COAST NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 410, 8 May 1902, Page 3

COAST NOTES.

(Times Travelling Correspondent)

Apparently the winter has set in, judging by the weather, and business is quiet, this being between the seasons, and the bushfallers etc., all seem to have disappeared from the townships, presumably out to the back blocks for tbeir winter vocations. Notwithstanding tho exceed-

ingly wet weather of the last week or so, tho roads are in really fair condition, and now that the large contracts on the Tolago-Toltomaru road are nearing completion, the winter will not have the terrors for Coast travellers it has had in

the past. The aforesaid road will be tip-top-next summer, and, no doubt, buggies etc., will be very much in evidence ere many months are past. Several have already passed through, and now that the road from Tokomaru to Waipiro via the springs is finished, travelling to the latter place will be no hardship, the road being nicely graded, and Mr O’Ryan, the Engineer, deserves every credit for the manner in which this work has been completed. A few contracts for small culverts and bridges are about to be let, and when these are finished the Waiapu County need not be ashamed of their efforts to improve the means of communication in their portion o*f fertile Poverty Bay. The long-talked of new hotel at Waipiro Bay is still invisible, but since Mr J. F. Pettie has taken sole charge, temporary, but good improvements have been made both for man and beast. At the Tokomaru Hotel one now sees installed there as host, Mr E. Swinnerton,] so well known in the district, and improvements are being made there also, and the hotel under his and his good wife’s supervision bids fair to become one “of the most comfortable in the district. There are rumours of the post-office being moved to another site, and the sooner the better for all concerned, for in its present place it is simply absurd to expect anyone to make use of it unless absolutely obliged, and really I don’t know but I ought to send in an account to the Postal Department “ for nether garments torn scrambling through the barbed wire fence,” the only means of reaching the “ dog kennel ” from one part of the township, it being too much of a good thing to walk half a mile round the fence to reach the solitary entrance. Coming down to Tolago one cannot help but notice the many improvements everywhere. This old township seems to be awaking from its long sleep, whether it is the advent of a few lively souls or not I cannot say, but there‘the fact remains. Who would have dreamt, of Tolago spending over £SO in laying down tennis courts four or five years ago ? He who would have said that would have been instantly told he was qualifying for a place in some lunatic asylum, but such is the case now, and when they are finished they will be a credit to the district. Next season the Gisborne club will have to .look to its laurals, for Tolago possesses half a dozen players of more than average ability. The game has come to stay, or business men of the stamp of Mr J. B. Morris would not saddle themselves with the cost of laying down two such courts as are at present in course of construction. Taken altogether there is a great future before this district, and I.beieve the people will not be satisfied until the Uawa River is bridged, and the present method of crossing with.