TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 259, 16 January 1873, Page 8

TAPANUI.

(From our oion Correspondent.) Gladsome Christmas has once more come and gone, bringing with it its time-honored and hallowed associations. A day of ioyous intercourse and mirthful congratulations it is understood to be, but how the denizens of Tapanui celebrated it, or what they made of themselves on that particular day, I am equally at a loss to say. No public amusement or recreative means of spending the day had been provided, consequently everyone was left to follow the bent of his or her inclination. Tbe streets presented an awfully deserted appearance ; and, as not the rneagresfc symptoms of glee or jovialty escaped from either of the publichouses, I am almost driven to the conclusion that the exact position of the calender was not generally known. The day was, I think, the hottest we have had this season, and it has been a torrid one. Boxing Dty was just as ignominiously dismissed, although, towards evening, j I heard a complaining growl or two about the Sabbathlike quiet that prevailed. New Year's morning dawned most gloriouslj r , and continued invitingly fine throughout. Those earliest abroad saw no signs of anything like preparations for any concerted amusement — nor indeed was there any attempt made to get up any sportss the whole day. Friends met friends and, ' perhaps gracefully enough, exchanged the customary greetings — shook hand warmly and, over a quiet glass, revived pleasant recollections of scenes and events that occurred in far off lands; drank to the memory of friends and acquaintances on the other side of the globe, who, in a few hours afterwards, would likely return the compliment with kindred enthusiasm, and bouyantly expressed their expectations for 1873. Truly we cannot be said to be a holiday loving community. The usual half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Tapanui Lodge of Odd Fellows was held on Tuesday last. Tbe attendance of brothers was not so large as might have been expected, and, after transacting the routine business, the following officers were elected for the next six mouths ; — Bro. J. A . Moonev.

N.G. ; Bro. Thos. Hewitt, V.G.; Bro. A. M' Vicar, E.S. Another large sale of land — 11,000 acres — has taken place in the district, in the usual surreptitious manner in which these things generally occur — Mr. James Logan, of Greenvale station, being the purchaser. What the effect of these large blocks being sold will have on the settlement of the district I i presume the Government can judge. 10,000 acres of the Conical Hill Station is also to be sold, but I understand in a more public way. However, we shall see. We have at last succeeded in securing the services of a doctor. After the necessary negotiations, Dr. Caro has located himself in the township. A tolerably liberal guarantee has been raised, so we are at rest again. I don't think it is generally known that the result of the visit of our troupe of Christy minstrels to Waikaka, in aid of the Switzers Hospital, .realised the respectable amount of £ 1 0.. Some time ago the Secretary of that institution wrote, thanking the minstrels for their thoughtful assistance. Of course it is too late now to refer to the performance.

(From a Correspondent.) About midnight on the 3rd instant, a dark colored hocse was observed being quietly and silently harnessed to a strange looking apology for a spring cart, on the main street of our town, by two mysterious looking individuals. The men seemed muffled up. They were pale and agitated, and their whole demeanour seemed like that of men going on some desperate and dangerous expedition. The darkness of the night favored their quiet movements; but yet their pale faces could be seen turning furtively from side to side, and one of ihem instinctively, as it were, put his hand to his thigh several times, as if to assure himself that something he had there was right and ready. Speechless aud cautiously they mounted their conveyance — the most excited like of the two taking the reins — and men, horse, and vehicle disappeared amid the thick darkness of the night, in the direction of the wooded hill, leaving "your indefinite " amazed and mystified. Next morning there seemed to be great excitement among the gossips, and wonderful were the revelations, facts, and stories that were being whispered from one to the other, e.g., Jack to Alec : You would hear of this great robbery last night ] Alec : No. What robbery. Jack : The manse was stuck up last night, I believe. Alec: Never! Did they rob it? I hope there are no lives lost. Jack: The fellow must have been inside anyhow, for I heard a tremendous row, as if the parson was throwall the crockery and tinware through the house ; and every now and again I heard a dull sound like the whizz of a boomerang passing through the air. Alec : Where were you 1 Jack : I was coming over the wooded hill with my team, and I can tell you I didn't half like it. Alec : What did you think it was. I wonder you didn't go to see 1 Jack : I was too frightened for that, for I thought the devil was up and storming the manse, and that the old minister was giving him battle by keeping up a heavy fusillade of chairs, tables, saucepans, teakettles, &c, &c. At all events I am sure there waßMnore than moral persuasion going on. ** Alec : And what's the result, anyone killed or wounded 1 Jack : Oh, I hear now that it was a fellow -attempting to rob the manse, but the minister and servant girl overpowered him, and tied him up to a tree until the constable came. Alec : And was he nabbed ? Jack : Oh, yes ! He's in the lockup, I hear. He is a darkie, or a man of color, they say. Ah, says " your indefinite " to himself, I have the mystery of the spring cart now ; and this must be some great bushranger ; I must at all hazards get a peep at hiii in the lock-up. To the lock-up I went, or rather ran, and, note book in hand, presented myself breathless at the door. The gaoler, no doubt, thinking a rescue was intended, brought me up rarher abruptly, but a sight of note, or rather sketch book, allayed his suspicion ; I enquirpd if any part of the history of this notorious prisoner was known j and if the rulerof Her Majesty'sg<ol permitted my being gratified with a peep at him. The gaoler politely informed me that he was a well-known character in the district ; -that he had committed many improprieties, and that his' mode of procedure was : first, to ease his victims of their spare cash, and then knock them down. He was also known to be exceedingly treacherous, even to his best friends, for he seemed to have no scruples when they encroached on him too far, in laying them all sprawling around him ; and still, continued the gaoler, it is wonderful how he escaped detection, for, notwithstanding his many freaks, his friends clung close to him. This slight history made me almost tremble with anxiety to see the fellow, and I again urged to be allowed to have one peep, though it were only through the iron grating. At last I was indulged, and what was my surprise on beholding the dark visage of my old friend, who so long had been a denizen of Manse Bush, and had at last been tracked and landed. I nearly shed tears at the last sight of my " Wee Still," " " ; '