KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1315, 2 December 1880, Page 2

KIHIKIHI.

The block of land in our vicinity which the Messrs Tole have held under Crown grant for the last 13 years, and which, through Mr Grace's late successful negotiations, has been duly handed over to the patient owners a few weeks ago by Rewi and his people, has been the scene of daily strife ever sine*. A large crowd of rowdies, said to be acting under the orders of "the King," and well known here as the Te Puke mob — a terror to the Kihikihi people in torturing cattle— have, in opposition to Rewi and with a view to snuff out the Crown grant, strongly opposed MrTole's settlement. The tents of his workmen have been repeatedly pulled down, and his men, who are preparing to erect buildings preparatory to commencing farming operations, turned off the land. Growing bold by impunity, the mob, about 30, rode into Kihikihi yesterday in something like military order, cheering and shouting lustily, and were exceedingly bounceable. They were reinforced towards evening by about 20 men from the Cambridge side in two coaches, well supplied with brandy ; near Kihikihi the road was strewn for miles with the empty bottles heaved from the coaches. A pakeha, near by Te Puke's i mentor, will, it is thought, be a loser in many ways by the occupation of the block by the Messrs Tole. By the way, the individual who sent the telegram to ! the Star from here to the effect that Mr Grace's action iv the affair was likely to

lead to a breach of the peace, must have been sorely disturbed to get up the Te Puke steam to stoop to such a falsehood. On the contrary, the manner in which Mr Grace has acted, and ia acting in the matter, has met with the approval of those who love justice and fair play. Major Mair has arrived here, and it is expected that his influence will go towards amicably settling the dispute. — [Own Correspondent, Dec. I.]