WAIROA NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 150, 6 July 1901, Page 3

WAIROA NOTES.

(TIMES CORRESPONDENT.) MEMORABLE TRIP. The Hurumua Mounted Rifles arrived home last Sunday after their trip to Wellington and Christchurch. They speak in great praise of the treatment they received at Christchurch. They had an abundance of food, and a decent bed to sleep on, whereas at Wellington the arrangements there for the volunteers at Newtown Park was simply scandalous. The tents in which the men had to sleep were damp, and at times water in them, whilst the surroundings were a sea of mud and slush. The food was the worst procurable ; in fact, the meat was really the worst parts of the beasts, and it was impossible to eat it. Although Colonel Pole-Penton blamed the otlicers for the manner in which the men wore treated, still I think the officers c-ould not have done more than they did. From the time the first company arrived in camp Colonel Somerville and other officers tried their utmost to get the state of affairs altered, but without success. It is the opinion of a good many that the authorities are to blame greatly and deserve a vote of censure, and, as the men

remarked, “ We have been stamped as infernal curs ” ; still, we would rather he said swine, ns we are no less than a lot of pigs wallowing in the mii-e. This trip

will remain in the hearts of the men for a long time. I think that Wellington is the only place in New Zealand where the men received such harsh treatment and being poorly fed. For men who had come such a distance, some of them at great inconvenience to themselves, deserved better treatment than the volunteers who went down to Wellington to pay honor to their ltoyal Ilignesses. A CJMI'UMK.NTAUV SOCIAL. A very successful social was tendered by the ladies of Wairoa on the Ist inst. to the members of the Hurumua Mounted liifles on their return from the South. Tho social must be considered the most successful of its kind over heid in Wairoa,

the ladies sparing no pains or trouble to make the guests enjoy themselves. Fully 60 couples were present, besides numerous onlookers. The hall was most artistically decorated with flags, bannerettes, nikau palms, fern trees, and other native shrubbery. Tho walls were hung with pictures and mirrors, and tho windows with curtains and draping, the whole presenting a very pretty appearance. On one side of the hall was a banner with the inscription, “ Welcome to dur boys in

lvhaki.” Mostly all the local corps appeared in uniform, and looked remarkably well in them. Songs wore sung by Miss Neill, and Messrs Roberts, Bax, Cosgrove, Hawkins, Brown, and Long. The songs were greatly appreciated, and encores were the order of the evening. The music for the accompaniments and dances was played by Misses Bax, Parker, Maud N. Poyzcr, D. Hewitt, McGowan ; Messrs Roberts, Savage, W. Gardiner, and Beckett. During the evening the Rifle Corps gave by request their war cry, which was greatly admired. The ladies also gave a well-executed war cry and dance, which took immensely. Miss Mabel Poyzer made a splendid M.C., assisted by Mesdames Hamer, R. L. Smith, and Miss D. Hewitt. Mr J. Holt also rendered assistance in a most capable manner. During the evening Captain Milne-Thomson, on behalf of the corps, thanked tho ladies of Wairoa for the very pleasant evening and kind welcome that had been given the company back to Wairoa. The trip to Wellington had not, he said, been the most pleasant one, but he was glad to say 7, by the appearance of the men, that they were looking none tho worse for their treatment

there. Ho then called for three cheers for the ladies, which were heartily given by tlio company. The ladies of the committee must be heartily congratulated for the most able manner in which they conducted the social, nothing being wanting to make the guests and visitors comfortable and happy as well. A gift auction will bo held on Wednesday afternoon to dispose of the balance of the cakes, eto., loft over from the social, the proceeds of which, with money in hand, will be handed over to the local hospital. The ladies provided a splendid supper, which was done full justice to by the guests and our hungry troopers.

WAIROA TOWN BOARD. The local Town Board held its usual monthly meeting on July Ist. Present : Messrs Perkins (chairman), Corkili, Hague and Gardiner. Mr P. H. Summerfield wrote, applying for a slaughtering license on Sections 720 and 752, Clyde Town District. A protest in writing was banded in from Messrs P. Coghlan and R. Cram, objecting to a license for those sec-

tions, as the refuse therefrom polluted the creek which ran alongside, and in summer time tho water was used by the inhabitants. Considerable discussion ensued over the question. Finally it was agreed to grant tho license, notice to bo sent to Messrs Cram and Coghlan that they must lay their claim before the Stock Inspector for the district. The Harbor Board wrote regretting their inability to allow the Board to remove gravel from tho mouth of the Waipaoa Creek. The poundkeeper wrote, for’ warding returns 6s 7d and dog tax jE3 10s.

Mr Corkili wished to know the names of those who took out liconses for 2s 6d and if the same were bona fide. Tho Clerk handed in tho names, and stated a declaration had to be taken in such cases. King! Rotoatara applied for .£2 damages on some horses ho had impounded, and had been sold. The Board came to tho decision that as the claimant’s fences were not legal fences he could not claim damages. It was decided to ask tho Commissioner of Crown Lands to send a surveyor to make a standard survey 7 of the town ;

also when persons could get their titles for the old Recreation Ground sections. The Clerk notified that ho had applied to the ,Colonial Treasurer for .£3OO on account of loan. He expected an answer in a week, and thought it advisable to adjourn the meeting ?or a week, which was agreed to. Tho Clerk stated that the town lamps were being continually broken by boys. Tho Board resolved to offer £1 reward for information leading to the conviction of any person guilty of breaking the town lamps, and that tho attention of the police be called to the persistent destruction of public property. Accounts to the amount of £2O 12s were passed for payment. A DUTCH AUCTION. A Dutch auction of the balance of food held over from the late social to the Hurumua Rifles was held on Wednesday afternoon, ilr Thos. Hewett acting as auctioneer in a very capable manner, his remarks causing considerable amusement. The proceeds of the sale was £1 4s, and

balance of donations received £1 16s 3d, leaving a sum to be handed over to the local hospital of Os 3d, which must be considered highly satisfactory to the ladies, considering no charge was made for admission to the social.

SCHOOL DECLARED CLOSED. The district school was to have openec on July Ist, but as nearly the whole staf

were away in Napier, and no chance of the steamer arriving, the school was declared closed until the arrival of the head master. AN' HONORABLE ACT. A gentleman in business in Wairoa, who was in business in a small town in the South Island, had a debt contracted while there, some thirteen years ago, to the amount of £l7 2s. The party in j question went through the bankruptcy court. At a meeting of creditors in the estate the person was found not to have any means whereby this debt, as well as others, could be paid. Later on he went into business and made a success of it, and some time later died, leaving a widow, who was very anxious to pay off the debts contracted by her late husband. To this effect the gentleman in Wairoa received a letter from her lawyer containing a cheque for £l7 2s, which was an agreeable surprise, considering he never expected to hear any more of the amount. The Southland creditors, being anxious to recognise the honorable conduct of the woman, decided to make her a presentation, and have voluntarily handed back to the lady 5 per cent, of the debts due. The gentleman interested in Wairoa seni back an acknowledgment and a cheque ol a guinea to the fund for making the ladj a presentation. A RUNAWAY. An accident of a serious nature hap j peaed here oa the Sird iast, Mr Fredk

Meßoberts, a half-caste, was driving a junker, to which he had attached a large pine tree, and when going around the Tureroa cutting the horses bolted. The man, seeing his danger, jumped off and fell, catching his legs in the reins. The junker went over his shoulder, splintering bis shoulder-blade and breaking some of his ribs. He was taken to the /local hospital, where he is making favorable progress towards recovery.