LATE COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 850, 26 March 1903, Page 3

LATE COAST NEWS.

The committee of tho Hauiti brass band aro making arrangements to hold a ball in aid of the band funds. Tho date has been fixed for Thursday, April 9th, and invitations will be sent out during the present week.

Mr Beale, secretary of the Waiapu branch of the Acclimatisation Society, informs us that the trout put in the Koupauroa river are doing well. He also states that tho natives are catching them in eel baskets, which will thin thfi Quantity out in a very short time. Tho annual meeting in connection with the Waipiro Racing Club will be held on April 4th, and promises to be a great success. A capital programme has been prepared, and as good stakes are being offered there should be large fields for tho several events. Mr J. Sadler, tho enterprising secretary, has tho arrangements j for the meeting in hand, and is bent on having a record gathering. Tho principal social function of the year on the Coast, tho Waipiro ball, is to take I place on April 3rd, and is being looked forward to with much interest by all lovers of dancing. Mr A. E. Crawley is secretary, and a strong committco has been appointed to make uli arrangements for the ball

Tbo IJon. J. Carroll and Mr J. A. Harding (ono of the recently-appointed membors of the Native Land Board) arrived from Napier yesterday. Splendid entries have been received for tho eighth annual meeting of the Waiapu Sheep Dog Trial Club, to bo held on Wednesday and Thursday, April Ist and 2nd, at Tokomaru. In Class 1, heading, there are 29 competitors ; Class 2, heading, 37 ; and Class 3, hunting, 29 competitors. Tho Rev. Fitzgorald (Church of Eng- j land) has been appointed to the charge of tho East Coast district, and will resido at Waipiro.

His Lordship tho Bishop of Waiapuand Rov. H. Williams are at present touring tho Coast. They were at Waipiro yesterday. Tho Omapero arrived at Awauui yosterday afternoon. She will work Tuparoa and Waipiro to-day. At the monthly meeting of the Waiapu County Council, held yesterday, there wore present: Crs Sherwood (chairman), T. S. Williams, A. B. Williams, and Nock. The Enginoer reported that good progress had been made on all the contracts within the county, and that Mr McCracken expected to finish the Pawariki contract within a week. He reported as instructed on the creek Mangahawini, at Tokomaru, that be inspected tho creek where it was scouring out tho eastern bank. He considered it would shortly scour a now course out to I sea. He estimated the cost of protective works at about £SO. Sinco last meeting the special committee appointed to open tenders had met and accepted the following tenders: Pouturu-whaka-ao track, Enolca Rutuatu and Co., JG34O; WaiomatatiniKakarika work, Renata Ngata and Wi Tepori, £386; Te Puia road, McNeol, 1)129 10s.

On the motion of the Chairman, Cr Henderson was granted leavo of absenco. It was decided that tho protection works at Mangahawini creek, suggested by the Engineer, bo carried out. The following tenders for the Ihungia-Mata road were received : Charles McCracken (accepted) £946 ; John O’Shea, £1053. Cr A. B. Williams proposed that the Council’s solicitor be instructed to prepare a private Bill to havo Waiapu County constituted a separate hospital district.—Seconded by Cr T. S. Williams and carried. Tho Engi-

neer was instructed to call for tenders for works to the Te Ranau road, near Beck’s Haven. Accounts were passed for payment, including McCracken, £2OO, and sundry accounts amounting to £59 ss.

Out of an expenditure of two mil-

lion one hundred and seventeen thousand three hundred and fifty-two pounds for the acquisition of estates, only £101,791 had been expended in Auckland. Thus, over millions had been expended in the South,while in the North there were hundreds of thousands of acres of laud in the (government hands waiting for the set-

tier. Settlement also was hindered by the position of the Native owner. No one would desire to sec the Native put at a disadvantage, but surely, what was sauce for the the goose was sauce for the gander. If the land of Europeans could be compulsorily taken to permit of settlement, why should not the land of the Native be subject to to the same law ? Much of the finest land in this district is Native land, and if the opening up of it had to wait upon the operation of the slow machinery of the Native Councils, it would probably be a long time before anything at all was done. The Native need not fear the result of his land being taken under the Lands for Settlement ACt.for it was a remarkable fact that notwithstanding the large compulsory acquisitions from Europeans, praccally no complaints were heard from the sellers. Evidently, they did not regard it as a hardship.—Presidential Address at annual meeting of Auckland Chamber of Commerce.