WAIROA NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 209, 10 September 1901, Page 4

WAIROA NOTES.

(Times Correspondent.)

Tut new ritles. Lee-Eufield Magazine have arrived at last, and were handed out to the Mounted Volunteers on the 6th inst. As far as I can see they are a great improvement on the Snider : besides being a better gun. it has a much greater range, being sighted up to "JSOO yards, carrying eleven cartridges, ten in the magazine, and one in the barrel. The company veil 1 now be able to go into practice for the Coleman shield, and with tin? new rilie will be able to hold their own against the majority of corps in Hawke's Bav.

The people of Wairoa will have no j cause to complain as regards those who | sutler from toothache. We arc to have j two dentists up here. Messrs Frost and j Pittar. both of whom are well known as practical and careful dentists. Mr .J. Hunter Brown has received by steamer three valuable shorthorn bulls, which he purposes sending out to his Whakaki station. I hear the North Clyde Cordial Factory lias changed hands, Mr Boyd having disposed of his stock and plant to Mr W. Corker, junr. We regret losing such an energetic settler as Mr Boyd was, but for his successor, we hope he may have heap;* of success in his new venture.

I am sorry to have to record the death of one of Mr Torbett’s children, at F'rasertown, from diphtheria. Hr Milne-Thom-son was in attendance, and did all he possibly could for the little sufferer, even to performing the operation of tracheotomy, but without success. Great sympathy is felt with the parents in their loss. .Hr W. McKaiu is busily engaged removing the shop at the corner of Paul street and Marine Parade to the section near Mr Johansen’s store. I believe it is the intention of the owners to erect a large store on the site of the old building, besides a couple of substantial dwellings.

I hear that Mr P. Wilson is the successful tenderer for the improvements to Mr P. Crater’s hotel and stables. The painting and plumbing fell to the lot of outside firms.

At the Magistrate’s Court, before Messrs Powdrell and J. W. Sargissou, J.Ps., Charles Moloney appeared on a charge of having created a disturbance on the Marino Parade on the olst inst. Accused, who appeared with a broken collarbone from the effects of the quarrel, pleaded guilty. To a second charge of assaulting It. W. Jane, he pleaded not guilty.—lF W. Jave deposed: I was going to my son's place shortly after tea, when X heard a disturbance on the footpath and went to see. The accused evidently mistook me for Mr Poyzcr and struck me in the eye, saying, “ take that, you i’oyzer.” By accused : Could not say who spoke to accused first, and was not with T. Downes when he had accused by the leg. It was the accused who gave witness the black eye. Arthur Poyzer, jun., stated that ho saw accused and Jane in company on the Saturday night, heard a row in the street by Mr Perkin’s shop, accused and Jane were there. Hid not see accused strike

Jane, but remember hearing Jane say he was struck by accused and saw the black eye; previous to this Jane had no black eye. By the Court; Saw accused with Downes and Jane, rolling about on the ground. Juno had gone to the assistance of Downes, all had evidently been drinking.—Constable Kennedy stated : I heard of a disturbance in Marine Parade : went to the epot and was told about the disturbance. I saw the accused, who told me his shoulder was broken. Accused, Jane, and Downes had been drinking, but I could not say if they were drunk. Accused, who gave professions of his innocence, said he had been well paid for his work with a broken collarbone. The police had acted very fair to him, and in any other place he would have been run in. The accused was lined, on the first charge, £2, with l:is costs, or 1-1 days’ imprisonment. The second case was dismissed. Witnesses were allowed )Ss expenses, making the total £'S 11s. A most fascinating musical comedietta, entitled “ The Happy Family,” took place in the Jubilee Hall on the 4th inst., and was performed by the school children, under the conductorship of the Rev. Mr Butterfield, and the school staff, and must be counted as one of the best of its kind ever held in the district. The training and acting of the children showed considerable time and pains bad been taken to bring them to the state of efficiency they showed. The first part opened with a well-played overture by the orchestra. The curtain rose to a stage which was most tastefully set off with evergreens and ferns. The children looked very pretty formed in a group, their dresses showing to advantage. Miss Bax, as “The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,” acted her part to perfection. The opening chorus, “A Happy Family,” by the children, was well sung, “ Alladiu’s Lamp” was the next part of the comedy. The part of “ Alladin ” was taken by Master It. Mayo, and his part

showed careful training. The song, “ When Bent on Adventure,” with the chorus “Aladdin Alas,” was well sung, the part of “Miss Mafi'at ” being well taken by Miss Maeandrew. The tableau, " The Captive Maiden,” was very pretty. The song, " Captive Maiden,” was nicely sung by Miss Daniels. The next character m the part was “ Sindbad the Sailor,” which was cleverly taken by Master C. Mayo, accompanied by his crew of four sailor boys and niidshipniite. Tlie song, “ Since First I Left My Early Home,” was well rendered ; the action of the sailors were well given and timed. The next character was “ Bluebeard,” Master Davis was again a perfect piece of acting. His song “ Don’t let me cause you any alarm ” was well rendered, “Dorothy,’ his sister, was well taken by Miss Neill. Her song “ I am your Sister ” was greatly praised. Another tableau, “ Blind Man’s Buff,” by the company, was nicely done. Robinson Crusoe, the next character, was well rendered by Master Logan, his dross and make-up being perfect. His song, “ I ran off to sea,” was very cleverly rendered. His “Man Friday” was splendidly taken by Master Webber, his native song “ Willi Wauki Tikiii ” being splendid, and evoked much applause. “ Cinderella,” Miss Johansen, next enters, and played her part in the comedy in perfect style, her song “ Children should all Agree,” in which she was assisted by two native gills, was much appreciated. “Alißaba Bold,” by Master M. McCashion, wi s splendidly taken. The recitation in conjunction with this part was good, and fully desen ed the encore it produced. Mrs Goody Two Shoes, Miss Kennedy, sustained her part gracefully. ITer advice, “Hcnesty is the best policy,” j to the brigand and his band, showed care- j ful training. Tableau, “ Tug of War,” by I the brigands and sailor boys, was extra | well done. The comedy ended with a ! grand march, and song, “ Good Night,” j bv the company, concluded a most fasein- i a'ting evening. It would bo very hard to ! individualise any one of the performers, all the parts were splendidly taken, the ! songs and choruses, and the action paits, j were well rendered, and showed consider- I able time and trouble had been taken by i the promoters to bring the children to ti e j stale of perfection in which they appeared in the various parts allotted to them. The etening concluded with the singing cf “ God Sar e the King,” when all dispersed fully satisfied with the evening's amusement.

It is with regret that I have to record the Sll( ;,';»n rlemise, at Hurumua, of one of the oldest and much respeC! residents of the district, Mr Maeliobercs. The u .f. gentleman was in town quite hale and hearty yesterday, and to-day ho had been teaching school, up to mid-day, when he complained about feeling cold, and thought ho would lie down for a time. His wife asked if he would take a cup of tea, and on bringing it to his room found the old man dead. Ho came to Wairoa about 35 years ago, and for a time carried on the trade of boatbuildcr, after which he followed various pursuits, finally starting a school, mostly for natives, at his place on the Hurumua estate. An inquest is to be held at Hurumua to-morrow, the sth inst. Particulars will appear next week.