“GISBORNE BLACKBIRDS.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

“GISBORNE BLACKBIRDS.”

MIRTH AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

“Taken altogether, the entertainment was one of the best of the kind we have witnessed,” was the “Independent’s” comment on the initial entertainment given on August 23, 1886, by a local amateur troupe, the “Gisborne Blackbirds.” The account proceeds:— “The performance opened with a pianoforte overture by Mr. Crawford, given in his best style. The song “Wc never miss our Mother till she’s gone,’’ by Mr I-lothnm, was thoroughly appreciated, M ister U. Tandy’s “In die Morning. I's;e a-going.” Mr. Gardner’s “Good old Jeff,” Mr. J. Pierce’s “Joekev Hat and Feather” also went off ".veil. Then followed “Old Folks are Gone,” by Mr. W. 11. Scents and “Noiine IvT.aufine” by Mr. W. Rat'd'ffe. loth items'being enr.- -i Mi-, (i Read's “There’s" Going 'to be n Wedding” went immensely and was followed by Mr. Id. Hull’s “Kiss me Mother ere T die” given with much feeling. Mr. Sceats then sang ‘The Sun Shines oil us all.’ In a double clog dance, Messrs. Weston and Madder were fully up to the maik. A sketch “The Barbers Shop” with Mr. Sceats as the barber and Mr. Weston as bis humorous assistant, concluded the entertainment. Mr. J. G. Henderson’s stump speech, especially that part referring to the harbor on dry land,, created quite a furore, amidst t'yy height of which the orator sloped.”

THE 1903 FLOOD. , SETTLERS HAVE NARROW ESCAPES. Following up a lengthy sped of dry weather, Poverty Bay in July. 1.9J6, experienced a disastrous ram storm which caused the VVaipao? river to overflow into tho Tarn lie' a river, which scon began to run through Gisborne with force, of a mighty river," earning with it dead stock and drift wood, anil occasioning great alarm. Nelson Bros.’ bridge at Taiuheru carried away, lr.it, fortunately, it was secured at Carnarvon Street-, where it broke down about a quarter ol the structure at that point. The morning train could not proceed further than Makaraka. Boats, were at once supplied by the Harbor Board, the Union S.S. On. and Nelson Bros. From Makaraka to Matawhero the country was a sheet of water. The Willows Settlement was in a similar plight, as also was the low-lying country beyond the bridge towards Te Arai. En route to Patutahi the, waters were in some places as high as the fences. Drowned stock were to be seen in every direction, a.s well as cattle and sheep swimming in search of a dry knoll. The houses in the vicinity of Makauri school were invaded to tlie extent of several feet. At Waeren-.ga-a-iiika and Makaraka, in particular, much rescue work required to bo done. At Ormond, the flood did not reach as great a height as on the occasion of the. 1876 flood, hut several settlers had to le removed to places of safety. Whatatutu and Te Kaiaka also suffered from flood waters. whilst Morere was in a similar plight. AW far- as the town was concerned, neither the Taruheru nor the Kaiti bridge was damaged, hut some of the flood waters gotfinto .the Wnikanae and did damage to the Grey and Lowe Street bridges. Subsequent liver protection work has prevented a recurrence of trouble of a serious character.