EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1716, 5 April 1906, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS.

lIIOKS BAY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The hot, dry summer weather has now givon way to cold, wet weather* and a hoavy hail-storm passed over tho Bay on March the 28th. A report having beon circulated that tho place was to be engulfed by a tidal wave of huge proportions many of tho Maoris left their habitations on the flat and took to the hills, where a camp was formed. For two nights they braved tho elements, but then heavy rain coming on made them return to the low-land and the shelter of their huts

Slow progress is being made with tho telephone line from the East Cape to Capa Runaway, which is being erected by Maori labor and money, and most of the able-bodied young men are away preparing posts or otherwise assisting in the erection of the line.

A couple of three-masted scows have been sheltering here for some days, and when the schooner “ Kaeo ” and the coasting steamer “Kotare” were at anchor here the other night ; the Bay presented a busy aspect with these four craft in it.

The potato crop is a failure, having been spoilt by the blight, and potatoes are likely to be scarce this winter.

POITAWA. .(From Our Own Correspondent.) April 2. With the finish of March the best month of the year has been left behind, if we except the last week, which has proved rather strong. A few days ago was experienced here the first taste of winter weather, when on Tuesday last the district was visited with southerly squalls and hail showers, which were not only most unexpected hut also very unwelcome. However, between two evils we are told to choose the least, and undoubtedly the hail squalls were preferable to the tremendous inundations lately predicted by Capt. I dwin. The last two days have been pretty wet, especially this morning, when for a while it rained very heavily, raising the creeks a little, but happily it knocked off before traffic was impeded. Mr Stewart’s staff has been located here for three weeks past adding another wire to the present Coastal telephone system, v, hich shouid greatly relieve the congestion occasionally experienced on this line ; at the same time it shows the rapid advance of the East Coast, and the general appreciation of the telephone service. It is only a little over fifteen years since the first line was erected, and only a few years elapsed when it was found necessary to provide a second, and now the third is in course of erection, a proof of rapid development little dreamt of twenty years ago. The party are shifting camp to Pakarae in a day or two.

Last week Mr Mclldowie sent a fine mob of six hundred odd fat sheep to the Gisborne Freezing Works ; and on Saturday a splendid mob of one hundred and fifty fat bullocks were despatched from Turehau to the Taruheru Works.