EAST COAST EDITION

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 707, 31 December 1902, Page 3

EAST COAST EDITION

TOKOMAftU BAY. (from Our Own Correspondent) The drought still continues uil ulung the Coast, feed is getting scuree, the country is looking parched up, and people depending on tanks for their water are anxiously looking for rain. The crops of potatoes and oats, etc., will ho almost a failure, especially where late planting and sowing took place. The Omapore reached hero on tbo rdtb, and landed about thirty-four tons of cargo, and took on board a considerable quantity of wool, getting away from here on Saturday evening. The cricket match at Tolago Bay will no doubt have been reported ere this. The match was played in the Domain, end the Tolago sportsmen and residents are in a much better position with regard to a ground than the rest of the Coast. The Domain is twenty acres in extent, and is at present leusod to Mr M. Mullooly at a small rental, who has after considerable work and expense cleared the whole area of gorse and sown it down in grass.. The | pitch is a very poor one and the outfield is something to be remembered by all who played. Mr Mullooly was a most interested spectator of too match, and expressed his determination to have a portion of the ground properly put in order for next year's games. If it were not for the property-holders ull along the Coast cricket would bo impossible us nearly all the pitches aro on private ground, the owners doing all they can to assist the game. Mr Mullooly is no exception to the rnlo, himself un old cricketer, always happy when telling of tho games he lias played in, and a luost enthusiastic admirer of tho game, so with tho willing help of the local cricketers wo may look to a real good pitch and a good ground for fielding ou our next visit to Tolago Bay. The Xokomuru team had a most enjoyable ride to Tolago, tho road being good and tho day cool, some of tho older members drove down in a conveyance with tandem driven by the captain, Mr H. Fairlic. I cannot well pass on without calling attention to that portion of tho road in the Cook County, adjoining tho Waiapu Couuty, somo repairs have been done there that will bo worse than useless'when | a shower of rain comes. The newly elected Councillors for Waiapu will no doubt have this snort length put in ordor in keeping with tho rest of the road before the summer is over, more especially now tliat our enterprising Bast Coast mailman has put ou a mail coach and four, aud intends to keep it going if possible. The school picnio was held on Wednesday the I7th inst., aud was thoroughly enjoyed by all. In tho evening Mr liargreaves, of Waipiro, gave a gruphuphono entortumment, and although not a very great success financially through most of the natives being away shearing, still the records were very good, and enjoyed by all present. At tho picnic sports Master C. Fairhe got over fourth in a vory good performunco for a boy of eleven years, aud liis brother Herbert, agod mno, won tho long jump quito eusily from all othors. Master J. Dales won the boys ruco, and Master Godtroy Fuirlie tho small boys race. Miss K. Kelley won the girls racu from scratch, with Miss Vera Muodouald second, and Miss Klla Macdonald won the small girls race. Mrs Monkmau easily won tho race for married ludies, showing a turn of speed that surprised the liandicappers and was the cause of them getting a good wigging, they having given Mrs Monkman a good start. The treacle-buu worry, a special event managed by Mr Buchanan, for which ho gave a special prize, was won by Mastor Herbert Fuirlie,' Masters Hooper and Momuuuu tying for eocond place. This event caused endless merriment amongst the onlookers, and at the finish it was a difficult matter to identify the competitors, tho treacle having adhered so well to their faces and clothing. Preparations aro being made for tbo annuul sports on Boxing Day, which aro being looked forward to with groat in. torost, Mr A. C. Forrester was tho sue. eossful tonderor for tho catering, £3 2s 6d, being the price. Tho return cricket match with tho Mata Club, at the Muta, is to bo played on New Year's day ; then will follow from the seventh on a woek’B carnival of cricket all along the Coast, aftor which it is hoped a team will be got togother to play Gisborne. Tho telephone line is not yet completed out to the Mata aud Waiau through delay in the arrival of sufficient wire and the machines. Mr Frank Bruce, who was with the Fourth Contingent, has had tho misfortuno to got his log broken, ho collided with another ridor on the road from Panariki yesterday, causing tho misfortune. Dr Davis has attondod tho caso, and Mr Bruce is now doing well.

