EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1751, 17 May 1906, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS.

.TOKOMARU,

{From Our Own Correspondent.) Tho week ending Saturday, May 12th, has been quite a carnival week for Tokomaru. On Tuesday the Maoris assembled in force to give greetings to Te Eangi Pai, who on that day arrived with a party from Gisborne. The news soon spread that we were to have the pleasure of hearing this celebrated singer, and a concert was announced for Wednesday evening. Te Itangi Pai paid a graceful compliment to the native race by inviting tho Maoris free of charge. At the concert tho Tokomaru hall was filled by a record crowd. Te Kangi Pai, assisted by amateurs, delighted the audience for two hours with vocal and instrumental items. The amateurs who assisted wore Mrs Perry (Te Itangi Pai's sister), and Mrs Hind marsh, Miss Fitzgerald and Mr C. hutia. At the conclusion of the concert the natives present who”were evidently worked up to a high pitch of excitement broke into tho soul-stirring liaka, “ Tcnei to tangata puhuru burn,” led by Eawhiti Pacrata. Te Itangi Pai’s concert will he long remembered by the Tokomaru people. On Friday night the Hospital Ball took place. The" weather was perfect, and as was expected another most successful hall was held. There were visitors from Uis borne, Tolago Bay, Tuparoa, Waipiro, and Hiruharama. The arrangements made by the committee were complete. A large marquee bad been erected outside the hall as a supper room. The tables, capable of accommodating a hundred guests at a time, were most tastefully arranged, and literally groaned under the weight of the best viands that could be supplied _ in Tokomaru and vicinity. The catering was done by the local ladies and wives of settlers in tiie neighborhood. The arrangement of the tallies was performed by Mesdames K. Connelly and Perry, and the Misses Busby (2). The ball was decorated with evergreens, and the floor was in good trim. The music (piano) was entrusted to Mr Lube. Mm liushcll assisted at two dances with piccolo accompaniment. Several Indy visitors played extras. Messrs Buchanan and P. Mulligan made capable M.O.'s. The onerous work of doorkeepers was in the hands of Messrs 1.. Connelly, Oates and Little. The committee deserve great credit for the success of the ball, which will result in over Til) being given to the hospital fund. Mr G. Busby was lion, secretary, and certainly did tho lion s share of the work. Tho liberality of Messrs P. Hayman and Co., Auckland, must bo mentioned, in that- they relieved the committee of the cost of the printer's bill. The piano was kindly lent by Mrs Perry. The ladies’ committee as usual did their work in a finished manner. The ball committee consisted of the following Messrs G. Busby, U. Saxby, Ji. 1!. Murphy, G. Cotterill, J. 11. Jamieson, 11, If. Fnirlic, \V. Oates, sen., H. C. Sig ley, G. Kelly, T. G. Buchanan, A. C. awl f'j. C. Connelly, G. F. Uindinarsh, and \V Smith. The bull opened at S p.m. wit! tho grand march, headed by Mr Buclmnfti and Mrs Sigley, followed by about seventy couples. So beautiful wet'o the dresses and so excellent was the dancing that your correspondent at least found it im possible to pick the belle of the ball. The most noticeable ladies were Mesdames J, Morris (Tolago). white satin and chiffon ; Hindmarsli, white satin and chiffon ; E. 11. Murphy, pink figured satin ; Nurse (Waipiro), blue silk ; Fitzgerald, black velvet; G. Fitzgerald, lilac satin ; G. Fitzgerald, black voile; Sigley, tussore silk, blue

I trimmings : Murphy (Waipiro), black I skirl, scarlet silk blouse ; Green, black silk ; Bushell. white voile, blue trimmings ; H, Williams, black skirt, white sill: blouse ; Downey t lliruliaraiitii) black dress ; P. Mulligan, cream figured silk ; T. Mulligan. cream, blue trimmings ; Newton, blilek skirt, cream blouse : Misses Off, while chiffon over black silk : Clark, pink silk and chiffon : Robertson, pink »kirt. j cream lace blouse ; Jamieson, white dross ; Smith, white satin : B i.lgo, blue silk : Bates, whit* chiffon over blue silk : Wallis (Gisborne) black silk ; Caldwell, white ; I M. Caldwell, pink silk ; Reynolds, white ; I McGee, black lace, anil Sherrill'(Gisborne), I pink silk.

(in Saturday afternoon ft football mate was played here between the Tokontar Club and a seraleh team. A good bn one sided game resulted, the local tent! winning by 10 points to 3. A large mint her of spectators attended, and evineei keen interest in the play. lit my lust loot hall notes the names of Messrs E. Con nelly, Bueliuuan, \Yi I’otao and Horn i’aenita were inadvertently omitted from the list of vice presidents of the local club.

On Saturday evening the Tokomaru all was again tilled to overflowing by a terry crowd of dancers, tho dance being i honor of it Maori wedding. This nislted up a week of gaiety.

NATIVE CENSUS.

Waiapu, 1901: Maori population, 1170 I malo.'-, 1114 f-malcs ; balf oastes (liviDg as I mombers of tribes) 108 males, 82 females; total persons, 247-1; under 15, maleß 490, females 454, and over 15, males 788, females 742. 1906 ; Population, 1233 males, 1132 females; half-oastos, 143 tualos, 103 females ; total persons, 2611 ; , under 15, 551 males, 453 females, and over 15, 824 males and 749 females; unspecified, 1 male aud 3 fomalee. Tbore is thus an inoreaso in the Native population of 137 in Waiapu oounty, or between 5 and 6 I per cont. in five years. Individual cultivation, 1901: Potatoes, I 476 j acres; wheat, aores; maize, 585 j aores; other orops, 618 aores ; sown grasses, 17,748 aores. 1906: Potatoes,! 50JJ aores ; wheat, 8 aores ; maiz9, 4881 j acres; otbor crops, 657 aores; sown I grasses, 20,1 aorep. In common cultivation, 1901: Potatoes, aores; wheat, 2 aores; other crops, 134 acres. 1906: Potatoes, 47 acres; wheat, nil; other orops, 98.1 aores. Live steak held in 1901 : Sheep, 59,603 ; cattle, 1625 ; pigs, 7610. 1906: Sheep, 73,438; oaltle, 3193; pigs, 8196