EAST COAST LETTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 414, 8 February 1890, Page 3

EAST COAST LETTER.

[fbom cub own cobbbspondbnt. J Waimbo, Feb. 1, Very heavy, stormy southerly weather has prevailed here since the night oi the 30th uh., occasional squalls being exceptionally violent, and a heavy sea rolling into tbe bay. The steamer (Australia) has not put in her wonted appearance, but presumably has gone on tc Auckland, and made a fair wind of it. Perhaps it is just as well, for it is very questionable whether she would have been able to have communicated had she arrived as usual. Messrs J. N. Williams and Bold were expected by her, and probably have by this time arrived in the Northern City, at the wrong end of the Jubilee festivities. Sir Geo. Whitmore arrived at Tuparon by the Southern Cross lately, and, it is said, shortly assumes the proprietorship of the Tuparoa Hotel, vice Milner sold out. This term (proprietor) is often a good deal misused, I find in my experience, and, as written above, would lead one to suppose that the knightly proprietor was about to run the whisky mill personally, This, however, is not the case, Mr O’Brien having been nominated, I believe, to occupy that responsible post. A grand ball and Tuparoa • high jinks ’ ere spoken of in connection with tbe above.

Mr Rosy, surveyor of your town, arrived here yesterday, 31st, having completed the telephone survey line from Tologa Bay to this place, on completion of which it is to he hoped that a proper post, money order, and telegraph office may be established here, in place of the present far from satisfactory arrangements —that is, so far as transmitting money is concerned; at present, otherwise than by cheques, which are not always a desirable medium for mor»y transmission, it can only be effected by stamps, which also are from a variety of reasons often very inoon venient, if obtainable, Ngatiporou natives are beginning to return from Gisborne after the grass season. They describe it as by no means equal to former years, and are on ths whole a good deal dissatisfied with thsir trip. Sir Geo. Whiimore imported 30 bags grass seed and SO valuable rams by last Southern Cross, Messrs Taylpr and flrownlnw, surface men |n the employ of the Cook County Ooqnbil, have completed their repairs to oqr roafls hereabnu a, aud have returned to the other end of thair maintenance (3). Now, I have the nleaepre of knowing both Taylqr and Brownlow, qnd affi aware that lfiey are thoroughly good and qonsoUntiqqs workman and have executed the said repairs, <sic., to the best ot their ability, Notwithstanding. lam came to bet C.0.C., U H., or Mr Fagan, of Qrmond, any reasonable amount (in bills) that the very first supcession of heavy showers will Biyeep away, or otherwise render unserviceable, threp-fourthe of qll the work done, in the shape of quasi cglverts, between thia and Tokomaru. vyqioh constructed ot sticks. Yes, Mr Editor, absolute stickf. ot varying circumference and dimensions. Yet, upon these culverts (so called) depends the very existence of the road, which otherwise will fie'rjyep and excavated by superincumbent water courses, qpd slip aspay in eeptigns (as heretofore) into tfie spbjaqent valleys. This lamentable ?tqte of affairs is by no means the fault of Messrs T. and B. before mentioned, who at great labor and cqst have actually * pikaned ’ said sticks from contiguous bushes, and utilised them to the best advantage. .But it is the fault of ths C.C.C., Who will pot supply proper tps or ptfier substantial culverts where needed. As it is, probably before winter sets in, the roads (?) of Taylor and Brownlow’S maintenance will resume their winter state of bog and quagmire, and all our expectations, and O.C.C. promises, end literally in unmitigated unspeakable mud, and these are words—- • Medicinal as true, honest as either.’ (Shakespeare,)

February -f. The Australia arrived on Sunday afternoon after a stormy passage, landed one passenger (Miss Hewetson) under Tawhiti piuff (Waipiro). the ordinary landing place being too rough, and steamed away direct for Auckland. Messrs Williams' and Bold are expected up overland, having dieembarked at Gieborne. A very enjoyable valedictory dance and smoke concert eventuated at Waipiro on tbe Ist and 3rd instant, at Mr Howetson's private residence, and the Tawhiti Hotel, respectively, on the occasion of Messrs B. Hewetson and Lord leaving the station for fields afresh, &o„ &o. The former being a private entertainment, I refrain from entering into the minutiae of the hospitable festivities. Suffice it to say that everybody enjoyed themselves amszingly, and the concomitant collation, both in quality, mode of serving, &0., was beyond all praise. At the smoke concert Mr Walter Qellenfler occupied the chair, and in the course of a few apposite remarks, detailed upon the good fellowship which had always existed between the two guests of the evening (Messrs Lord and R. Hewetson) and the com. pany assembled. He wished them both success in their new undertaking, &e., &e., but declined to say more on the subject, as he saw many eloquent and singing faces ground him who would do more justice to the subject than he could. Mr R. Armstrong proposed the health of their outgoing ohums, He had known Mr Hewetson for many years, and always found him a jolly good fellow. It he had any failing at all, he believed it was towards the ladies, end they would all agree that it was a very exeussble fault indeed, He had not had the pleasure (being comparatively a new comer on the station) of knowing Mr Lord very long, but had always found him very affable and obliging, &0. , &c. He begged to propose the health of the departing ones, with musical honors.

Mr B. Hewetson, in returning thanks, ohi ieryed that while qevgring his connection with he station with regrat, after nearly threa years sojourn, he left with a view of bettering himself it he could, for which no one would blame him, but he had put in a happy time altogether at Waipiro, and hoped he might never be worse off than he had been in the employ. He must deprecate his friend Mr Armstrong’s remarks about the ladies — though to speak the truth be did adore the sex individually and collectively, and why shouldn't he *—God bless ietp all, &a„ &a. Mr Lord also returned thanks In a few well chosen words,

Seng! The Chairman, ‘Dear Old Pals.’ Mr Lepine (Tokomaru) observed that if the whisky was good the company was better. He quite appreciated the custom of entertaining outgoera from Wa'Ehq »s st present, especially wheq they were so much liked and respected as the present guests, &0.,

Songs were then rendered by Messrs R. Hewetson, ' Old Arm Chair ’; Mr Lepine, ‘ The Bashful Man 1 ; Mr Morrison, •My Heart is in the Highlande '; Mr Massey, ‘ Poor but a gentleman still,” &0., dfe., interspersed with speeches, recitations, die,, of which want' of space forbids further mentfcffi, the whole ter ruinating about 12 p.m., most apositely with Mr Lepine’s song 1 Don’t forget to return,' and the National Anthem.