EAST COAST EDITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 507, 21 August 1902, Page 3

EAST COAST EDITION.

TK, TORT AWANUI*

'(From Our Own Correspondent).;

Port Awanui was nofc behind in Coronation celebrations. In the morning the school children assembled at the school, and the unfurling of a flag presented by the Education Board took place. -The children saluted tho flag, and sang “ God Save tho King.” Mr Milner, Chairman of tho School Committee, in a neat and appropriate speech, addressed tho children and adults, and presented each child with a Coronation card. Tho school sports commenced at 1 o’clock. The children wero well entertained by different kinds of racing, including obstacle race and high jumping. Great fun was caused by the young people in a bun and treacle race. Needless to say at the finish there was more treacle on their faces than what they had eaten. The children were well pleased with tho prizes they received, and on their way to thoir homes by tho noise they made with tho trumpets and other musical toys one would have thought it iiui’s Xmas time. In the evening a grand concert and danco was held in Mr Milners hall, arid without doubt it eclipsed anything ever held in Awanui. The hftll was crowded to tho doors. The curtain roso punctually at 8 o'clock, and revealed a company of nigger minstrels singing “ There 11 be a hot time in tho old town to nigut, which caused much laughter and applause. Iho second item was “ Dead in the Street, by Miss It. Milner and Miss V. Hansen (in character). The duct was very much appreciated, and an encore was demanded. Tho song and chorus, “Lads in ?savy Blue,” given by Mr W. Kelly and the school children, was sung with spirit and was loudly applauded. Mr Kelly was in excellent voice, and tho number was much enjoyed. Mr T. Kobertson sang “ Love s Soronadc ” in good stylo, being loudly applauded. “ I’ll bo your sweetheart,” by Miss Sleight and Master 13. Milner, caused much amusement, and an encore was loudly demanded. Mr Kelly sang Queen of tho Earth,” and did full justico to the song. Mr N. Leslie sang “My gals a high born lady.” Ho looked very comical dressed as ft niggor, and he fairly brought tho house down. He was loudly encored. At this stage thero was an interval of ten minutes. On resuming, a pretty tableau, “ Britannia,” was produced by the school children. Every nation was represented, and “ Itulo Britannia ” was sung by an invisible chorus. Different colored limelights wero shov/n on tho tableau, which mado it look very pretcy. The curtain had to bo raiaod three times to satisfy the audience. Miss M. Milner sang splendidly “ Soldiers of the King,” tho children joining in tho chorus. “ Marguerite,” by Mr T. Bobortson, was sung with fooling, and an encoro was loudly domanded. Miss It. Milner dosorves groat credit for tho way she sang “ Please, Mr Conductor, don’t put me off tho train.” Mr W. Kelly sang “ The Midshipmito” in a pleasing manner, and was loudly applauded. Miss

Milner, in a very sweet voico, sang “ DorcoDy” for which she was loudly encored, and in responso repeated the last verso. The last item was a comic song given by Mr N. Leslie, entitled “ The Baby’s Namo." This caused much amusemont, and the audience wero r.Ofc satisfied until Mr Leslie had appeared no less than three titnos.

Mr W. Kelly, after thanking the audience for their attendance gave a short speech referring to His Majesty the King boing crowned. The company and audienco sang “ God Save the King.” Groat credit is duo to Miss Milner for the way she played tho accompaniments during tho ovoning. Everyone expressed their satisfaction at tho way tho Coronation colobrations had been carried out. Tho Omapero arrived from Auckland on Wednesday morning. Mr and Mrs B. Walker wero passengers to Awanui. Awanui has been visited by two earthquakes this week. Mr Ramson, representing Sargood s, and Mr Hoy to, ropresontativo for Sharland’s, visited Awanui this weok, also Mr H. H. Faram, of Messrs A. Clark and Son’s Gisborne branch. Mr Ludbrooko, of Tuparoa, and Mr Beale, of Waipiro, spent a fow days in Awanui last week.

