NOTES FROM MOTUEKA.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10553, 30 October 1902, Page 4

NOTES FROM MOTUEKA.

[By a Correspondent.] I suppose you will hardly find room in your paper for news items from this little corner,. "What with vaccination, temperance and post Office controversies, all available space seems to be well filled. The correspondence on the latter subject is creating a great deal of amusement for us country bumpkins, resembling so much, as it does, so many little boys blowing bubbles, each trying to outdo his fellow in his efforts, and each doomed to see his most glorious production burst before his eyes. It is'hardly likely that, whilst the Government is witness to so much wordy warfare on the subject, that they will move any further than they have done, having a very good excuse for ; inaction in the divergence of 1 opinions, and indication of petty jealousies as at present expressed. Neither is it likely that they will express the wishes of any one party, when the time does come for the old building to be replaced by a more modern and up-to-date structure. I would suggest that'a building be put on wheels, and placed week about on the different sites advocated. Thus would each be pleased, and blessed peace descend on all. Whilst you are in the midst of all this strife , and turmoil, we are "pursuing the even tenor of our way." The factory in course of erection | for the Co-operative Fruit Company , is rapidly approaching completion, , and should be finished well within the contract time. Right here I I should like to say a word to the shareholders. Much capital has been made of the fact that the diree- ■ tors accepted the higher tender of the ! ! two sent in— practically throwing , away, so it seems, £60, a consider- [ able sum in view of the small amount ■ of working capital available. It would be well to consider that the ' men who have been placed on the directorate are not likely to pursue such a course without good reason, and, feeling the responsibility of their position as they undoubtedly do, with, too, the full facts of the case before them, one must take it 1 for granted that what they! have done ; is in the best interests of the concern; consequently it behoves us all co support them in every way pos--1 sible, by so doing helping to make a •success of the scheme, with which ; the welfare of the district is incor--1 porated. ,_ ,„. It seems as if, after all, Mr K. McKenzie is to be returned for this constituency unopposed, Mr W. Moffatt 1 having withdrawn from the fray. 1 Though not selfish enough to wish to see a man wasting time and money in an endeavor to win the coveted '< position when one knows that his 1 task is hopeless, yet one cannot help regretting that election day will lose, for us, the added excitement afforded by a battle full of local interest. Mr L. G. Bhodes and Miss Edwards, of Moutere Plains, were married on Tuesday last, in St. Thomas's CHurch, the building hav-. ing been decorated for the occasion 1 by willing hands. The bride, who 1 looked sweet in a French grey dress, 1 was given away by her father, Mr i Alfred Edwards, Mr Sheriff, of Wanganui. acting as best man, whilst the bride was supported by her sister, Miss Clarice Edwards. After the ceremony the happy pair drove off to ' commence their honeymoon, which is ' to extend, I hear, to the Lakes and other points of interest, in the North Island. ' i Our genial Bank manager, Mr ' Symes, has returned to spend the ' balance of his holiday in our midst. ' He looks much better for his trip, but evidently finds the delights of our sylvan existence too much to his taste to remain long away from. , He is back in time to see the foundations of the new Bank laid, Mr Miller hoping to put them in during the coming week. Messrs Rankin& Sons intend starting a butter factory at Ngatimoti, the building of which is to be im- , mediately commenced, and vigorously pushed to early completion, so as to be in time or the coming season. A site has been selected close to the i Black bridge, which, tapping as it does the Orinoco, Dovedale, and Ngatimoti districts, should prove most suitable for the purpose. Such a boon to the settlers in these districts will, no doubt, be appreciated by theni, and earn for the Messrs Rankin their hearty support. The steamer contract, as ratified, has come as a keen disappointment to us, for we feel that, virtually, nothing has been gained So far as we can ascertain, even a certain day has not been decided upon on which the Manaroa is to make her trip, and our steamer service . to Wellington, in spite of the subsidy, bids fair to be in as unsatisfactory a position this year as it was last. To add insult to injury, as it were, an extra half-crown has been clapped on to the freight, which, with the increased commission demanded by the Wellington fruit auctioneers, will add considerably to the handicap under which our fruit industry at present labors. What we hoped ior was, at least, a bi-weekly service, with fixed dates for sailing— all that, we have got is an increase in freight. I am sorry, sir, to close with a growl, but — wall, it is an Englishmen's privilege—and there is nothing else to write about, f- - -