EAST COAST EDITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 469, 10 July 1902, Page 3

EAST COAST EDITION.

TOKOMARU RAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Tho return football mutch played on Saturday ut Takapau between Waipiro and Tokomaru will no doubt be fully reported from Waipiro. The game was unquestionably a splendid one, resulting in a draw vory much in favor of Tokomaru in tho socond spell, and fairly even in the first spoil, Waipiro perhaps having slightly tho best of it. Mr Wilson, the referee, cannot bo too highly praised for tho able manner in which bo managed the game, lie possesses a thorough and up-to date knowledge of the rules, und his strict impartiality and gentlemanly though firm manner of giving his decisions made him popular and respected by all the players. As showing the interest taken in football, I may mention that many of the players in this match had to ride long distances, arid tho employers all round tho district gave their men holidays for tho occasion. Waiau, Mako Mako, Pauriki, AVaipiro, Tupuroa, and Mutahiia stations wore all represented in this match.

It is to bo hoped a team will ho got together to play Gisborne before tho end of tho season. Tho Tokomaruitos v/ero ontertained right royally by tho Waipiro Club. At Takapau a splendid lunch was provided by Mr A. 13. Williams. Aftor tho match all hands adjourned to AVaipiro, wliero Host Fottio had a dinnor prepared and served in his very beat style, this function was also presided over by Koforco Wilson. A most enjoyablo evening brought to a closo a day of recreation and ploasuro that will bo long remembered by all. Tho woathor is now beautiful, and although tho roads aro upon tho whole bad, still they havo boon worse, and with a spell of dry woathor for a week or two, wo may say that we havo got the worst of the winter ovor.

TUPAROA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Tho Coronation Ball at Tuparoa was kept up on Friday last, to which it was postponed on account of Hoods and rain. Tho ballroom was nicely decorated, everything being first class. Tlioro woro sovoral ladies and gentlemen from Fort Awanui. Dancing was kept up with spirit till the small hours of tho morning, overyone thoroughly enjoying thomsolvea. Tboro is a dearth of nows on tho Coast just now ; weather and roads being against anyono travelling.

AVAIPIRO BAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AVo had a visit from Captain Skinnen of tho schooner Aotea, last Thursday afternoon. The weathor was a bit boisterous when ho arrived and shelter had to bo sought under Tawhiti Point until Friday morning, when the cargo was discharged, Tho visits of the Aotea havo been vory regular lately, and settlers havo not been subjected to much dolay Jn receiving goods ordered from AucklarJ. As an instance of tho commorcirl importance of the Coast it is worth noting that no loss than four commorciul travellers wero at tho AVaipiro Hotel on Sunday last, viz. Mr J. S. Johnston, representing Mackay, Logan Steen and Co., Auckland ; Mr Jacobic, representing John Burns and Co.; Mr AV. Pottor, representing T. S. Morrin and Co.; and Mr Gamble, representing A. H. Nathan and Co. All report having dono good business, which spoaks volumos for tho stability of tho Coast. Tho boisterous weather of last weok has given placo to bright sunny days. and bracing evenings. At tho time of writing tho sea is as calm as a mill pond.

TOLAGO BAY. (From Oar Own Correspondent 1 ) It is pleasing to note that our local branch of tho Now Zoaland Farmors’ Union has had tho courage to express an opinion in regard to the injustico that tho East Coast is suffering from in tho mattor of native- land legislation. Ono would havo thought with tho inffuenco that Mr Carroll has with tho Government that some satisfactory settlement in regard to tho much vexod question of nativo lands would long since have beou arrived at, but every fresh measure introduced appears to make confusion worse confounded. Tho Maori Lands Administration Act was passod in 1900, and since that time nothing has boon dono. Mr Carroll in his ÜBual suave manner tells us that everything will bo right by-and-bye, but this is tho samo old talo that has boqn told until sottlors are getting most woary of it. As far as I can see tho Nativo Lands Council is likely to prove a dismal failure. First the Stipendiary Magistrate was appointed to control.the Board, but for reasons best known to himself he was farseoing enough to ask to be relieved of the position, and I understand that anothor Government official is to bo appointed. Ido not desire to throw cold wator on tho work of tho Council, but I put it to anyono endowed with common sense to ask himself the question if the gentlemen who have been appointed to the Board are likely to arrive at a solution of the numerous difficulties that havo always surrounded native land affairs in this district. Tako, for instance, the worthy Mayor of Gisborne : has he the ' time at his disposal to sit daily for weeks deliberating on the thousand and one matters that aro likely to come beforo the Board ? What will happen to your harbor and borough in the meantime, and , who is to look after that worthy gentle- • man’s business whilst ho is sitting on the Council earning his ten shillings a day ? Then tako Mr E. P. Joyco: what qualification has he for the position to which ho has been appointed ? Has he a thorough knowledge of the native language, togetbor with the mannors and. customs of tho Maori ? As to the nativo member of tho Board, Mr Heta To Kani, I do not know anything remarkable about him to warrant one supposing that he will bring that business acumen to bear on affairs of the Council that will tend to arrive at a speedy settlomont of the many difficulties that aro likely to como up. The feeling on the Coast is that tho Act will soon bo found to bo unworkable, and that valuable time is being lost in testing it and proving its failure, and that the Nativo Land Court is being starved out of existence with nothing adequate to take its place. If steady and persistont agitation has any effect on the Government, then the demands of tho district for a bridge ovor tho Uawa river should soon be complied with. Tho local Farmers’ Union has passed a strong resolution in regard to this question, which they havo forwarded to tho delegate, Mr W. A. Hood, who is at present in 'Wellington. It is to be hoped that that gentleman will leave no stone unturnod in pressing tho urgent necessity of tho bridge being erected during tho coming summer. It is a work that has been long delayed and ono that the East | Coast is justly entitled to. Several fine mobs of cattlo have recently passed down tho coast on route for the Gisborne Freezing Works. A fine lot of a hundred or more were in chargo of Mr F. Bousficld, who had some lively experiences in getting them to market owing to tho heavy weather which he fell in with. The cattlo were brought over the now * ■ . Hikuwai bridges, and proved a good tost for the stability of the structures. Tho construction of the second telephone line to tho Coast is being pushed on with all possible speed by Mr J. Stewart and bis assistants, who are now workmg •it Poutae, ____________