EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 943, 16 July 1903, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS.

TOKOMARU BAY,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

We have been enjoying beautiful weather for some weeks now, and consequently the roads have been in splendid order. Feed is everywhere scarce, the severe frosts at night preventing any growth. Stock, particularly horses and cattle, are having a hard winter almost everywhere around here, sheep appear to be doing bettor. On her trip South the Herald landed thirty-six tons of cargo, and again when coming North landed sixteen tons. Passengers to and fro by the Herald, although loud in praise of the captain, officers, and men, have nothing kind to say of the ship. Fourteen or fiftoen years ago a much better steamer service existed on the Coast, and the Australia (there were two boats running then) in particular ran very punctual to time-table. Seeing there is only one boat now, and there must be an

ncreased trade with all the improvements made on the various stations along the Coast, one would think a much better service should be obtainable, or, at anyrate, as good as was obtained fifteen years ago. l'ho Rov. Fitzgerald is fast making friends all alobg the Coast, his fortnightly services hero are looked forward to with interest, and the congregation is gradually increasing. The local choir, under the tuition of Mrs McGavin, assisted by Mrs | Fairlie at the organ, is making rapid progress, the lack of two or three male voices being a drawback; however, both choir and teachers are to be congratulated on the progress they are making. The football match between Tolago Bay i and the local teams for Saturday next is being looked forward to with interest and promises to be an exciting one. Unfortunately for the local team, Mr Earle will not be able to play, owing to a hurt received in last match. The difficulty of arranging for referees is also increasing. The Rev. Fitzgerald, who was appointed for this match, is unable to act, owing to having to be in Tuparoa on the following morning. Mr K. S. Williams will probably aci

The Waiapu Sheep Dog Trial Committee met last week. Correspondence was road from the manager of the Tokomaru Trading Company, offering a special prize of ;£3 8s for next year’s Trials, also from Messrs Murphy and Warner offering a special prize, and from Mr D. D. Duff offering £2 2s for the noisiest huntaway, scoring 20 points or over. Messrs Murphy, Warner, and the secretary were appointed a committee to look out and arrange for a new ground away from the sea beach as the noise of the surf breaking interferes with the working of the dogs. The secretary read a statement of accounts, showing a good balance in hand. It was derided to call the next committee meeting in January, 1904.

TUPAROA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a branch of the New' Zealand Farmers’ Union,on the East Coast was held at*Tuparoa on Saturday afternoon, July* 11th. There were a good number from the different parts of the East Coast present. All seemed unanimous in forming the above Union. Mr W. O’Ryan was elected Chairman of the meeting.. Mr G. J. White proposed that a branch of the Union be established, which was seconded by Mr Knox, and carried, Mr, T. J. Williams was elected Chairman of the branch, and Mr, O’Ryan was unanimously elected secretary on Mr K. S. Williams’ proposal; Mr Beale was elected auditor; Mr A, H. Wallis was elected delegate to the Provincial Union. Discussion took place re amounts of subscriptions which' wore ultimately fixed at Is entrance and 5s subscription, it was proposed and oarried that the annual meeting of the branoh be held at Tuparoa. The following ha\g been elected on the executive committee Tokomaru: Messrs White, Cotterill, and Oates. Tuparoa: Messrs T. S. Williams, K. S. Wilkins, and Kemp. Awanui: Messrs Knox, McDonald, and Manning. ' Kawakawa: Messrs DeLautour, Seal, and MeLachlan. After a vote of thanks the meeting broke up. A very rare sight was notioed on Thursday last, between three and four in the afternoon, and caused muoh interest and excitement, namely a fight between two very large whales. Which of the two got the better of the fight it is hard to say, but they both exhibited and sent up a “ whale of a waterspout,” and after much Bplashiug, etc,, disappeared in the mighty dei

>ep. The timber for the church here has now arrived, and Mr Beach is busy having the building put under construction as soon as possible. -

.TOLAGO FARMERS’ .UNION.

A meeting o£ the Tolago Bay -branch of the New Zealand tanners’ Union was held at Tolago Bay on the 11th inst. Among those present were Messrs Spence, M. Fitzgerald, Hale,, Oldfield, Boland, Holder, Forsyth, and F. Somerville (Chairman). After the minutes of the preceding meeting had been confirmed, a letter was read from Messrs Lang, Beattie, Lang, and Co, stating the price they were prepared to give for butter fat in connection with their offer 'to erect a butter factory and skimming stations at Tolago Bay. The letter was received. The Chairman read the letter he had written to the Secretary for Agriculture, embodying the amendments to the proposed new , Stud Act suggested by the branch, and stated that similar amendments had been made by the Provincial Executive at its last meeting.

*• Tolago Bay representation on County Council.—Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed by members at the action of the County ; 'Council in this matter, and the Sec- . retary was instructed to forward a copy of the following resolution to the Chairman of the County Council : “ That this Branch deprecates the granting of extended leave of absence to our representative, which , action of the County Council, cou- , pled with the prolonged leave of ab- j sence granted last .year to our mem- , ber, has’ left this riding for large > portions of the year practically un- , represented in the County Council.” ] Urgent repairs to roads.—Mr W. Holder was appointed to receive ' and forward to the County Council representations from residents with reference to any repairs urgently required •on the roads in the district. Native Lands—Mr W. F. Hale drew the attention of the meeting to the fact that the Government by legislation two years ago had made it impossible for any further purchases of Native, lands to be effected by the Government. In his opinion this was most detrimental to the settlement and to the interests of not only this district, but the whole of the North Island. As regards private dealings in Native lands, he pointed out that all permits granted last year by the Maori Council in this respect would expire on tne 17th inst., and, as the Council had now practically become defunct, it was highly desirable in the interest of settlement that the Government should resume purchasing Native lands.—A resolution to this effect was carried, the matter to be brought up by the representative of the Branch at the next meeting of the Provincial Council. Freehold v. Leasehold.—A discussion ensued on the above controversy but when the Chairman pointed out that the matter was now being debated by the Colonial Conference,, it was decided to take no immediate action.