KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 773, 31 May 1877, Page 3

KIHIKIHI.

TJIE MILITARY ABANDONMENT v,F KIHIKIHI.

PUBLIC -INDIGNATION OT THE -SETTLORS. (From -our -Own Correspondent.) Notwithstanding«the telegram an the Hon Dr-Pollen to the Ohairmof of the«Kihikihi late public meeting, that it was not dris intention to -abandon the defence of Kihikihi, or. anyyp&rt of-the frontier, this important and exposed station-is-now, for the first time for -many years, left •without-a semblance of-defence. The-'-barrack door is nailed up ; ; its few useful tools, stores, *nd-anniunition are all removed, and-the-old redoubt itself, the scene of a hundred panics in the " days of old," is -fast going to destruction. Already thtvsettlers' cattle have-found their winter quarters, and -seem to amuse themselves bj playfully butting over and horning down the parapet. So much ; for the word of-a-Ministerofche Executive of the'"" one strong Central Government at Wellington." No doubt.4>he_-Defence "'Minister, when replying to the Kihikihi .public mesting, had his *wellrkiiown-character of fence, master to sustain, and lie hag done so this time to some purpose. " The had (quoth the lion, doctor) probably sources ofiutor-ma-tion in defence matters not open to me." Consequently telegram No. 2 was forwarded by the chairman of the meeting, which ran thus : "The Defence Force now in the Waikato is to be equally divided between Cambridge and Alexandra. Will you extend thedistribution by directing that Kihikihi receive as usual its portion of the defence of the district." To this timely and reasonable application the Hon Dr-Pollen has turned a deaf" ear. / No wonder, then, the settlers who met at Te Awamutu on Saturday evening last from all and every quarter of the district, should express, in no mild terms, their. disapprobation of the Government and -its officers for having so disposed of the Armed Constabulary Force of the Waikato, as to exclude the settlers of Kihikihi and the frontierfromthat protection which their singularly exposed posi- : tion unquestionably entitles them to. PUBLIC MEETING. About six o'clock a number of settlers assembled in the Public Hall, Te. Awamutu, : to discuss the vexed question of Defence. Major Jackson, was called to the chair. Mr Hungerford Rocke addressed the meeting, and said he came forward on this occasion as he thought : the Government had acted unfairly "with the settlers *of Kihikihi, in leaving them without any protection ■ whatever,. The natives might come

in in large numbers at any moment, and do* ;just as 'they pleased in the l township. Even a few men stationed in the.place'might be 'the means of' preventing some serious outrage, as the settlers might be .provoked to take the law into their own .hands,; and thus invol-vethe Government in a war. They all, he 'continued, re- ; collected the Te Kooti.panic, whenthe arch fiend hung about these settlements for weeks waiting- to: attack, but the Government of the: day was equal to the occasion—rthey I garrisoned Kihikihi. He would •beg to propose the following 'resolution:^ —"That in the opinion of this' meeting the -Armed Constabulary l 3?oree in the Waikato have been,distributed more for the comfort and convenience of iits officers, than for the efficient defence of the district, by which Kihikihi and its r extensive and important frontier is now left absolutely-undefended." '; - The resolution ,wtts 'seconded by. Mr Andrew Kay, and carried netw' ion.

The CHAjßirAir asked if the meeting had good grounds for thuscen-; suring. the officers. . A gentleman present replied that a suitable house vat;* Alexandi** had been v Visited and* inspcoied and condemned as an inconvenient residence .for a;

Defence ofßcer.; and, ha continuedy was it not well knownthat tbi-ee f;entlemea at Cambridge, build a wharminf house in ! , that township ftf the oiicer com-: mandint;, by way of inducing him toestablish his head-quarten there 4 Mr MoKCitiEFf said that he-was: given that the Hon Dr'Pullan wa« about to-visit the! Waikato. We, as an humble individual of'the 'Tolunteers, would,refuse to parade before him on account* a£ the vay in whick heVeated, the se,ttlera of the district. The -Chairman reminded the' speaker that he was sworn in to: serve her Majesty the Quean, and; asked; if he had .bailt a v houseand found one rotten,plank in it, would, he pull»down tlie whole-building for' the'one defect ?-

Ml' IMaunder said his opinion was that oTßicers, like their »ien, should obey ordci s and fo where sent, and not dictate to the Government. z A vconsiderkble discussion now arose as to; the-advisability of send-., -ing a cojiy of the resolution to the : Defence Minister, but a \tar,gG befof'the meeting would, not allow' •it; j the hon. gentleman, they said, should hotj again insult them-: it should go jdirecf to the Premier. A division'iva& taken, which resulted in favour-of its beiiig forwarded 1 direct to the Hon Major Atkinson. '. A vote of thanks to the Chair* closed the proceedings. •

HARAPEPE.

May 28. ■' Very litfle of public interest has happened here since my la9t letter,' which it so long &yt (hat perhaps jou are. beginning to think it is hardly worth' having a correspondent in such a dull place. Tie.principal topic ef con vers itiou is the bkdnesc of tke weather, whioh ha 3 been -something dreadful for the,past ten days or mom; high winds with incissant rain with plenty of thunder and lightning day after day. . I fee by/your columns that it is the intention of the authorities t* discontinue the mail service between here and Alexandra, now carried on by the Armed Constabulary, on Saturdays. It is causing a good deal of dissatisfaction amoDg<t the settlers of the district, as Saturday's mail is the more important of the two that we now have; in fact, one mail on Saturdays would :§uite satisfy all our wants, if-the' one on Thursdays was done away with, jjjfc. The building of oar school hat not! yet commenced, although the leader has been accepted some time-back. leaders are now being called for to fenee ia tfaei school reserve. Any one in. want of a job in the above lino can have* it by applying, to the chairman of otr sehool.eommidtee. The tenders are to be in by Saturday next.* Very little progress has been made ia out of doors work during the past fortnight--owing to the weather.—Own Cobkes, rONDBNT.