MANGAPAI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) April 4.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3352, 14 April 1868, Page 3

MANGAPAI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) April 4.

Thus badness of the times and Provincial Government had no effect in lessening the numbers who yesterday gathered together to enjoy, for I believe the fifth time, the annual soirge f •«■ the Presbyterian Church in these parishes. Your townfolks, sated with the various opportunities of gratifying their gregarious tendencies, and we, the st9rner sex, even in bush life having our road boards, agricultural societies, monthly mails, &c, cannot fully appreciate the zest with which our wives and families enter into the preparation for, and enjoyment of, these social gatherings. Along with being beneficial _to the several Churches which make use of % their aid, these soirees form almost the only occasions on which our better halves and fairer portion, in their somewhat monotonous and wearying lives, from year's end to year's end, claim the dissipation, of the gloom of their continual isolation ; and for that reason as much as the former, they are esteemed and supported as a permanent institution in bush life. The tea and concomitants deserved at least the usual praise, but a alight anomaly in the arrangement created considerable mirth during the evening : that was, that one of the tables was furnished and presided over by the bachelors. A logical Hibernian, however, argued very closely that it being leap-year such was the natural order of things in the topsy-turvy state of this hemisphere. Mr. 8., who manipulated at the table of the anomalies, displayed a very amiable bashf ulness, but acted on the whole as well as could be expected on this his .first appearranoe in such a trying situation, and earned a wish that it would not be in his power to usurp that place on the next occasion. The Rev. Mr. Gorrie, Whangarei, presided, and after tea opened the proceedings with the usual hymn. The Chairman, Mr. Hewlett, the Rev. Mr. Smith (Wesleyan), Mr. Miller, Maungakaramea, and Mr. Miller, Ruarangi, delivered entertaining addresses. A prominent and not the least pleasing part of the evening's enjoyment was derived from the music elicited from a harmonium (especially built for the occasion by Mr. Hewlett) by Miss Hewlett. Songs new and old from Miss Hewlett and other ladies followed the speeches, and the meeting, having been beguiled of an hour over the allotted time, separated at 11 o'clock. Contrary to former experience, a fine day and night added to the pleasures of the soirge. The first flock of about twelve of the blight birds on their return this season, was seen at Maungakaramea by Messrs. Harrison and Donaldson, more than a fortnight since. They have not yet inoreased, as far as I can ascertain. Notwithstanding what, we have been given to understand, by official notification posted in our post-office, were our successful efforts in obtaining the benefit of occasional magisterial jurisdiction for these districts, we continue to have not only our former expenses and troubles, but a serious increase of them through a late regulation of the Whangarei Bench, restricting the service of summonses to their bailiff or policeman. Formerly that was at the option of the plaintiff, who, in taking it on himself, was not allowed costs. Now, a tradesman, in addition to his time and trouble, haa to pre-pay a sum of from 15s. to 24*. for summons and service according to distance, however small the sum maybe; and, therefore, in some instances that I know of here, a poor man cannot afford to recover the money due to him. The Resident Magistrate very naturally feels that he cannot be required to be at the necessary expenses of his attendance from his small salary, and no move seems to be made towards appointing persons among ourselves to settle our differences. Such cases as the following may soon obtain for us what we seek. A yearling calf belonging to » settler was seized last week by his Maori neighbour, who said it had jumped over his fence, tied up at his whare, and kept there for some days. The settler goes for his calf, sees no damages done, loosens the rope j but is then assailed by the natives, who drive him away, and hunt his calf about their crops with their dogs till it is again caught. The Maori demands jgl, but reduces it to 53. — to pay for two tickets to the soiree, which is shrewdly suspected to have been his little game from the first. After two or three days the settler, not wishing to have his calf starved, sends his son and two relatives, who remove it quietly, the natives being accidentally absent. The matter will probably be settled amicably, but it was not impossible that we might have had a magistrate or two among us for a time. Mr. Hall, M.P.C., is thanked by the settlers for obtaining the official document alluded to, and, should he see this letter, he may possibly find where the hitch lies which prevents its being acted on.