TUPAROA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) At a mooting of tho football club held at the Tuparon Hotel, the secretary roportod a balanco in hand of about X 3 after paying all liabilities to date. It was decided to call a public meeting On Wednesday next, 27th inst., to get up a good day’s sport on the Ring s .Birthday, sooing wo had nothing on Coronation Day. A rough outline of programme was proposed for submission to the public meeting, something after this ; 10 o clock, hoisting-the new flag, presented by Government, at tbo Nativo School on a now flagstaff being eroded by the School Committee ; gymnastics and club swinging and races for school childron till 12 o clock ; aftor which races of various sorts for men. Aftor luncheon horso sports, such as catch Do Wot, jumping, cigar and umbrella race, sack raco, tug-of-war, groasy pig, etc., to finish with a football match on the beach botween members from back stations and tho port. A dance in the evening will wind up a ploasant day, if tho weather is favorablo. . A special meeting of tho Waiapu Racing Club wos held on Saturday ovening, in Boedy’fl Hull, Tuparoa, to arrange with nativo owners ro a now racecourse. The terms proposed by natives were one-half tho gato monoy, they to stump tho paddock, plough tho eourso lovol, and grass tho course one chain wide and mile round ; club to havo all othor privileges, which was agreed to by tho club,, agreement to be guaranteed by tho Native Council, subscription to bo mado and agreement to bo ratiliod at tho gonoral annual meeting of tho club to bo held on September 13th.

TOKOMARU BAY. j (From Our Own Correspondent.) C Continuous boisterous weather has pro- "j vailed since last writing, and to-day there r is hoavy rain with flooded creeks. . . Tho Aotea was unable to call hero on , her way up, and is at presont sheltering under Tawhiti. Several bush contracts have been completed, and the men paid off, and accordingly business has been brisker. I hear of quite a thrifty spirit being engendered amongst tho younger Natives who liavo taken to saving up their earnings through tho manner of the P.O. Savings Bank. Their action in so doing is to bo commonded, for amongst the young people of tho colony thrift iB too little practised. A meeting, largely attended, was held by tho Natives on Saturday night to discuss tho advisability of starting a general store. Nothing definite was done, the older and influential Natives not appearing to tako kindly to tho idea, and tho younger ones simply tried to show their individual merits for the various positions likely to bo open, should tho business bo started. Tho Mata settlers havo made good progress towards the completion ot their telephone line. All tho posts are on the lino where required, and when this is completed it will connect seven or eight stations with this office, and will accordingly increase tbo business done here, and Btill furthor strengthen our request for a now and suitable post-office. Tho temporary office will bo ready for use this week, and the post-office business will bo done in two “ kennels” (so termed by tho Times’ special reporter), instead of one. Tho popular postmistress has returned from Auckland, where she has been for two months, and has aguin taken up her duties. She is now a qualified telegraphist, and will do all tho transmitting to Gisborne with tho Morse instrument.

TOLAGO BAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) During tho quiet and monotonous houre ono has°a natural tendency to revert to tho topic of tho weather, and I can but report a rather stormy and unappreciated week of continuous winds and rain, with a heavy sea running and roaring like a disconcorted lion. The violenco of the wind has been responsible for tho destruction of sevoral outbuildings here, whilo other edifices soverely felt a reeking sensation as an early reminder of its ultimatum. With tho continuance of this wsathe* work is suspended, and wo

may have yet to reluctantly advise of serious consequences to the early lambing. The undulating and greon-coatod hills are freely permeated with the gambolling snow-white lambs, which present quite a pretty appearance in the distance* and augur well towards a pecuniary adjunct to the pastoralist. I am not alone in asserting they heartily dcservo good returns.

A meeting is convened to-night by the secretary, Mr C. E. Smith, for tho purpose of determining tho most advisable means of disposing of the surplus moneys accruing from the Coronation Day’s picnic and sports, ft was a matter of very pleasing moment to congratulate tho worthy and energetic committee (ladies and gentlemen) in my last week’s report, but J. did not anticipate a substantial balance, and if not too late t j make a suggestion, then by all power of reason devote tho balance to the children’s library or picnic fund, for which latter purpose subscriptions were freely given.

Tho usual monthly church service was hold at Hauiti and Tolago Day on Sunday last, by the Rev. Herbert Williams, there being a good congregation at both places, considering the unfavorable weather. Very impressive sermons were preached. WAIPIRO DAY. (D j Our Own Correspondent.) The hack settlers in tiiis district have formed a cricket club, which is to be called the Mata Cricket Club. There is also to Do a mooting soon to form a cricket club in Waipiro. There are a lot of cricket clubs on tho Coast this year, and thero 19 in contemplation a proposal to select a representative team to visit Gisoorno and Napier. We havo been getting very disagreeable weather here, but it has now changed for the bettor.

Tho next meeting of the County Council is to bo hold on Wednesday, 27th.