A VOICE FROM THE GIRLS OF TAPANUI,

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 143, 3 November 1870, Page 6

A VOICE FROM THE GIRLS OF TAPANUI,

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.) Dear Mb. Editob.— > The female community is in very considerable disr tress here, and as you are, I am told, a very gallant gentleman, and ever ready to assist the fair sex in trouble, I hope you will find space in your columns for the history of our sufferings. I would even have gone further and asked you to come to our aid in persona, but I have too much respect for you to see you calling out and castigating two or three dozen of wretches before breakfast — no doubt they well merit it, but to my story. You must understand that the men "here (I was going to say gentlemen, but no) have all got nicknames for each, other, such as G-eorge the Puffer, George the Blower, George the Duffer, Mr. Friday, the Jack of Spades, Sandy Butterlugs, Eobbie Leatherjaws, Bookem Jeamie, Old Kentucky, Ditto Sniglefitz, Old Foxy, ad infinitum. Now not satisfied with keeping nicknames among their graceless selves, they have taken to giving us names. For instance, lam named the Squatter, then there is the Swamp Hen, the Kangaroo, and one portly lady is called the Vat, and would you believe, Sir, at the foot of the Blue Mountains we have got the "Groper," the " Barracouta," the " Cockabully," " Old Forty-five," and " Heavy Wet." Now, dear Mr Editor, to my individual case, I never squatted in my life. I am not even a squatters' daughter. lam a cockatoo's daughter, and J am proud of being such, and my name is Maggie Black, and I don't want to change it for Mrs. Puffer, Mrs. Blower, Mrs. Friday with a host of Tapanui savages at my heels, or Mrs. Alexander Butterlugs, Mrs. Leatherjaws, Lanternjaws, or any other jaws. All that I and my poor sisters in distress desire is that the monsters will let us" alone, and mind their own affairs. Lots of them were very devout a month or two ago, on the occasion of deacons and elders being about to be elected. You could *see them crawling up to church in the dark wet evenings with their bottle and turnip lanterns, their faces as long as a yard of pump water, and instead of nicknames, psalm tunes were ejected from their tobacco chewing mouths ; but now that some of them are elected to church honours, I don't hear that they take much interest in things spiritual beyond what goes down in a palatable shape— a precious " Band of Hope " they are with the (I XXX Black Horse" for their banner. Poor creatures ! my heart bleeds for them when I think of their consumptive gallop. Now, Mr, Editor, I am con. fldent you will think that in meddling with us they have caught tartars, but still I am not satisfied with their punishment, and hope that you Mr. Editor, like a dear as you are, will go in and give the poltroons a jolly cobbing, and by doing so you will merit our ever grateful thanks. — Sincerely jours, Maggie Black. Tapanui, October 26, 1870,