TOLOGA BAY LETTER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 254, 7 October 1884, Page 2

TOLOGA BAY LETTER.

[Own Correspondent.] Active are the preparations being made ii view of the approaching re-sitting of the Native Lands Court, to be held here sometime next month (November the 10th, I believe) Something of the kind is required to arouse the Tologaites, from I heir present state ol lethaigy, the past few months having been wret hedly dull, but few travellers up the coast, and trade almost at a stand-still. Shearing has commenced up the Coast, and shearers are daily to be seen en route to the different stations, fully equipped for active operations. The percentage of lambs in the dis rict is reported to be exceptionally good, 80 to 90 per cent, and but few losses. There is an excellent show of growl h in grass here, and fair promise of abundance o( fruit.

The natives throughout the district, are strongly petitioning against the Land Court being held here next month, urging as one or two of many reasons, that being the busiest season in the year, attention to their potato crops, shearing time, &c., would be seriously interfered with ; and requesting that the sitting donot take place until after New Year. Whether heed will be given to thenappeal is questionable, as the majority of interested parties at these Courts are as a rule the “ old folks,” and surely for once, the younger members can put their hand to the plough ; but with the Maori, as long as the old people can work at alt, the young people loiter about and take things comfortable

The s.s. Rosina arrived here from Gisborne last Wednesday, bringing a few tons of stores, and two or three passengers. She did not get out of the river until Saturday morning, on account of the heavy sea rolling on the bar, evidence of a stiff nor’wester blowing outside.

A dance was convened for last Friday evening, but the fail sex being loth in rolling up, it did not prove very successful. During the evening Mr. Nelson, the well-known gymnast and slack-wire performer, gave an exhibition of his powers, and considering his long absence from this line of business, managed very well. His fiats on the wire were loudly applauded. Mr. Pickett, with a staff of assistants, arrived here during the week, under authorisation from the Government to lay off the inland road, Tologa Bay to Waiapu, which, I am informed, is to be for wheel traffic eventually.

The weather has been somewhat cold of late, for spring, but considering the fineness of the winter, little need we complain.

Mr. McFarlane is going in largely for bushfalling, two or three contracts having been let lately, of considerable extent. This, with similar work further up the Coast and the contract obtained by Mr Lnisd, of Waihou, to supply the Government with 22,000 puriri railway sleepers, should offer employment for a goodly number of bush hands. Mr. Loisel, I hear, intends having a steam saw mill erected at Waihou very shortly. Now what we require is a good road to Gisborne, whence we could receive our supplies, and not be dependent on the present coastal trade. But I suppose as a thousand or two has been refused us for a connection by telephone, the question of a dray-road will have to remain in abeyance for some considerable time yet.