OUR COASTAL LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 66, 21 March 1901, Page 3

OUR COASTAL LETTER.

(Times Travelling Correspondent). Tolago, Last Night. Tolago was en fete during the past week. The meeting of tho Poverty Bay Hunt Club, tho polo matches between Mangaheia and Gisborne, and Mangaheia and Mahia, and the Tolago Bay races on Monday, all served to bring together a large crowd of settlers from different parts of the district, and there was a general round of enjoyment. The hunt was a great success; there was a largo attendance, the going was good, and all present were prepared to enjoy the outing. Messrs W. Macfarlane and G. M. Reynolds did all in their power to ensure a pleasant meet, and there was a general feeling that the gathering should become an annual one. Mr and Mrs Sinclair, of the Tolago Bay Hotel, were untiring in their efforts to promote tho comfort of visitors, and although tho hotel was crowded, they succeeded in giving everyone the utmost satisfaction and sent them away well pleased with their visit. The Mahia native polo team were

highly pleased with their victory over Mangaheia, especially after the latter had been successful in downing Gisborne. The Mahia team showed excellent form, and obtained a substantial victory over their opponents, the scores being ten goals to three. Mr F. Bousfield is at present’ bringing three thousand sheep down the Coast, consigned to the Messrs Nelson Bros-’ works. The sheep are from the Waipiro station, and arc a fairly good lot. They should reach Gisborne by Thursday. The Bov. Father O’Connor paid a visit to Tolago Bay, on, Saturday, and returned to Gisborne, on Wednesday. He held a service in the Court-house, on Sunday, which was very largely attended. Father O'Connor had a very unploasant experience in riding to Tolago. His horse knocked up when ho was half-way between Pakarae and Tolago, and he had to

make to Tolago. There arc all sorts of rumors afloat along the Coast of a rich find of gold at Awanui, but the more sober-mindod of the community do not give credence to such tales. As one settler aptly remarked, “ The only gold we have in these par ts is the golden fleece, and that is very low in price at the present.” His Lordship Bishop Williams is at present on his periodical visit to the coastal villages. He preached at Tologa Bay to two fairly largo congregations last Sunday, and holds a service in the church at Tokoinaru this evening. Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., holds a sitting of tho Court at Tolago on (Thursday). There is a good deal of business to come before the Court. Scrgt. Siddells is also at Awanui, having ridden through from Tolago on Tuesday. Messrs Skcct and McLaughlin, the contractors for the bridges across tho liikiwai stream, are well under way with the first of the bridges. A good deal of tho material has already come to hand, and the schooner Waiapu is shortly to leave for tho mills for a full load of timber. Two pillars of oiio of tho bridges arc already up. The attendance at the school at Tolago is steadily on tho increase, and Mr Nolson, tho popular headmaster, will soon be able to claim a hundred pupils under his con-

trol. Ho has been in the district for over ten years, and deserves great credit for tho manner in which he Has conducted the school. Half of the scholars aro Natives, and they show considerable aptitude for their studies. When once they master tho language they make equally as good progress as tho European children. A party of East Coast settlers intend riding to Rotorua in June on tho occasion of tho visit of thp Duke and Duchess of York, and a numbor of Gisborne gentlemen aro likely to accompany them. Messrs Hindmarsh, Sponco, and Perry are mentioned as being in the party. Tho breaking of tho tolephono line on Tuesday, greatly inconvenienced business people on tho Coast, and it was late in the afternoon before communication was restored. At Tolago, thcro was a largo accumulation of work on account of the races of the previous day. Tho now postmistress, Miss Gallaghor, was kept busy on Monday, but she was more than equal to tho task, and succeeded in pleasing one and all.

It is doubtful if over the Tolago Bay ferry was over so liberally patronised by the public as it w is during the past week, for on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday it was constantly going. Mr Goodly, who is in charge, has become a great favorito with the travelling public, and thoroughly understands his business.

