TAKAKA.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11288, 23 March 1905, Page 4

TAKAKA.

(from our own correspondent.) Our 1905 crop of blackberries has now been successfully harvested, and in spite of the Noxious Weeds Act, the estimated quantity picked and sold this last six weeks is 50 tons. All interest is now centered in th© bop crop. Picking is general now all over the Valley, and so far splendid weather has prevailed. Should the same weather be vouchsafed us for a further fortnight or three weeks the Takaka hops should command everyi where the top price ruling. So. far we have no red spider, no winds and no spoiling rains, so that careful drying alone remains to produce a tip top article. The formation of the Golden Bay Bacon Co-operative Company is being energtically pushed on by the provisional directors. Tne machinery is now on the ground, and a gang of men, under an expert who came with the machinery, are now rushing things along. By April Ist it is expected that the factory will be open for business. The shares are not in the hands of a few men, but are being taken up in small quantities by almost every settler in Golden Bay, which puts the Company on a firmer base, and assures it a full measure of support, so that everything so far points to a successful industry being established in our midst, bringing a large amount of outside money annually into the Valley to be divided out among the settlers. Good work is being done already by the recently-formed Miners' Association. Several large and small parties are now oat in various parts of the gold-bearing valleys of our district, and I hope before long to have glowing reports to make of their success. Another mining scheme, which has been several times exploited with poor results, is the Motupipi coal. At present Mr Thomas Nalder aod party are busy getting out a very marketable looking article from the recently re-opened seam near the Motupipi bridge, and by all accounts the coal is in large quantities, and the quality far above the average, and those who looked askance at the venture a short while ago are now regretting it. Our Library Committee here are seriously considering the advisability of*t«*ying for a Carnegie gift to put up a decent building with a public reading room. If successful, it would be an everlasting boon to a great number of people here, especially during the long winter evenings, when public amusements are few and far between at present. Some interest is being taken in the forthcoming Nelson races, although the lateness of our hop crop will pre" vent a number going over to see them. Takaka's team this year will comprise three brothers — Brockleigh, King Teddy and Temite — and three gallopers in Gold Guard, Tynan and Purakai. We reckon to pull off two races and our money is all on, but not being a racing tout_l won't give the show away. Our mounted rifle corps is eagerly looking forwardfto a good outing ati Easter, when they go to attend the annual camp at Tadmor. The local corps go overland all theTway in true military style, and intend carrying out all the precautions of an army in an enemy's country en route. The journey will occupy two days each way, so *most of their training will have to be done on the road to and from Tadmor.