MOTUEKA.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8259, 28 May 1895, Page 2

MOTUEKA.

[FBOM OUR OWN OOBBBBPONDBNT.] EXCURSION TO ABTROLABE. The opportunities afforded the residents thiß Bide of enjoying a marine excarsion up tbe bay on a puolic holiday are of very rare occurence, and an announcement that the 5.9. Lily would ron an excursion to Astrolabe on her Majesty's binhday brought out a good number of both ohildren and adults to enjoy an oating on this oooasion. Long previous to the tme for leaving, the Motueka wbarf was quite lively with holiday-makers, as both the Barkly and Lily were arriving from Nel son witb exoun-ionists, Borne being there to meet and weloome Nelson friends. Half-past ten was the time notified for the Lily to leave for Astrolabe, but being a little late arriving from Nelson, Captain Soully lost no time in landing the inward paaeengers and taking those on board for the outward trip. Being late on the tide, it was wiih a little difficulty Bhe managed to get olear of the wharf again. Eowevtr, after a little mudlarking indulged in by the Borews of the Bteamer, we ultimately got olear, and were fairly forcing ahead by about 11 o'olock. A nioer and more pleasant day for suoh a trip oould not have been wished for ; scarcely a breath of wind was noticed, wnile above head it waa perfeotly clear, with the sun shining bright and warm, and the sea as smooth and oalm as a millpond during a thunder storm. There were a goodly number of passengers, tbe juvenile portion greatly predominating, wbile among the adults there was a fair sprinkling of ladies. The gentlemen of tbe party, being evidently bent upon fishing and shooting, were well provided witb the various weapons generally u_ed in theße form, of pastime. The little Bteamer forged ahead beautifully through the oalm and quiet water, and we were soon abreast of Riwaka, where the homesteads of tbe residents were pointed out and viewed with pleasure. Kaiteriteri, Sandy Bay, and Marahau were eaoh passed in due oourEe, the soenery ell along the ooast being magnifioent. Passing Fisherman's Island, the steamer wis soon brought to anchor close to the Bhore of the mainland, between tbe latter and Adele Is' and arriving about 12.30 p.m. We were no sooner anohored tban boats were in readiness to convey those ashore who wished to land, and abont iwo-ihirds of the passengers took advantage of the mean, thus provided for spending the remainder of the day amongst the rooks and sands, which give so much beauty to the place, and wbioh help to make it notorious and a favorable plaoe for pionio parties. The beaoh, too, is a most oonvenient one for landing in boats ; the boat is brought up on the s.nd with the rising waveß, and left high and dry. The passengers are therefore landed without the risk of getting wet feet, bo that comfort while on shore ia thus Becured, No sooner was the landing effected than the steamer immediately proceeded ta the fishing ground on the outer side of tbe island for tbe convenience of passengers who preferred deeper water for their fishing operations. Those of as who were left on tbe shore, after first refreshing the inner man, spread about in different directions, acoording to inclination. Some of ua being provided with gunß and others with lines, the former took tbe direotion of the hills, while tbe latter proceeded to the rocks, and threw in the lines, but alas! it appears this was to be the extent of our p'easure in this direotion— not a fish was caught, and no signs of any about. Ws thei ef ore drew in the lines, after trying about >*n hour, aad oonoluded to take a ramble until the tide shonld turn, hoping that luck would return also. After rambling over loose sand aod rough, high rooks for about a oouple of hours, we again re-baited and threw in the lines, making sure that our efforts would this time meet with reward, but this effort proved no more successful than the first one, ani so we had to give it ap for a bad job, and, although somewhat disappointed, we had nevertheless enjoyed ourselves. The Lily could now be seen steaming towards ns from the fishing ground, and all now mustered and prepared to go aboard again, an_l, while doing so, we mentally compared our luck, ia the fishing line, with that of thoce left on board, and began to feel very small in the prospects of comparing results; but one oomfort already met us, having found that our friends the sportsmen had fared no better luok with the guns than we had with the lines. Previous to boating the pißsengers on board again, the steamer's water ca°ks were replenished at a beautiful | creek of tresh wa'er, and taken on board tbe passengers baying all tafeiy returned aboard,

The steamer left on her return trip at 5*30 p.m. We found that onr suooois with the lines had been fully reoiprooated by those on board, as on comparing results we learned that ill-look had a'eo followed them, and they also found themselves possessed of " no fish," and with the exception of a few dog fish, whiob were knocked on ihe head and again consigned to tbe deep, their eflorts were als a fiuitles -. We had a good run down to Motneka. the juveniles indulging themselves, ani helping to make everybody happy, arriving at tbe entranoe just in time co be able to steam straight . op to the wharf, whioh was reached about 7*30. Notwithstanding the result of tbe day's .port in the fishing and shooting line, we all spent a moat pleasant day, very muoh better than a similar one to Tongi on Good Friday, whioh day was rather unfavorable, being overcast all day, and terminating in wind and rain on the return trip, and as this trip on the Queen's Birthday wbb also on a Friday, it waß unanimously named while on board " Better Friday." The owners of the Lily deserve tbe thanks of ihe residents of tbe distriot for their consideration in thus placing the steamer at tbeir disposal, and the passengers were unanimous in praising both C*pt. Soully aad the owners for the oourtesy displayed, and for the manner in whioh their comftrt was Btudied generally, and also for (he very m derate fare oharged for tbe trip. Before landing, the passengers gave three oheers for Capt. Scully and also for Mr F. Batobelor. ENTERTAINMENT An entertainment in aid of the Hall funds took plaoe the same evening at the Foreeters' Hall, by a new looal company, styling themselves " The Full Speed Minstrels," being their first appearance in publio. The attendance was highly satisfactory, and the entertainment proved an unqualified success. The takings at tha entertainment and ball whiob followed amounting to about £13, the funds of the hali will therefore receive a very substantial addition, but not being present I am unable to enter more fully into the details.