ABANDONMENT. OF KIHIKIHI BY THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 808, 21 August 1877, Page 2

ABANDONMENT. OF KIHIKIHI BY THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT.

IMDIGNAiION MBBTINa; There was a crowded meeting of settlers and residents in the Kihikihi, Rangiaohia and Te Awamutu districts, on Saturday afternoon last, at the Public Hall, Te Awamutn, to takeinto consideration the defenceless state in which that portion of the district had been left by the Defence Minister. Mr William Sloane was voted to the chair, and several speakers addressed the meeting at length on the matter before them. The whole of the resolutions, which we give below, were carried, unanimously :— Ist .Resolution. Proposed by Mr James Anderson, seconded by Mr Moncrieff: " That in the opinion of this meeting the Defence Minister in absolutely abandoning the defenceof Kihikihi and its large and exposed frontier, has committed a very serious blunder, notwithstanding his denial of the fact recently in the House." 2nd .Resolution. Proposed by Mr . Farrell, seconded by Mr Cockerline : "That this meeting is of opinion that the frequent and numerous outrages which have of late oeen committed by lawless natives on. the residents of the township of Eihikihi, is due to the weakness and incapacity of the Government at Wellington in totally abandoning the whole of the frontier outposts from Alexandra to Cambridge, a distance of 26 miles at a time when native settlement has enormously iu> creased ou our immediate boundary line." 3rd -Resolution. Proposed by Mr H Koche, seconded by Mr Bruce : " lhat in Che event of the Govenrnent continuing to refuse to place a Defence Force in Kihikthi for the protection of the district, it will be imperative on the settlers themselves to form a Defence Association for protection of life and property." ,ati| 4th Resolution. Proposed by Air Johns, seconded by Air Allan Henderson : " J?hat this mee r ing pass a rote of oeasure on our JRepresentiitive in the House ior allowing the mis,t temaut ot the Defence Min .ster f re ha wichdra -a> ot tlie Aruied (JoudUbuiary from K-hiUibi to pass without oomrauictian.'* stk JSEsottmoN Pt-opodei by Mr Corboy, seconded by vi r Ma iud<.<r» that the following gentleoueii be »j;pointed a Oomunttea to draw up ;i n.eni nil einoodying the resolutions ■»nd mi.mios of the meeting, for iransn.bsion to dir George Grey to be laid oo tore the no use oi repredeuoatives, now in aesiion ac Wellington, >iz : Messrs William aloane, James Farrell, Jamea Hendereun, H JRoche, Tuos Anderson.