MANGPAI (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 10.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3056, 13 May 1867, Page 5

MANGPAI (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 10.

Thx cutter ' Glance ' brought us lust week from Matakana, Mr. Bake and family, as settlers on Waikeikei block. When writing, some six months since, of the advent to that block of four families of new arrivals, I hinted that I would from time to time trace their progress for the benefit of the other possessors of the land of that extensive block, and its equally large and unoccupied adjoining ones. I dare not, however, do ■o ; I could not write sufficiently temperately of the difficulties 'which they had to overcome to get to their land, by which all their time up to this has been lost, their means in a great measure exhausted, and themselves and families thoroughly disheartened and disgusted with the prospects before them. Their adversities have divided them among themselves, and the freshness, rigour, and spirit of enterprise which they brought with them, and which, if at once applied to their farms, would have afforded them safe and ample prospects, repaid themselves, and encouraged others, have been dwindled away in patching and botching roads, and getting their household goods transported »a fits and starts, as the Bevere weather allowed them. They arc settled now into the temperament which has cost this district so many families hitherto —in a word, they are cursing the fate that has brought them to this country. It is no use mincing the matter : there are hundreds to rr.ake the response. It is all very well to quote instances of the prosperity of forty-acre settlers in favoured positions — such as Wane;arei, Mangapai, Maungakaramea, &c., which are comparatively ea«y of approach ; but if the back-country is to be settled by the same class, with their average One or two hundred pounds, great facilities of access to the farms must be made — more in the future than would have been necessary at a former period, as multitudes have been deterred by actual experience, and have given the benefit of their advice to others. We, that are in the somewhat enviable position of being located within a short distance of the navigable water, feel deep commiseration for the constantly recurring failures of those who had expended their energies and hopes in inaccessible places ; whilst we could feel that a tenth of the tithe of misapplied funds would have given a totally different aspeoi to their position, and retained them on their lands— to the benefit of town and country. The settlers on the Waipa road are petitioning for gome redress of their impossible grievances, with the proviso that the state of the public funds allow the expenditure. I had occasion to pass along that road last week, and only wonder how the unfortunates can reconcile themselves to be shut out from intercourse with the settlement by its fearful state. The four or five dwellers on it have tired themselves out in spending more time, labour, and money than they could well afford in making parts passable. One cutting round a mountain is particularly creditable, and must have cost xnuoh labour. The road now requires that the bush be cut down to the full width, to allow access to sun and wind j and I believe that a provision was made in the sale of the land for the purpose of the road. As the link of the settlements, and only available North Road for perhaps many yean, and also as leading to our greatest natural curiosity in the North, the Caves, it deserves immediate attention provided, as above. If Mr. Doull had ascribed the decline of our innate British hospitality to its true cause, he would have -vindicated, rather than aspersed, the country settlers. Surely the caution which is daily more and more forced on us for the protection of our property cannot be called "selfishness." Early last week one settler was robbed for the third or fourth time of his food and blankets during a few hours' absence. Two or three days after, the same settler went with a neighbour to assist in sowing grass seeds, when they found a thief making up a bundle in the house of the latter. They administered the most approved iemedy for kleptomania, and will, I trust, hospitably extend their charity in like manner to other visitors whom they may find in equal necessity. The hotel-keeper had, to my knowledge, been in the habit of giving food and accommodation to such as called on him, unable to pay. He, unfortunately for himself, employed some parties, who appeared a little better than many others, and was in each instance robbed. A pensioner, who was caretaker on his farm, was also cleaned out to the extent of £7, TSo one would go to the expense and loss of time of sending thieves to Wangarei, so that they are allowed to pass on and extend their depredations, and increase the feeling that Mr. D. miscalls selfishness. I know* of no settler in these districts who would even yet allow a stranger to pass without food and lodging, did he require both ; but I do not believe they expect just now to entertain an angel unaware.