NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 6, 8 January 1925, Page 3

NELSON NEWS

(BI TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THI POST.)

; _ NELSON, 7th January. / The improvement of the road to Lake Roturua isv very urgently needed. . A very fine and- up-to-date accommodation house has been built at the Lake,, and a promise; was made about t\vo years/ ago to the. proprietor that conditional upon a house of a certain value being erected a substantial sum would be expended in "road improvement. ..The value of the house and the accommodation provided greatly'exceed the amount stipulated, but. so. far the promise has not been carried out, arid the road is in a deplorable . state. Visitors who were at the Lake;, during the holidays state that they would not' again make the journey on any consideration: It is stated that the Department is; awaiting proposals from the Murchison County Council. ■'■■ ..'.-•••■■•■ i A Caledonian Society was. formed at Mptueka-some time ago, and the first Highland' gathering was held on 'New Year's Day' at~ the' Motueka' : Domain. The Blenheim Pipe Band, and ;; other Marlborpugh visitors arrived at Motueka ; the ;day before,- ahd^in the-evening were accorded" a civic reception by tlie Mayor, Mr. .J. A. M'Glashan, and Mr v Hudson, M.P.: During the evening; the-band played' selections in 'High street/- •]■ On Thursday, Nelson -pipers and visitors from other,parts arrived, and an^excet lent programme was put\throughj many outside competitors taking part in. the piping and dancing,- games, and'running events. The day was a great success in every way, -and . the weather -/was ideal. :-In, the evening ,the Caledonian Society gave a concert in the Institute Hall;, which, was crowded. r The programme consisted of pipe duets, Highland' dancing, hornpipes,. Irish" jigs',. recitations, and Scotch''songs. 'Many of the performers we're Blenheim visitors. The audience was both appreciative an j enthusiastic.. Prizes and medals won during the day were presented by the. Mayor, who, on behalf of the Caledonian Society, thanked all who had assisted in making the day a success, especially the visitors from Blenheim. Later "members of the society entertained the visitors to supper. Pipe. Major MrFarlans (Blenheim) assured . the company"; that he would return to Motueka next, year with a larger pipe band. . ';"'.-' A very successful sports meeting. was held at Tapawera on New Year's Day, and included chopping and sawing competitions, sheep weight guessing,- goal kicking, bowling at wicket, and other interesting and novel items. In his monthly report to-the Motueka Harbour, Board the Harbourmaster (Mr. P. G. Moffatt) stated, that since the last meeting a sum of money had been received- from the local Seaside Improvement Committee,- and in consequence the water pipes had been extended to near the foreshore by the "beacons, "where fresh water was now for the, convenience of sectiou : holders and the public This provision was''highly appreciated by the. hundreds of picnickers who frequent the beacheß. Two cottages hndj been erected." on sections recently leased by the board, and.he understood other seaside dwellings will be built shortly. ' .';■' '" ..' " ■ There has been considerable . activity ■of. late in' improving the fronts of a large number of'shops, and the. work continues. There seems to be a healthy rivalry in producing artistic - results, and the .work greatly adds. to the appearance of the town. ■'.'.■■■ i The Mayor (Mr. W. Lock) has -received advice froni Commodore Alister Beal that, weather permitting, -H.M.S. Dunedin will visit Nelson on ;.the 10th March., and will remain until 16th March. : . . ■ ... ■ ■ At a meeting of fruitgrowers at Stoke j the chairman (Mr. A. Gilbert) referred to the bad state of the Nelson-Tahuna-I nui-Eichmpnd road, expressing the opinion that owing to ihe .present condition of the road very serious damage would be done to fruit being carted to the freezing works,: the Stoke, station, and Port Nelson; and, he urged that some temporary improvement Bhould be made [ until the bitumen surface can be com--1 pleted. A resolution was carried unanimously urging' the" Waimea' County Council and the Tahunanui Town Board, pending the laying down of, a tar-sealed surface, to have the road gravelled and .rolled. . •. ■ ■".;•■ ; .. '■ . • The total bright sunshine, recorded in Nelson City during'the year just closed was 2405 hours 40 minutes, as compared with the 1923. total of 2460 hours 25 minutes. Following are the figures for 1924:— ' ■

lir. mm. January 310 2 0 February 252 5 March ...;. 147 '35 April. : 183 55' May ;............:..;..' r?6 35 June ....1......... 162 0 J"Lv 185 40 August. 193 35' September . ; : . : .... 175 35- :- October ; 185 25 JS'ovember 206 25 December „..,„.,„; „ 226 30 JoUl „M . .,, 2405 40 .