ON THE EAST COAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 376, 27 March 1902, Page 3

ON THE EAST COAST.

TOLAGO BAY, (Times Special Correspondent.) Tolago Bay is one of the oldest settled districts on the East Coast, and from an historical point of view is also worthy of special mention. It was visited by Captain Cook as far hack as 1778, and that celebrated navigator s memory is perpetuated by the fact that the name of “ Cook’s Loye ” has- been given to an inlet where he landed and inscribed his name on the rocks. The name Tolago also became attached to the Bay as a result of an incident that occurred during Cook’s visit. It is stated that Captain Cook asked the natives through his interpreter the name of the place. A heavy gale was blowing at the time —and tiiey thought he inquired as to the direction of the wind. The natives answered “ Taraka ” (meaning the wind from the sea). Captain Cookunderstood them to say “ Tolago,” and entering that name in his diary, the place has been so-called to this day. AJthough the prospects of the township are perhaps brighter than many of the places on the East Coast there has been little advancement during the last twenty-five years. A quarter of a century ago Tolago Bay was a much more lively place than it is to-day. At that time there was a large Native population in the district and the Wharekaka station was run-

ning on English money. There were also extensive purchases of native lands being made by the Government and private individuals. To show the extent of the operations then carried on, I ain informed that Colonel Porter and Mr Gill left Gisborne in one week with the sum of £9OOO in notes in books of hundreds, and the same notes came hack from the storekeepers with the books unbroken. Micky Mullooly was the King of Tolago at that time, and had an hotel and store. An old resident of the East Coast informed me that he counted four or five accounts in Mullooly’s boojis which ran into a thousand pounds each. “ Micky ” is still Jat Tolago, and if the traveller strikes him in the right mood he will hear

him relate his experiences of former days, and how his thousands went to the lawyers and Courts. A perusal of the Tolago Bay Court proceedings at the present show that Miejty still has a strong hankering after the law. There were three hotels in Tolago at that time—the Tolago Bay Hotel, owned by Mr J. Trimmer, the Bay View, owned by Mr Mullooly, and the Ferry Hotel on the Hauiti side of the river, owned and carried on by Mr H. Trimmer. There were over a hundred men employed on the Wharekaka station, which was one of the many investments of the Glasgow Bank. When that institution came to grief, all works were stopped and the property was carried on as a sheep and cattle farm under dillerent managers, until it passed into the hands of Mr A. Reeves, who is the present owner of the freehold portion, the leasehold having reverted back to the Natives. But to hark back to the Tolago of 1902. There is a commodious and up-to-date hostelry, on the site of the old Tolago Bay Hotel, and called by that name, the other two licensed houses having disappeared. The hotel is under the proprietorship ol Mr G. Watkins, who succeeded Mr Sinclair several months ago. The house has been renovated throughout, and every effort is made by Mr and Mrs Watkins to promote the comfort of the travelling public. An excellent table is kept and everything else in regard to the hotel is thoroughly up-to-date. Opposite the hotel is the Uawa store, owned by Mr A, P. Agnew, one of the leading figures in Tolago, Mr Agnew has been in the Bay for upwards of twenty, years, and has a good knowledge of the Coastal trade. He keeps a large general stock of drapery, groceries, and station requisites, and does a thriving business. Another general store is conducted by Mrs J, Trimmer, one of the oldest residents hi the district. Mrs Trimmer has a large stock, the requirements of the fair sex being specially catered for. The wants of settlers in regard to tiie saddlery business are well provided for by Mr C. E. Smith, who keeps a first class stock,' and also undertakes repairs of all descriptions Mr W. A. Tullock is the local tailor, and lie carries on a flourishing business, He also visits the Coast at regular intervals, taking orders from the various townships and stations, Mr J. Maddock lias a boot shop near the ferry, and does a good trade with both Europeans and Hie jerry across the Uawa is in charge of Mr 1-1. Goodley, who pays- the County Council the sum of £l5O per year for the right to convey travellers across.. Special concessions are made to residents of the district, whilst the charge to travellers is Is for horsemen, and sixpence for foot passengers. In rough weather and when the river is in flood the punt is unworkable, and passengers are conveyed across the river y, boat. The amount of money paid per year'in the matter of ferry charges would more than pay interest on the cost of erect ng a bridge, and it is one of the most pressing requirements on the East Coast, The Tolago Bay, school is attended by > both European and Native children, the headmaster being Mr Nelson, and assistant mistress Miss Pickering.. Mr Nelson has been in charge of, the school since 1888 and has worked it up splendidly, He takes a great delight m Ms work, and offers every incentive to the N«i tive children to attend school. Ihe roll number is 89, and th e a- v e ra ge attendance about eighty, Native child ren attend the school from some distance although the majority com from the settlement on the Hauiu side of the river. When there aie many absentees from that side of the Uawa Mr Nelson drops a note to Mr fud'Vt," generally assures their attendance at the school on the foU °™ m S ",'ooi The Native children at tms scnoui hold their own with the Europeans m It is no uncommon sight in lolago see haH a dozen juveniles marching single file to school, with their beads handicapped on account ot the lack oi

