GISBORNE TO TOLOGA BAY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1182, 23 October 1882, Page 2

GISBORNE TO TOLOGA BAY.

If you want to spend three or four pleasant i da’.s, get. on the outside of the best horse ' you can find, turn his head up the coast, and i go, say as far as Tologa. Having crossed t:c j ferry at. Gisborne, and jogged along quietly for about three miles, 1 got on to the beach ■ at Wainui, passing Mr McDonald’s (M.11.R) ' homestead whic ; has been much improved I and added to of iate. T c feed is plentiful, t e hills especially looking remarkably well. On reaching the beach I took my horse by the head and let him out; the result was satisfactory. He seemed to like his gallop, and I enjoyed the fresh air and the pice. After a pleasant ride of some twenty-three miles, I and party arrived at VVaitotara.. I may mention here that all the creeks between Gisborne and Tologa, with the exception, of course, of the Uawa, are now silted up, so that there is no difficulty in getting across them. Here Mr Finlay, a brother of the late popular host, received us most cordially, and made us feel quite at home. The niutto at the Waitotara seems to be —good liquor, plenty of it, and a pleasant chat. From Waitolaru to Tologa is as pleasant a ride as you can wish for on a summer’s day. Feed on tin? runs is plentiful, in spite of the long drought. The sheep are looking well and strong, and, judging tr.un the number of lambs we saw, the incH asc this year will be large. We now arrive ai the l.’r.wa. River ; here the energetic ferryman, ?.lr Kirk, is always to be found nJ Ids |>; sl ; by the help of a large fly- - . - .i. a i-l rnii- arm, and other ingenious | contriv iii.-es, the weary traveller gets across I the ri‘. e? <; -kly. The charge is strictly ’ mode:ale, sp. eiuliv after sundown. I One. - more on t-rra flrnui, but we see a light I straight ahead up the main street. This turns out to be Mr Allanach's well known Tologa I Bay Hoiel. Here (he gemai Boniface made ,us comfort able. Ilis chef de cuisine deserves I considerable praise for the rcuAereZte st)le in ' which he tables his viands He also acts as ■ head waiter, and bestows great attention on I his guest. May hi-] shadow never grow less.

Mr Allanach has made great improvements since he became the proprietor. The house has been re-papered and re-painted throughout, and as for being clean and tidy, well, Mrs Allanach looks after that, and clearly proves herself to be the right woman in the right place. The principal business in Tologa—l hope no one will take offence —seems to be traveling from Allanach’s to Finlay’s, and uice versa. The invariable subject being which of the two draws Johnstone’s beer in greatest perfection. They seem to be running neck and neck—a friendly mata. 1 have put them down in my notes aa ’‘Arcades Ambo,” anglice— Two jolly good fellows ? I was sorry to find that our respected fellow townsman, Mr C. D. Berry was laid np at Mr Finlay’s with an attack of the gout. Fortunately Dr Leggatt appeared upon the scene, in conjunction with Mr Barker, Government insurance agent. I was credibly informed that Mr Barker made a desperate attempt to take the invalid’s life and was unsuccessful, and we have every reason to hope that Mr Berry will be in Gisborne on Tuesday. Mr Finlay believes in going ahead, and shows himself to be a thorough business man. He has imported a hydraulic dumping machine, and has provided ample storage room for wool or other produce. He has also supplied Tologa with a long-felt want, i. e. , a good surf boat—equal to carry six or seven tons. Passengers wishing to land from steamer or other coasting vessels will appreciate this convenience.

In conclusion, I may say that both Messrs. Allanach and Finlay have good stables, and capital paddock accommodation. They welcome the coming, and speed the parting guest.