EAST COAST NOTES

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 844, 19 March 1903, Page 3

EAST COAST NOTES

(By our Special Reporter.) Tolago Bay, last night. The middlo of March on the Bust Coast elookcd upon as the festival period of the vear, a time when three or four race meetings are crowded into the short spuco of a weok, and wbon everyone indulges in a fow days’ relaxation from the arduous labors of country life. This year, howevor, thero has been somewhat of a chango, und tho Coast is to bo kept in a state of unrest for upwards of a month, for it goes without saying that it takes one a little time to get over a coastal jolification. Starting with tho Waiapu Jockey Club’s races on Saturday, March 7th, tho scono of gaiety shifted to Tolago Bay on Tuesday, when tho annual meeting of that popular club took place on tho pretty course on the hanks of the Uawa river. On Saturday next Tokomaru takes up the running with a race meeting and other festivities, and tho ball will bo closod at Waipiro on April 4th. So it will bo seen that the coastal residents have already had a good time and are also preparing for anothor. They are evidently of opinion that you cannot have too much of a good thing. Tho meoting of the Waiapu Racing Club at Mangahanea is worthy of special notice on account of it being the first gathering hold on that course. Gisbornites who attonded tho meeting speak very highly of tho coarse, which they predic will be tho finest in the East Coast district

Tho Waiapu Club went to a great amount of trouble in tho preparation of the ground and are to bo congratulated on the success which has been achieved. It is a pity in some respects that tho meotiDg was not held after tho Tolago Bay gathering, as such an arrangement would havo assured a largoratter.Ji.nco and much better fields. Another rnattor that tho Club might woll consider is tho amalgamation with the Waipiro and Tokomaru Clubs, which would, in tho opinion of many sportsmen, bo a good thing for racing generally, as much higher stakes could bo offered and many outside horsos would bo fouud competing. At tho next annual meeting the Waiapu Club hope to havo the totalisator in use.

At tho Tolago Bay Meeting the sum of £2122 was put through tho totalisator, constituting a record. Last yoar .£1849 was dealt with, and tho previous yoar (1901) £2007 was passed through. The Club aro to bo congratulated upon tho result. In connection with tho meeting groat credit is duo to Mr M. G. Nasmith, who did tho handicapping this year, aud also to Mr Boland for tho evon manner iu which ho got his fields away. Close finishes wero the order of the day, the Uawa Stakes especially finishing a most exciting contest. Lady Raven and Hinotapauriki battled out a great finish, the former winning in the last couple of strides, aud catctiing the judge’s eye by a short head. Mr J. A. Moore acted as judge, and his decisions met with general satisfaction.

Tolago Bay has not advuncod during tho past two years to the same extent as have other places in the East Coast dis-

trict, but with tho increased settlement that will follow the cuttting up of the Takapau estato aud tho erection of the Uawa bridgo there sooms a brighter pros-

pect for the district. Visitors from Gisborno to the Tolago Bay races grumbled very much when they came to pay the ferryman. Tho latter acted throughout like a thorough philoso-

pher. Sixsnillmgs for a double buggy aud pair and two passengers to go over and back was deemed quite high enough, but several parties from Gisborne arriving late at night and leaving early in the morning had to pay double. The necessity for more Justices of the Peace on the Coast has been met by the Guvcrumont appointing two well-known gentlemen, Mr <J. Kilburn, Tolago Bay, and Mr W. Oates, Tokomaru. Congratulations are tendered to their Worships. The gentlemen appointed are highly esteemed, aud the appointments are certain to give every satisfaction. Three robberies with violence are reported by the Tuparoa Turns correspon-

dent as having occurred on tho evening of tho AVaiapu Club’s races. Two young Europeans, whilo returning from the course, were knocked down by some Natives Oue young man named Fore-

man was robbed of £2B in cash and his watch and chain, and tho other of £5.

Constable Kelly was quickly on the track, and one arrest haß already been made, whilst others are likely to follow. The third cuso was that of a young man who had a brand new saddle and bridle stolen.

Race day meant a very busy time fur the Tolago Bay post office, and it speaks well for tho local postmistress, Miss Gallagher, that she was able single handed to got through the work From curly morn-

ing until late in tho day the telephone was kept busy, and a considerable amount of telogruphic work was transacted. A sitting of the Magistrate s Court will be held by Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., on Friday. Sergfc. Siddells, who is at present making his periodical visit to the Coast, will also be present. Mr Faram, of the Gisborno branch of Messrs Arch. Clark and Sons, reached here this evening on his periodical visit to Coastal townships. As usual during race time, the accommodation at tho Tolago Bay Hotel was severely taxed. Mr and Mrs Watkins were untiring in their efforts to cator for the wants of the public, and visitors from Gisborne and elsewhere were well provided for.

The new school at Wlmngara, and tho additions and alterations to tho Tolago Bay school, are a great improvement on the old order of things. Both schools show a large increase in the attendance. On Monday I availed myself of an invitation to visit Cook's Cove, and there Bpont a very pleasant afternoon. Cook’s Well was not seen to advantage, as tho spring was dry and the water in the well in a stagnant state. The lotters of tho famous navigator’s name on tho sandstone bank above the well were hardly decipherable owing the accumulation of moss, etc. The well is about 18in deep, and can be spanned with the hand. Unless precautions are soon taken, there will bo little or nothing left to connect the locality with the name of Captain Cook other than tho name it bears.

Tho visit of Mr Hursthouso, Ch ef Inspector of Roads, was hardly known to residents before he had left for Gisborno. Prior to his departure ho was seen by Messrs Ivilburn (Chairman of the Bridge Committee) an! Holder, secretary. Mr Hursthouso approved of the site leading from tho road passing tho Post-office, and stated that plans would be at once prepared and the question of ways and means considered. He promised to see that tho very best timber was put into the structure. Upon the question of roads Mr Hurstbouse seemed to think that there was little to complain of in regard to the road from Gisborne to Tolago, and ..he had travelled over very much worse placos. 11 If you want better roads you must bo prepared to pay special rates,” remarked Mr Hursthouso to tho Times special. *' Tho country I see around me is woll able to stand it, and you are only doing what has been dono in other parts of tho colony.” It is a matter for regret that Mr Hursthouso should havo paid his visit to Tolago at tho time ho did, for had he waited a couple of months he would not have formed so hasty and favorable an opinion in regard to the Coast road. Tolago Bay residents will, however, be satisfied if tho Government go right ahead with the bridge.

At a meeting of the stewards of the of the Tolugo Bay Jockey Club, held last evening, the question of the riding of Reidy, the jockey of Minervo in the District Handicap, was considered. After the matter had been discussed at some length it was resolved to adhere to the decision arrived at at the time the protest was made, which was to the effect that the protest be dismissed and a caution be given to the jockey.