TOLOGA BAY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1305, 5 April 1883, Page 2

TOLOGA BAY.

(FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT), As a constant reader of your popular publication, 1, in common J with many other of your subscribers, have regretted the absence of a “ Chronicler ” for this place, since the departure of last, aud 1 take up my pen, not so much with the object of aspiring to occupy that honorable position permanently, as to fill up some spare moments I find on my hands at this season of the year, and perhaps incite some abler pen, to represent this rising district in your columns. As you are possibly aware, tho “ Tologa Bay Hotel” has changed hands, Mr F. Hodges, late of Tokotnaru, lias succeeded Mr J. Allanach, who I believe intends commeueing a new line of business in Gisborne, and permanently settling there. We are sorry to lose him, as he has always proved himself a genial and obliging landlord. Our now one will, I am sure, leave no stone untnrned, to still further add to the requirements of this well-known hostelry. The extensive additions being made to the Sea View Hotel consisting of spacious billiard room, bedrooms, sitting-room, with continuation of balcony, will render this one of the finest hotels on ths coast, and Mr R. Finlay, the spirited bonifacc, deserves encouragement tor his enterprise. The Native school here, under the efficient tutorship of Mies G. Gillman, is rapidly progressing. A marked improvement in the children is noticeable, ana the daily attendance is, I believe, nearly thirty, exclusive of some boarders. Lately there have been large mobs of sheep passing through here en route for different runs up the Coast, and judging from the number of speculators who have been visiting this part since New Year, in quest of good grazing country, a bright future may be safely predicted. Our new mail contractor, Mr Peters, is performing his mail service in a very satisfactory manner, the mails as a rule, being well delivered in time, as also are those carried further up the Coast by Mr Nicol. The weather of late has been very changeable, rain to sunshine, and sunshine to rain. Twice there has been a freshet in the river. Coughs and colds prevail in spite of the papers being filled with adverisements of patent medicines and household receips, and which are within reach of anybody to apply; so that one is driven to the conclusion that newspapers are not so much patronised as they deserve to be. Very few Natives are here now ; they having with many more of their friends from Gisborne proceeded up the Coast to Waiapu, to hold a “ tangi ” over a chief of note, whether lately deceased or not, I have not learned. On Easter Sunday a pleasure party left here in a whaleboat for a place called Anauri, about 12 miles along the Coast, intending to return in the evening ; adverse winds necessitated a postponement until the following (Monday) morning. A camp out for a night in a Maori pah, feasting on kumaras, cabbage, etc., daintily served on mats of flax, by dusky damsels, with a smile or two thrown in, is charming in the extreme. But what about the two members of the party ; one a well known boniface, something under sixteen stone, and the other a mail conductor, and very much less in flesh, whose visions of family and home, prompted a return journey on foot. Those 12 dreary miles, and nine o’clock at night, ere they reach their destination. “Oh! these boots. My G—d I’ll die.”