AUTO DA FE AT KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1873, 8 July 1884, Page 2

AUTO DA FE AT KIHIKIHI.

" Eye- witness " writes: — While the meeting was being carried on in the Public Hall on Friday last, two effigies were brought to the outside near to the front of the hall, borne by two individuals with masks on. Accompanying them were two others, enveloped from head to foot in white wrappers ; one carried an unlighted torch, and the other a sheet of paper. Executioner, are you ready ? said the first speaker. Yes, Sheriff, was the reply. He then read from the paper as follows :—" Handy Caye, alias J.P.," pointing to the first effigy, "and you i Bill Kauin,'' pointing to the other, having ' been brought before a proper tribunal, and tried by a jury of your countrymen, have been found guilty of the following heinous crime, namely : " That you did, jointly, swear that certain letters of a vindictive and malignant nature were true, this being done with intent to injure an innocent man, thereby depriving him, his wife, and his innocent little children of their bread. " Sentence. — " The sentence of the court^is that you Handy Caye and you Bill Kauin be led forth to the place of execution, and that your bodies be there consumed by fire, and may there be as much mercy shown to you as you would show to your poor unfortunate victims. Executioner take them away." The whole then moved slowly down the street. They had scarcely moved a dozen steps when they were surrounded by a crowd of most respectable-looking people, whose indignation was so great that they almost beat the effigies to pieces, assaulting them with sticks, kicks and fists. However, those who had them in custody contrived to get them into a paddock' near the smith's shop, at which place they were stuck up and set fire to, and having been previously christened with two backets of kerosene, they burnt pretty freelys They must 'have been loaded with a great quantity of powder, as every part of them seemed to explode in succession, »s tta fire inched, them, The street, aa

far as the eye could see, was lined with people, and the general verdict seemed to be, " Serve them right." Fireworks were going off in every direction until the fire subsided. Thus ended a scene, the like of which had never been wit nessed before in Kihikihi.