accommodation. The matter lias repeatedly been brought under the attent ion of the Hoard of Education, but so far the petitions of the' residents

have met with no response. It is a crying shame that the state of things existing at Toiago should be tolerated, and 'if the Hawke’s Hay Education Hoard cannot assist the Committee, the attention of Government should he drawn to the matter. The district is a growing and progressive one, and a building capable of receiving the children attending Ihe school should be erected. The post and telegraph office at Toiago Hay is in charge of Miss Gallagher, one of the smartest officers

on the East Coast. The building is a new one. and should meet with the requirements of the district for some time to come. The lightering at the Hay is done by Messrs Lockwood, Moulder, and Glover, who own a firstclass steam launch and a number of •surf boats. The Iranui is also used for river excursions, and is a decided acquisition to Toiago. The resident police officer is Constable McLeod,

formerly of Gisborne, who was recently promoted and appointed to this station. Constable McLeod is an efficient and painstaking officer, and under his control the peace of the district, it well preserved. He also holds the positions- of Clerk of the Court, bailiff, Inspector of Factories, gaoler, and numerous other offices. The Court at Toiago .is under the jurisdiction of Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., and sittings are held; quarterly. Messrs A. Reeves, J. Morris, and W. E. Holder are the presiding justices. In matters of religion the European settlers on the East Coast- are miles

behind the Natives, and whilst there are a score or more of Native churches, with six or more Native ministers, there is not one single European church. The nearest approach to a European church is at Taumataomihi, on a Maori reserve close to Mr T. S. Williams’ homestead, Kaliarit, near Tuparoa. At this church services are held by a Native minister at stated ‘intervals, and at other times Mr T. >S. Williams, who is a licensed lay reader of the Anglican Church, conducts services. At Toiago Bay church services are held very irregularly, and excepting for a rare visit from the Rev. Herbert Williams,, of the Anglican Church, Rev. Father O’Connor, of the Catholic Church, or Rev. Waugh, of the Presbyterian Church, occurring once in two or three months-, the residents are left to work out their own salvation. In matters of a recreative nature, however, Toiago is not behind the rest of the world. There is a first-class cricket eleven that only last month showed their superiority over the Gisborne team by more than two to one. Mr C. E. Smith is the most active of secretaries, and be keeps bis team well up to the mark. A tennis club has just been formed, and with Messrs Morris. Moore, Spence, Oldfield, and Dobson as a committee, and Miss Gallagher as a secretary, great things are promised. Already tournaments are in progress to decide who is the champion of the East Coast, and a match-with Gisborne is to he arranged at an early date. Unless the town players show better form than the city cricketers did, Toiago Bay will shortly he looked upon as the home ot sport. There is also some talk of a bowling club being started, hut it is not expected that the proposal will be put into a practical form until next year. The Toiago Bay .Jockey Club is a flourishing institution, and every j 7 th of March a successful meeting is held oil the pretty Wharekaka course. The Uawa river runs past the ground, and those who do not wish to ride or walk to the course can get aboard the Iranui and have a pleasant trip up the river. Each year the Club show a substantial balance, and considerable improvements have recently been made to the. grounds. Mr W. E. Holder is the energetic secretary and moving spirit, and he is ably assisted by Messrs Dobson, Boland, Farrell, and others. I was present at the meeting of the Club held last month, and can congratulate the Club upon the manner in which it was conducted. The fields for the several races were large, and the issue in each case was keenly fought. The chief requirements of Toiago Bay are the erection of a bridge over the Uawa, and the cutting up of the Paremata block, and when these wants are satisfied Toiago Bay should go ahead with leaps and hounds.