Untitled

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 434, 5 June 1902, Page 3

FORT AWANCJL (From Our Own Correspondent.) The residents of Port Awanui will regret o hear of the projected departure of Mr and Mrs Hansen and family from their midst, they having decided to reside in future at To Araroa. Mr and Mrs Hanson have made many friends during thoir residence in Awanui, and ■ will ho greatly missed, especially in social circles. Dr Davis, of Waipiro Bay, is at Awanui this week, on his way to Tokapo. Mr Fry, proprietor of tho Tuparoa Hotel, with Mr Butlor, of the Rose Hotel, Port Awanui, have just returned from a shooting expedition. Game being very plentiful, the party returned with large bags. Tho question of the employment of native labor on the coast, referred to in your ooastal correspondence last week, is one of great importance to this district, and a great deal is to be said on both sides. It is true that tho natives aro willing to take small contracts, either road work or bushfalling, at a good deal under the price asked by Europeans, but if tho work wore not dono by the Maoris it is probable that it would not be done at all. Tho present price of wool and produce makes it impossible for settlers to pay 10s and 12s a day for labor, and thoir only salvation is tho employment of natives. Tho Maoris are not as industrious a 3 they might be, but their cost of living being small they can make a oontract pay where Europeans could not do 80.

TOLAGO BAY. (From our own Correspondent.) Cold nights and mornings, followed by beautiful warm days, has been the genoral order of the past week, but to day a rather keen southerly wiad is blowing, accompanied by squally shower ; from which quarter we should not expect a continuance. Alike the nightingale songs of a tranquil evening, so has the pleasurablo occasion of the Junior Cricket Club’s ball passed and gone, but not to bo forgotten, and those who had not the good fortune to attend may listen enviably to tho many compliments that are, and will be, echoed for some time to come. Of dancers there were present between 80 and 40 couples, whilo visitors from Gisborne, Tolcomaru, and other centres paid hearty' tribute.! by their presence, also assistance by dona tions. As to tho covoted honors of hollo, of which many of your readers would no doubt be pleased to learn, I must on this occasion candidly admit my in competency, and shall therefore leave that difficult task to bo decided by tho more

delicately disposed. The ballroom was beautifully adorned wi'b tho significant and good old ivy vines with a rare and choice collection of garden and rural foliage. The music was nicely rendered by varied “locals,” whilo Mr A. P P Agnew vory efficiently conducted the functions of M.C. Tho intervals of the evening were relieved by songs from Mr Bousofield and our leading vocal infractor, Mr Orpwood. The refreshments wore really par excellence, and tho committtee deserve every praise for the result of their untiring deliberations, etc. lho nett proceeds, I learn, arc between £9 and £lO, which must be considered very satis* factory for our promising amateurs of what was once constituted the good old English game. , , , .. , Tho remains of the beloved wife and child of the Bov. Butene To Aihu wero quietly exhumed last week from the Maori cemetery, Hauiti, and convoyed overland to Tuparoa for reinterment. The usual Biblical rites wero devoutedly. read

by the rev. gentleman. A rather amusing, though what may , have proved a serious accident, occurred here last week. One of several young native boys was driving a herd of cattle a I QD a the main Paremata road, which is bounded on either .side by a barbed wire fence, when several of the stock became fractious and broke over. The. rider immediately sent his horse at the wires m pursuit, but as his steed rose to negotiate the fence the rider accidentally slipped off, to find himself straddling and evidently riding the fence for his dear natural, until a rather prepossessing bullock with a pair of intelligent-looking horns, noting the peril, most dexterously assisted him heavenwards, to be speedily attracted bycentre of gravity. Needless to say his presenco of mind staunchly advocated his speedy exit with a limp. ... We have again been paid a visit from Mr Sinclair, of horse fame, and I note he has made a number of purchases. Tho owners of horses would do well tc dispose at the liberal figures offered, and turn their future operations to a better class of horses. . A Native named A. P- Whainga reMivaij a rather nasty (all from & young

horse which ho was riding on Friday. It appears that as the horse was in his zenith of bucking tho ring of tho bit broke, an 1 the rider was precipitated rather heavily to tho ground. Ho is now laid op, and under tho supervision of our medical attendant, and doing reasonaoly well. Much satisfaction is expressed, occasioned by the information of the declaration of peace in South Africa. Those who are in possession of flags have hoisted them.

There appears to be much dissension amongst tho Hauiti people re tho outvoting of Hataraka Temple -it the last school committee. A unanimous meeting was bold last night, and it was decide ! to serk tie aid of tho deparimeut re a school on the Hauiti side of the river. A suitable piece of land, about five acres, has been marked off for the purpose of handing over gratuitously as per above.