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Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 232, 3 October 1887, Page 8

Mr W. F. Judson writes:-—"'The following telegram was received from Hokianga on Saturday last: ' Mrs Forbes, care of W. F. Judson, Ponaonby,—^o flour or stores. Township starved out waiting for stoamer. —A. Forbes.' It is now five weeks since Mrs Forbes, with her family of seven children, arrived here from Greymouth on her way to Hokianga to join her husband. The s.s. Oreti had just returned from her last trip North when Mrs Forbes landed in Onehunga, 'and was advertised to make her next trip on September sth. The Oreti was, however, detained, ostensibly by the weather, and put off till the 7th. Then she suddenly changed her programme, and decided to make two trips running to New Plymouth, leaving out the Hokianga trip. Left for New Plymouth September 7th, was disabled "on the way down, and after being windbound for a week, returned to Onehunga, September 15th. It seems that some repairs that were effected at New Plymouth were not of a permanent character. A new shaft had to be made, but although it should have been known that this would take nine or ten days, the boat was advertised to go to Hokianga on the 19th, thus allowing just four days forrepairs. Since then she has been put off from day to day, and now after having lain at the wharf in Onehunga for eighteen days her departure seems as problematical as ever. Obviously the proper thing to have been done when the Oreti was laid up was to send some other boat to Hokianga. The service to Hokianga is a weekly one, and Mr Waller is under contract with the Government to send once a month to Whangape. It is now nearly six weeks since the steamer has visited these places." With reference to the above we learn on inquiry that the Oreti is now ready and will leave the moment the weather moderates. An effort was made to charter a vessel, but owners are chary about allowing their steamers to go into Whangape.

Captain Edwin ,advises:—W.jand S. and S.E., heavy gale, weather continue very cold and glass rise soon.

Mr Joseph; Kennerley, Sheep Inspector, died suddenly at Wanganui, *4iis momjig.