The Waiapu Sheep Dog Trial Club hold their annual meeting at Tokomaru next week, and a largo gathering is oxpccted. There arc over 140 entries, which is largely in excess of last year. A general meeting for the election of officers and other business will bo hold on the first night of tho trial. A concert and danco has been arranged for one night, and elaborate preparations aro being made for the same.

The Waiapu Racing Club has a membership of over soventy, and the balance carried forward to the credit of the Club this year is likely to bo something over ,£i!o.

Constable Smith has taken over Mr Walker’s Hotel, at Awanui. Ho has been succeeded temporarily by Constable Crawford, of Gisborne, who will have chargo of Awanui, until tho arrival of Constable Kelly, from Holensville. The road from Gisborne to Tolago is at present receiving a good deal of attention from the County Council, and with a little fine weather should greatly improve, Visitors to Tolago on Tuesday last were treated to a pleasant excursion up the Uawa river in Messrs Lockwood and Holder’s launch Iranui, which, with three boats in tow, carried nearly four hundred passengers to the racecourse. Some delay was occasioned at tho start, owing to tho boats going aground, but after a lot of shoving and hauling they were got afloat, and fast time was made on the trip. The properties passed en route to tho racccourso included a pretty little place of 200 acres occupied by Mr J. Moore, Mr Andrew Beeves’ property, and a portion of Mr Somerville’s estate. A little native bush is still to be seen on the river, but the journey for tho most part is uninteresting. Some excitement was caused on the return trip by three Natives going overboard, It was dark when the launch returned to the Tolago pier, and the Natives, who had been imbibing too freely, tried to walk a plank in order to reach tho landing stage. The result was, they fell into the water, but tho cooling effects of the aqua pura soon brought them to their senses, and they held on to the landing stage until tlicv were assisted ashore. Tho owners of

are to be congratulated on the < enterprise shown in running the launch to the races. The boats were in charge of Messrs Glover and Moore, and tho skilful way in which they brought the launoh and small boats down the river was deserving of the highest commendation. A party of Gisbornitos, who left Tolago on Monday evening with the intention of returning home, got blocked on the Pakarae side of tho Turehau creek, and had to wait for daylight before they could proceed on their journey. They were subjected to a good deal of banter by their friends, who overtook them on the following morning. There were a number of the spieling fraternity at Tolago during the past week, and several settlers reported to the police that they had been “done” for a tidy sum. In one or two instances there- was some truth in the statements, but in others perhaps the attraction of having a “ little bit ” on the machine accounted for the empty pockets. : A meeting of the eommltteo of the Tolago Bay Racing Club was held at Tolago, this evening, when there was a •large attendance. The Secretary (Mr Holder) reported that he had sent a number of wires to Hawke’s Bay, seeking information regarding the horse Slapjack, winner of the scurry. He had been unable to find out anything to show that tho horse had ever won a race in that district. The Secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Racing Club had replied stating that he was unaware of the horse having won a face, and replies to the same effect came i from other quarters. Three telegrams : sent had not been replied to. Mr Rhodes, the owner of Rena, asked to i have the protest withdrawn, but the ! stewards, after discussing the matter, s could not sec their way to grant his rc- • quest. It was decided to adjourn the inquiry untU to-morrow evening) by which time it

is hoped Mr Holder will have replies to all the wires sent. The committee decided to award the sum of £5, forfeited by the second horse in the hurdle race on account of running inside a post, to Wilson. The latter ran in the Uawa Stakes, and was thought by many to have secured second place. The stewards did not reverse the judge’s decision, but selected the former course as tho best means of getting over the difficulty. The Secretary- (Mr Holder) was highly eulogised for the manner in which the meeting had been conducted, and a bonus of £5 was voted to him. Mention was also made of the excellent services rendered by Messrs Dobson and Morris. Accounts in connection with the meeting were passed for payment. The Club came out very well as regards finance, and are able to carry forward a I good balance towards next year.