COUNTRY NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2121, 21 February 1908, Page 1

COUNTRY NEWS.

P.OUAAYA. (From Our Correspondent.) Feb. 19. The Hon. Mr. Fowlds, Alinister of Education, and party, arrived at tho Whangara Native school this morning at 10, on their coastal tour, being conveyed in a special coach provided by Aiessrs. Redstone and Son, Gisborne. The Alinister was accompancourse, have put on no condition, Airs. Valintine, and Air. AY. AY. Bird, Native .School Inspector. The party was met at- the school by the School Committee and a largo number of parents and friends of the children to welcome the Hon. Mr. Fowlds to AATiangara. The chairman o'f the committee, Mr. Hira Painga, and Air. llongomai both expressed tlieir pleasure and the pleasure of all present at the Alinistor’s visit, and thanked them for coming to sec personally the AATiangara Native school in working order. Air. Fowlds expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied at what lie had seen, not only at AVhaimara, but in other parts, and thought that the Native schools were most useful -institutions, and their existence was perfectly justified. He was also well pleased to see the children so- clean and happy, and gave them a halfholiday, which the youngsters appreciated at- its -full value. After a stay of nearly two hours the party again boarded tlieir conveyance, and continued their journey up tlio coast, where all the European and Native schools will be visited, the ultimate destination of the party being Rotorua, via the Bay of Plenty . It is almost impossible to estimate the extent of the relief experienced hero when the weather broke on AA’cdnesdav last. The first sign of a (■lunge was noticed on the Alonday previous, -when about midday the sun was seen to be encircled by a distinct halo, a rather uncommon occurrence so 'at once the local weather prophet predicted a change, which happily was verified, to the inestimable benefit of the district. However, the damage through the drought has not been so serious as mbdit have been expected, knock, or course, have put on no condition, and the best classes of sheep, old and vounc. have held tlieir own, but a few of the weaker constitutioned sheep have gone off a hit. But everything should improve now, as the grass is growing rapidly under the genial weather the district has been favored with lately.