TUPAROA, (From Our Own Correspondent) j A crickol match was played at Mata- | hiia on Christmas Day botween tho W.’s (gentlemen's names beginning with W) against tho Rost of tho World, tho former winning by 07 runs. For the W.'s, most commendablo was tho Rev. Percy Williams, who showed good stylo and compiled 83 runs in a very taking manner. Rain at lnnch-timo coming down in bucketfuls spoilt much of tho enjoyment of tho day. Mr P. S. Williams provided an oxoollout luncheon and a good wicket. All lovers of sport should be thankful they possess so good and keen a sportsman as Ml- P. S. Williams, as he is always willing lo aid and do his best for either football or cricket. The W.’s scored 94, and the Rest of tlio World 37. The match finished at about half past four, all having enjoyed tho outing. The'dry woathor is being folt vory considerably by all householders. Although they have experioncod a few showers inland the Coastal places badly need rain.

WAIPIRO BAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The, next mooting of the Waiapu County Council will be bold in tho Council Chambers, Waipiro Bay, on January 4. Owing to the present state of tho weather, feed is getting very scarce, and the country is looking bare and dry. The tanks aro all very low at present, and many are louking for rain. On Boxing Day a largo number of peoplo assembled, and a splendid day's horse-racing was indulged in on the beach, Mr James Boyco acted as starter, and got his fioldß away in good stylo. The results were : Pony Raco: Ilawa’a Gold Mino 1, Baker’s ltangi 2, Fox's Whareponga 8.

Catoh DoWet was an excellent item, a field of 24 starting, and caused much excitement. Tho ovont was won by Walford’s Titi, alter a hard fought battle with J. Loyd's Grey Ribbon. Waipiro Cup : Hawa’s Himharama 1, Collier’s Tawai 2, Kate My Dear 3. The raco was a ding-dong go from start to finish, with Tawai making a bid for vieDonkey raco: Mr Era Joi's Popgun won in a cantor. The steed was ridden | by Mr Moses. A good many visitors are at present patronising tho hot springs for their holidays. Mr Gordon’s flower garden is looking well, aud ho deserves much credit for tho artistic way in which it is laid out. Doubtless to say tho springs will become one of the favorite tourist resort, n tho colony after a short space of time. Mr and Mrs Gordon aro at present sparing no expense for tho welfavo and comfort of tho travelling public.

» VISIT TO WAIPIRO AND HOT STRINGS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) A visit to Waipiro township up the Coast was a very pleasing one indeed. After travelling many miles overland, no at last came to a resting spot, where we were well treated by tho genial propne or, Mr Fettie, of tho Waipiro Hotel; after supplvin" tho inner man with the “ good things of Egypt ” we started next morning for the Springs, where we arrived in the forenoon ready for another repast, lbc country looked bare and dry all along as wo travelled, and rain is much needed everywhere. After taking off our saddles and giving the horses a good feed we retired to the accommodation house Kept by Mr and Mrs Gordon, who aro caretakers of tho Springs. We were very kindly received by that lady, aud a hasty as well as

a tasty meal was prepared for us, after a rest we wandered about the prettily kept gardens, and were then shown over the Springs, everything is kept neat and clean ; there are two battling houses lately erected and are well patronised by the travelling public, as well as trie “ Globe Trotter. Gas has been laid on to the bathing-rooms, and everything is made very comfortable. It would be worth while for those who have a few weeks to spare to take a trip up to this picturesque spot. The roads are excellent and rivers low. \.o woulu have liked to have stayed for a week or so to rove! in these refreshing waters which contain so many medicinal properties. The lands are now cub up for settlement around the Springs, for lease only, ami the enormous rents of some of these sections arc JEIO per acre, and third-class land at that. Certainly it is hot the way to encourage settlement in these.out of the way places. We amused ourselves by lighting the gas in many places under the rocks, one could cook their dinner if desired, for the flamea in some of the holes were considerable. In conversation with Mrs Gordon she states that she has been tnere about rune years and that their place has been leased from the Government for fourteen years. The old couple must nave been very plucky to have started their new home so far away from any other dwelling, also risking their all in the new venture. The p.ace was passed by unnoticed by many before they settled there, but no sooner did they begin to make the place charming and ittractive, than dozens ot others tried to deprive them of their only means of support. They are good colonists, the parents of thirteen children and over thirty grandchildren, surely they deserve tho support and sympathy of all wellthinking people. One feature which was very pleasing to me indeed was a read of the Gishoum-; Timms, which kept tho people well posted in the world’s news. And now as we start further north in the morning I shall close for the present, but will sond you occasional squibs as we go along, and now close, wishing yourself and staff a successful and prosperous New Year.