ON THE EAST COAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 398, 24 April 1902, Page 3

ON THE EAST COAST.

TOKOAIAEU BAY.

(No. 5.) (By Our Special Correspondent.) Tokomaru is perhaps the prettiest of tho bays on the East Coast, and as tho traveller from Tqlago does not get a glimpse of it until he reaches the top of the Tokomaru hill (within a mile or two of the township) when a full view of the bay is presented, the outlook is all the more striking. On a fine summer’s day, when the waves are breaking on to the rooks, and one or two coastal cutters are at work, tho bay looks at its best. The grey hills with a little bush hero and there afford a pleasing contrast to tho rock-bound coast and add attractiveness to tho scene, making one feel “ that it is a true sublimity to dwell there.” Tokomaru is one of the oldest places of settlement on tho East Coast, and in tho early days was much frequented by thcro when there wore one or two whaling stations in the vicinity. ’ Like all other coastal townships Tokomaru has several very pressing needs, and as our representative was fortunate or unfortunate enough to be present just when the member for the district was visiting the coast, these requirements were vividly brought to mind. Tho good folks of Tokomaru rose to tho occasion in the matter of entertainment, jnd before they placed the pressing needs of tho district before the Hon. James they sought to resale him with champagne. Soveral bottles of “fir.” were brought into the room, and, rnueh- to tho dis'tr.ay of tho ' press representatives the _ gepial member smilingly remarked, “ will you alloty me to take something soft, I have been a teetotaller since April last." Thp Chairman looked a little unset for a moment, but recovering himself humorously replied, 11 this is too bad. I think we shall havo to look for another member.” Mr Carroll admitted that it was certainly out

?.r.d continuing? related an incident ‘hat occurred at Rotorua on the occasion of the Royal Visit, when be was sitting at mo table .vith-the Duke and Duchess on either side of him, and the King’s health being proposed, ho was compelled to ask to bo allowed to drink to the toast with something soft.” Mr Carroll cone uded, “after r>oing through a trial like that I think I am fit for anything.” The Tokomaruites acceded to Mr Carrolls request, and ; sarsaparilla and lemonade was bron£“ o lU> ; but the champagne corks wore also drawn, i Tho chief requirements of the settle- ) ment, as brought before the member, were ) a recreation ground, a post office, a court,

a policeman, and a cemotery. Mention was also made of the need of soipio improvement in tho'mattcr of landing, a number of rocks requiring to bo removed. All these matters Mr Carroll promised to attend to. As far as our representative

could see, tho people of Tokomaru did not ask for any one of the above requirements before they were needed. Tho present post office building is, wo think, without exception the worst in the- colony. It is not much larger than a good sized packing case, and when one stands with arms outstretched tho two walls can be touched. In tho words of tho common phrase, “ thero is not sufficient room to swing a cat.” Such an office is truly a disgrace to a "Liberal” Government, and I hope to soon see it swept away. From what I hea’rd from the deputation that waited upon Mr Carroll, I understand that it was suggested that the building should be removed, and be utilised as part of the new building on a different site. This suggestion must surely havo emanated from some local wag, for I Have tw * u ~ ”* ’

[ „ uo j.eiegraph Department for a moment entertained, such an idea. It would perhaps not bo.out of the way for Tokomaru residents to keep the present building as a curiosity, and place it in the first museum that is started on the Coast. Tokomaru is one of the chief offices on the Coast, and most of the transmitting to stations beyond that place is done through it. The office is in charge of Miss McGavin, an energetic and painstaking officer, who has become deservedly popular with tho residents of the district. She has worked under great disadvantages with regard to office accommodation for sows yeavs, aod \yg hope to see the

Department show some appreciation of her services by erecting a building in keeping with the importance of the district. The fact of the deputation asking Mr Carroll for a recreation ground shows that Tokomaru is not behindhand in matters of sport. I soon learned that there was a first-class cricket club with an unbeaten record, but that great difficulty was experienced in the matter of ~ onifnViln rrrrmnrl. Mr

obtaining a suitable ground. air W. Oates is the active secretary of the club, and an enthusiastic follower of the grand old English game. It is intended when the new recreation ground is obtained to form a tennis club, as thlre are a number of good players in the district. There are two schools at Tokomaru, the European one being in chargo of Miss Beddingfield. The attendance is about twenty-live, and the school well managed. The native school is under the supervision of Mr and Mrs McGavin, and has a roll number of over seventy, the average attendance being sixty. Mr and Mrs McGavin have been in Tokomaru for the past ten years, and have dono excellent work in moulding the character of the native youth of the Coast. Children aro received at the school at tho age of live, and all the standards are well represented. Mr McGavin informed mo that some difficulty was ex-

• perienced in keeping the children at s school after they attained the age of thiri teen, work being plentiful in tho district, , and the natives having a natural desire to earn money.. The children, as a rule, show great aptitudo in regard to their lessons, and were exceptionally smart in some subjects. There is a native church in the settlement, under the control of tho Bev. Matiahia Pahcwa, who is a wellknown figure on the Coast. Messrs W. D. S. McDonald and Co. have a very largo general business, and also stock ail station requisites, Mr Buchanan being the manager. They have a fine lot of buildings, sufficient to cope with the trade for some time to come. Tho firm employ Air A. Smith, who is the local saddler, Mr H. Monkman, blacksmith, Mr Hewitson, carpenter, Mr J. Halos’ dining rooms, and Air Charles F. Henderson, bootmaker, and all these departments are run on up-to-date lines, and by experienced tradesmen

who know all branches of the business in which thoy are engaged. Air H. Fairlio has a large store, with an excellent stock, and carries on a flourishing general business. There is also a store attached to the Tokomaru Hotel, which has recently been purchased by Air AlcDonald. The hotel is one of tho finest on the Coast, and affords excellent accommodation to the travelling public. Until lately, it has been under the management of Air J. Alartin, but since the latter-took over tho Iloyal Hotel in Gisborne, Air E. Swinncrton, late of AVhatatutu, has been in charge. Both Air and Airs Swinnerton are well and favorably known on the East Coast, and the house should become most popular with travellers. A first class boarding-house is owned by Air W. Oates, who is also the local butcher and baker. Air Oates is generally to the fore in all matters that tend to the advancement of the East Coast. Amongst other positions, he holds the secretaryship of the AVaiapu Sheep Dog Trial Club, and the great success of the yearly gathering, held at Tokomaru, is mainly due to the indefatigable manner in which Air Oates has worked. Tokomaru can also boast of a racing club and a meeting is held each year during the month of Alarch. »Tho races are decided on the beach, and with a suitable tide some good sport is obtained. Air Forrester is the secretary of the club, a position he is well qualified to fill. Almost every settlement on the coast has several old identities, and at Tokomaru I ran across one in tjne person of Air 1\ Alulligan, who has resided in the locality under review since 1868. From Air Alulligan I learned a good deal about the early history of tho coast, which will on some future occasion serve for the purpose of an article by itself. Tho district around Tokomaru i 3 an exceedingly rich one, and the township is fast growing in importance as a , business centre. ' It is, therefore, to be hoped that Air Carroll will not be slow in complying with the requests' of the residents in regard to the several requirements which the deputation brought before him upon the occasion of his recent visit. In justice to the district and its inhabitants this should be dgno,