COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4814, 11 March 1918, Page 7

COAST NEWS.

IvAHUKURA notes

(From Our Own Correspondent). KAHUKURA, Feb. 28. JJie threatening weather ended with rt regular burst from the east and south-east, which caused the creeks and rivers to rise, and. consequently blocked the .mails. His Lordship, the Bishop of Waiapti, was unable to reach Te Araroa owing to the deluge, but passed through here on Monday. While he will hold a Maori Synod. Lhe local school children were granted three days’ holiday by the Education Department, so they could accompany their parents to the ■‘Hui” at Te Araroa. Mr Goffe, Government Land Purchaser, has been to Tg Araroa purchasing land from the Maoris at Matakawa Point.

The settlers have finished dipping, and are busy picking fats for the freezing works at Tokomaru Bay. Some of them are feeling the shortage of labor, especially those whose fences slipped during the prolonged winter. It is simply impossible to obtain fencers to repair them. Their inability to effect repairs causes them endless worry owing to "Their sheep mixing.

The auxiliary scow Echo is hanging about the coast waiting an opportunity to land a cargo of telegraph poles at Tuparoa, Port Awanui and Tc Araroa. She also carries mails for the coast, which are now a week overdue. The various Ministers of the Crown were unable to attend the ILui; their inability to do so greatly disappointed those assembled there.

The Hui drew a great crowd, who were well catered for both in the food line and amusements, as evinced by the numerous side-shows. The principal attraction was the Poi Troupe from Hawke’s Bay. They drew bumper houses in aid of the Maori Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. The large sum of £3500 was collected at the Hui for the fund.

These popular entertainers gave a performance on Tuesday evening outside the meeting house at Tikitiki in aid of the same cause. Speeches of welcome were made by the leading chiefs. The troupe gave a, long and varied programme. Numerous songs were given in excellent style, one being encliored again and again. Miss Olga Neilson sang ‘‘Give Me Half-a-crown,” and in response over £7 was showered in, in a very short time. The Hawaiian dance was unique, and the various evolutions wgye capitally performed. The picked dances were the Poi dances, the performers being dressed in kliaki, producing a fine effect. AH the items were accompanied by the visitors string band,- which was novel and admired by the audience. The proceedings terminated with _ the singing of “God Save The King.” A move was made to the hall, where dancing was kept up to the early hours. The proceeds of the dance and entertainment amounted to £ll3.

On Wednesday evening, the troupe gave an entertainment at Waiomatatini to a-very large gathering. The splendid programme was greatly enjoyed by all. Te Ope Tuatalii. or A Noble Sacrifice.’Hhe pathetic song composed by the Hon. A. T. Ngata, was realistically rendered and caused many affecting scenes. In spite of the rain, which interfered for a time with the performance, the handsome sum of £3OO was collected. The troupe are to be heartily congratulated upon their line performances and financial success. The Mako was unable to work Port Awanui on her trip from Auckland, owing to the rough sea.

TOKOMARU BAY BUDGET

(From Our Own Correspondent.) TOKOMARU BAY. March 8.

As further evidence of the truth of Mr Oates’ contention that there is the best >of good feeling between Maoris and pakehas here, I make mention of the pakeha church service on Sunday evening conducted- by Rev. Eruini. who was assisted by Rev. Tu Reia who read the lessons, and Rev. Bennett, who has charge of the Maori work in Hawke’s Bay, and who delivered the sermon. There was a very good congregation, and, had it not- been for the storm, the building would have been crowded to the doors by pakehas: We have lost track of Bishop Sedgewick lately, but understand that he is at Tuparoa. Now that Ministers, both -political and ecclesiastical, have sampled our weather, and our roads at as early a date as February, they will be able to picture om- lot in mid-winter, and We confidently look forward to missionary propaganda (of the roads order) on their part. Inspector Strachan, of the Hawke s Bay Education Board, visited the Public School for his inspection visit on Fridav., He left for the north on Saturday and expects to be a month dome- all’ the schools, both European and 'Maori, north of Tokomaru Bay. He takes -the native school here on his return. . . , The Maori entertainers who have been about a fortnight on the coast, have been the means of raising a laro-e sum of money in aid of the Maori Wounded Soldiers FundTheir takings in Tokomaru Bay up to Saturday night reached the large sum of £634. to which total the committee of the Maungaliaumistation (Maori owned) contributed £SOO. Thev repeated their entertainment on * Tuesday night, .when despite wretched weather conditions they had a good house. At the present moment (8. a.mThursday) it does not look as it tho Monowai (expected to-day) wyl be able to work this port, in which case wo shall have to endure our overcrowded conditions for a few da} s longer However, ‘fit’s an ill wind etc ” and we may have the pleasure of another of this troupe s enjoyable entertainments. ~ Yesterday it looked as if the County Council were in for further trouble lie*® at the Maungaliaumi bridge, the water undermining some concrete work which dropped and cracked m consequence. This undermining was the cause of a hole appearing in north side of the approach but this was Promptly filled in by Mr Riley, life Council’s energetic surfaceman and it is not anticipated that thei e will be further trouble there at pres-. Cl The Waima'versus “City” cricket match was put off, as was aso the return “Woodpeckers” v. Coun tor-jumpers” match arranged for to-