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Early Day Pastimes.

The chief pastime in the early days was billiards. There were only five hotels—the Albion, Argyll (now Coronation). Masonic, Shamrock (now Gisborne), and Royal. The lastnamed was on the site of the present building, and stood quite a long way out from the town. Every hotel had its billiard room and many keenly exciting games were played. There was also an hotel at Makaraka, near the old Kia Ora factory, two hotels at Waerenga-a-hika, two at Ormond, where the Armed Constabulary were stationed, and one at Matawhero. Keen interest was also taken in cricket, and many exciting games were played at Te Hapara, where Mr. Rees had a proper pitch at his residence.