EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1564, 21 September 1905, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS.

[{Times Correspondent.)'

The Native Land Council opened on Monday, 11th inst,, but owing to the Act validating the appointment of members not having been passed it was, after a conference with the natives, decided to postpone all Council business until)January next. It was felt that it would not be fair , to the natives to keep them, coming backward and forward depending on the vagaries ■ of Parliament.

Mr A. T. Ngata has definitely decided to contest the eastern Maori electorate, andjstarts on his campaign next week. Some efforts have been made to come ’,to an understanding so that there should not be two candidates in this district, but Wi Pere stands firm in his intention to oppose all comers and will fight the election ; Mr T. B. Porter has also been announced as a candidate, but the natives so far do not seem to give him any prominent place in the running.

HICKS BAY.

'From Cur Own Correspondent.)

It is some time since any notes from this district appeared in the columns of your paper. The winter has been very wet, and this has meant bad roads, unfordable jivera and heavy slips, and although

spring is now woll advanced, much rain is still in ovidonco. A fow weeks ago a calf of a whale was washed up on the beaoh during a heavy sea. The fish which measured about sft was captured by a nativo and boiled down. I hear that a large area of land in this distriot is likely to bo soon opened up. . During the past fow months a considerable amount of tirnbor and fencing material has beon landed here consigned to somo of tho natives in the bay. This looks as if they aro going to put somo of thoir lands under culti- | vation, indeed, the days are fow now when tho sound of hammer is not heard in tho neighborhood of tho pa. Thero have been one or two wouldbe settlors - horo lately to soe tho land, and from what I can gather they were pleased with what they saw. Two Bohoonors and a small steamer wore at anchor in tho Bay tho othor i evening. Interost in this district has been aroused by tho suggestion mooted in Gisborne to construct a railway from Te Karaka to the Waiapu Valle)', and possibly to Hicks Bay. No doubt such a railway would open up muoh good | country, and here at Hick’s Bay there is a fine bay with a good deep water landing. Quite large ships oan anchor, while tho landing place is easily accessible.' The climate of Hicks Bay is eminently suited for fruit-growing, while good fishing is to bo had in the vicinity. Ships often como into tho bay and lie at anchor for days together waiting for a favorable wind, aurl this bay can often be worked when the next (Tf Araroa) can not be approached. This is a strong plea for the extension of the telephone to this place, as ships in the bay could then communicate with their agents at either end. In faot a telephone is more urgent than a rail- [ way. Lambing in this district has been good. A sheep was captured in the bush recently which had on its back about three years’ growth of wool, and when the wool was all taken off the carcase of the sheep weighed upwards of 130 pounds. A hui, or native meeting, convened for the purpose of raising funds to paint the church, was held last week, and the sum of £l2 was collected.

A BRAVE MAORI WOMAN. The Royal Humane Society of Now Zealand has sent to the Gisborne secretary a framed in memoriam certificate to be presented to the next-of-kin of Maraea Poki, wife of Eruera Ariari, who lost her life in attempting to save Henry Harrison from a burning hut at Hiruhirama, Waipiro Bay. The certificate is to be publicly (presented.