THE CASE OF MR D. LEACH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1030, 14 November 1882, Page 3

THE CASE OF MR D. LEACH.

The Waimate Times gives the following particulars concerning what occurred at Makikihi: —" The usually quiet towuship of Makikihi was thrown into a state of untold excitement last Friday on the arrival of the express train from thn North, by oertain proceedings which at one time threatened to develop into a serious affray. It seems, from what we can gather, that a man named David Leach, of Temuka, has been having financial transactions during the past two years with the well-known firm of Wildie, Allan, and Stumbles, of Timaru. The final outcome of these appears to have been that the firm took possession on Sunday morning of about 500 sheep, 80 head of cattle, and some horses. The cattle and horses were re-taken from the firm at Washdyke, it is supposed by Leach, but the sheep were brought to Makikihi on Wednesday, although an unsuccessful attempt had been made to rescue them on Tuesday at Timaru. As furthor trouble was anticipated means were taken by Mr James Allan, who had charge of the sheep, to procure assistance, which was done by obtaining the services of several Makikihi residents. These precautions were nob needless, a« the express from the North on Friday brought down nine men with the intention of recovering possession of the sheep; amongst those who arrived being Leach the original | owner of the sheep and a man named Uprichard who claimed the sheep under an j instrument asserted to be ;> Bill of Sale, given over them to a man named Jot Browo, who | did not appear on the sceDO. Tha new arrivals (including three Maoris, one an immense individual with a bell-topper,) arming themselves with the gors -slashers an 1 bludgeons they had brought with them, repaired to the field of bet! 1-3, which was a paddock belonging to the firm, just opposite the railway station, where the defenders, ur.ned abo with bludgeons and some of them having guns, awaited their coming. Here the man Uprichard demanded possession of the sheep from Mr Eobert Allan, who hid also come by the express from Timaru, and who refused tt accede to the request. And so the two forces stood on either side of ihe fence, ready, even eager for the fray. Whether the invaders had thought to over-awe by a display of force is uncertain, but it is quite certain they took no very terrible action such as might have been imagined. The only approach to anything more than an interchange of compliments over the fence, was when one of the defenders, Worthy Price by name, excited the personal wrath of an invader, and received a challenge to fight which invitation was accepted, and a fair fight with fists ensued, but was purely a personal matte", as neither combatant was a recognised champion. The Temuka man got one of the blackest o f eyes, and very probably Price will have a blacker one to-day, so honors were divided. Meanwhile the Stationmaster, Mr J. Tonge, telegraphed to Sergeant Ramsay, who proeeded with Constable Eitzpalrick to the scene, and found, as did Napier on a perhaps more memorable occasion "No war" although a personal encounter subsequently took place between two of the principal parties. The visitors returned by the up-train, leaving Mr Allan's pirty in possession of the field —and the sheep ; Sergeant Ramsay returning to Waimate, leaving Constable Fitzpairick in case of further developments." On Saturday several men from Timaru came out to take possession of some cattle which were on Mr Leach's farm. They were met by a large number of the lady residents of the Maori pah, who made love to the Timaru men in such a fierce 3ort of way that they forg&t their mission until Mr Leach's men had taken the cattle off the land, and brought them up over to Temuka. The Maori ladies are very jubilant over the effect of their charms on the Timaru men. The whole proceedings will we understand form the subject of a lawsuit.