TOLOGA BAY LETTER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 102, 8 April 1884, Page 2

TOLOGA BAY LETTER.

[frok an occasional correspondent.] Uawa, April 5. The Lands Court has adjourned for five weeks, and Tologa Bay has returned to its normal condition. The natives having all gone to their respective homes, business is almost at a stand-still, and while tradespeople are bemoaning the slackness of trade, they are not altogether displeased at a short respite from the turmoil attending the Court. News, as a matter of course, is scarce. A child of Mr. Munro’s narrowly escaped being kicked to death a few days past. Happening to escape the mot id’s attention f6r a few minutes, it crawled behind tl heels of a grazing horse, which lashed out, but fortunately being in too close proximity the child did not receive the full force of the blow, yet sufficient to bruise the poor little things face very seriously, who, under the circumstances, is progressing as favourably as can be expected. Last Saturday week the school dwellinghouse at Tokomaru, occupied by Mrs. Warren, the teacher, was burned to the ground. The origin of the conflagration is wrapped in mystery. An enquiry is to be held. The insurance, I believe, is remunerative. Mr. C. P. Browne, photographer from your city, has been up here this last week, and doing a little business. Had his visit been a month or so earlier, during the primary stages of the Lands Court, when the place was thronged with natives, no doubt his art would have been well patronised. The mouth of the river is in a very bad condition at present. There having been no freshets for some considerable time, the bar has silted up, and consequently has no depth of water on it. Last Thursday the Rosina had to remain outside, and all the Lands Court officials has to be transferred by boat on board. I see that Ra Mackay, the course-' tent and obliging skipper, is again in charge, and may the management see fit to long keep him. Wild dogs are rather troublesome on the runs in this district just now, and in spite of the strenuous efforts of Mr. Swainson, Mr. Ormood’s manager, and his trained pack of hunters, seem to keep as numerous a ever, though backed up with substantial rewards, offered by the settlers for their skins. Rain has set in, and from appearances we seem likely to have a few days of it, Not before time have the County Council commenced repairing the road between here and Gisborne. For the last week two men have been improving the bridle track over the hill coming to Tologa, and I would point out the advisibility of at once having other portions of the road attended to before the Winter thoroughly sets in. The slip near Waitotara, and Kowhia, certainly should be seen to, otherwise if much wet follows, they would be next to impassible, and there are, I believe, other portions between here and Awanui that require attention. Possibly our energetic member will stir the Council up a bit in the matter. Later information informs me that the insurances on the fire before alluded to is £2OO on the furniture and effects, and £2OO on the building by the Government.