiwaul, because it \\a« a hump drop in the eocenn to what the m.irket could take if buyers could lcly upon a regular supply. However, losjaided ah an experiment tlve hhipmem -hould be a success from eveiy point of view. The >-3nilU Mould be valuable, of courte, in guiding shippeis if the venture is repeated next seacon.