TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 138, 29 September 1870, Page 6

TAPANUI.

(From our own Correspondent.)

I think I stated in one of my previous communications that a very prominent characteristic of this community was monotony — that is to say we build all our dwellinghouses much after the same style of architecture; we erect nearly all our garden fenses after the same rnocldl ; we dress all our children (that is those who have got any) much after the same pattern ; our dtily life and habits are much the same, and in most things that we plan or perform, there is a very perceptible sameness. Oil the pr33"ni occasion, however, I don't intend to dilate at greater length on this feature. I have rather set myself to point out an exception, and by way of reaching my subject without further periphrasis, I shall observe that Saturday is the only day of the week on which we look for anything unusual or exciting to occur, inasmuch as it is mail day, and every four weeks, court day. On these occasions our streets nnd thoroughfares present an appearance of liveliness and activity, which thoy are total straugers to the .vhole of the preceding six d lys.

In consequence of the late disagreeable weather which we have experienced the number of hearers at the Warden's Court has b?en extremely raexgre lately, and, to be a little charitable, I suppose for the same reason the number of litigants has also been few. But 1-isfc Saturday proved a ra~st extraordinary exception ; the day being fine the number of visitors was unusually large, and the number of cases set down for hearing amounted to over a score. A certain gentleman who resides not more than fifty miles from Tapanui, the fame of whose fondness for appearing in any capacity whatever at ths bar of any court on earth has now reached far and wide, had no fewer that eight cases himsalf, and, by way of producing a sensation, brought with him a barrister from Lawrence, to whom (within p-irenthesis be it .recorded) is due the high and distinguished honour of being the first barrister who has ever perambulated the streets of Tapanni. T. N. Wood, Esq., and Ciptain M'Kenzie occupied the Bench, and on the principle of reserving the best wine to the end of the feast, that part of the programme wherein the above referred to limb of the law was to appear was called on last. Such being + he cas3 I need scarcely say that every available squire inch of sitting or standing room was fully made use of.

#■*# # # # The question at issue was the right of using a road through Mr. M'Kellar's run, which has been in actual use for the last ton year^, bib whioh, after his Dunedin victory aud in the plentitude of his power, he is now trying to close. As the question affects the prosperity of the district, the result was eagerly looked forward to, and after a gre*t de 1 of interesting haraujuing, the Bauch confirmed the popular belief that it was a public road by giving a decision to that effect. The other cases were very trivial, and not worth reporting. The Loyal Tapanui Lodge of Oddfellows intend celebrating their fir.st anniversary with a soiree, concert, aud ball on the seventh of next month. From what I can learn, the most active preparations are being made to ensure its being a success. An arrangement has been come to with - the Hall Committee, whereby the Town Hall has been lengthened twenty feet, and is now capable of conveniently accoraodating one hundred and fifty people. I understand the Lodge now numbers somewhere about forty?five members, and, as they are all young and enthusiastic OJdfellows, a .most brilliant affair may ba anticipated. I, shall send a report of the event.

Pho Grege. Tapanui, Sept. 21st, 1870.