KIHIKIHI AS IT WAS AND IS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 532, 16 October 1875, Page 2

KIHIKIHI AS IT WAS AND IS.

AbmVbd 1 ' here I forthwith prooeeded to take "mine cause in mine inn" preparatory to going over the' township. The pl&oe has two really comfortable and excellently conducted inns, one kept by Mr Corboy and the other by Mr Anderaon. They are first olaas inns 1 , cleanly, whole* some, well managed, furnished, and provided, and far superior to the ordinary class of country hotels. Mr Corboy also keeps a general store, and provides a great quantity of agricultural implements required by the natires, a class of business whioh is rapidly increasing. I took a stroll along the rirer Puniu, which if the boundary of the confiscated land. It iB a very pretty stream, meandering through picturesque country. On the opposite bank some four European settlers are located— Messrs Andrew Kay, Martin, Boss, »nd Henderson. Their cattle run in. the £in# country, and they lire iv the greattst harmony with their native' neighbours. Messrs Corboy are the settlers .nearest to the rirer on the European side, and their farms, as well as those above-mentioned are splendidly cultivated. The soil is rich, yielding fia» crops, and by the skilful system of faraning which is pursued, a large supply of corn, oats, potatoes, and other produce is grown, which is readily disposed of to the storekeepers, Messrs Maunders, Corboy, and Farrell, who consign to agents in Auokland. Kibikihi is a very pretty little place, the view being diversified by fine peach groves, and clusters of trees planted by Europeans who settled here some years ago. A few currant or gooseberry trees, or an occasional rose, now marks the spot where peace and plenty reigned in some happy home ere the curie of war came with its blighting footsteps and demoralizing influences. In the old days, Mr Corboy tells me, it was no uncommon thing for inoffensive Europeans engaged in the peaceful pursuits of husbandry to be rudely alarmed by the terror* of native attacks and compelled to hastily abandon their ploughing and flee to the redoubt for refuge. Now all is peace. Standing on a slight eminence on this side the Puniu you seethe Maori wharea in the distance and the oattle browsing on a thousand bills. The spot was pointed out to me where poor John Lines met with his death by the ruthless tomahawks of the savage only four or five years ago, and hard by is the home of a settler. Everywhere are the remnants of old native whares, pas, and the vestiges of war, contrasting in a striking manner with the present peaceful and progressive aspect of the place. The confidence which the settlers have in the natives is shewn by the exposed situations in which maay of them now live without the slightfear or apprehension of danger. From this spot also may be seen the site of the last sleciiive fight at Orakau in 1863. The trees still exhibit traces of the deadly hail of bulleti and shell whioh devastated that place, where a determined band of natives held out for three days with nothing but maize, and without water, and when called upon to surrender replied :—": — " Ka whawhai matau alee, ake ake." "We will fight for ever, and •v«r, and ever." There are hsre a number of rude mounds where the Maori slain were buried after the battle. I learn that the natives now believe the place to be haunted and carefully avoid it. Kihikihi is a most thriving and prosperous settlement, inhabited by an industrious; thrifty, and respectable class or people. Mr Maunders is now erecting a large dwelling-house, and on every hand are signs of improvement and industry.— (T*Av«Liiyo Coehmfonsikt.)