MOTUEKA.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13455, 28 June 1912, Page 2

MOTUEKA.

senior, at the age of 75 years. Tho deoeasod lady' only survived her husband, who passed away about six weeks ago. She arrived in Nelson in 1842, and has resided in the district since that time. Tho late Mrs. Inwood was of a retiring disposition, but was noted amongst a large circle of friends for her kind and' sympathetic disposition. The death took place on Sunday of Paul Itewai, only son of one of our oldest and best known Maoris. The doceased was woll known in cricket and football circles, and was very popular with his comrades. Efforts are being made here to organise the hop industry, and meetings have already been held here and in Itiwaka, at which members of two oi^'side firms of buyers were present. From what information is available it is probable that next year's crop will be eagerly competed for, and that the .growers willcombine and have large say in the all important matter of price. Fruit tree planting will take place on a large scale during the winter, and in two orchards alone 14,000 trees will be set out. These are in the vicinity of Tasman and Central Moutere. The mudflat road to the former district is in a shocking state, and waggons and carts are continuously getting bogged. Surely the Waimea County Coundl should try and at least make this road safe for ordinary traffic.

The Fir© Brigade's new manual engine was tested for the first time on Wednesday night. There is an open well near Skilton's hairdressing saloon, and some of our leading residents were of the opinion that the supply of water in it would keep ' the «ngine going. This theory was disproved in a very short time ? as the well was dry in about five minutes. A two and a-half inch pipe has now been driven to a depth of sixteen feet, and there will be another test to ascertain if the underground ;flow is sufficient. If this fails there .will probably be a trial of pipes driven on the gang system and joined together at the top. . The brass band has been reorganised, and played some capital selections in" High street on Saturday evening. It

is to be hoped that this institution

will get thoroughly established again,

and that the members will take a real live interest in the band's welfare. At the recent Palmerston show Mr. D. E. Fry was again very successful, taking the following awards:—First for case Stunners; first and second for Cox's Orange Pippin; first for London Pippin; second for Jonathans; third and highly commended for Stunners. Mr. Fry was not competing in the championship class, and as he only entered in seven classes ,he is to be congratulated on his success. This district is now recognised as the leading fruit centre of the Dominion, and our thanks are due to Mr Fry for helping

to establish the district's reputation for producing a high class article. " Another of our old settlers has passed away in the person of Mrs. Lnwood,

According to Bishop White, of Carpentaria, the. aborigines there, when swimming tiio rivers, always place the women at the end of the line, and the oldest women last of all. I'hey navcr found by oxperience, they told him, that in these swimming processions the alligators always attack the hindmost members of the party. In Egypt, where the atmosphere is very clear, the green tints of the sunset light are peculiarly distinct. As the sun descends, nearer and nearer to the horizon, and is immensely enlarged, its rays suddenly become for an instant^ a brilliant green. Then a succession, of green rays suffuses the sky well nigh to the zenith.

In Arran, where the v: aidonliair fern grows plentifully, some of the inhabitants use it as a substitute for tea.