KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2085, 17 November 1885, Page 2

KIHIKIHI.

TtiK contractors and othern who havo to cross the Pimm are annoyed nt being fleeced by the Maoris in hiving bhek mail extorted from them. Tho nativea co illy impnied a toll of half-a crown each \\.\y for a waggon crossing tho river, nnil « shilling each way for horsemen, and a shilling a y»rd for all gravel taken out of the river bed. They lay claim to the full width of the rivrr, and now, T hear, do maud payment from the Kihikilu Town Board for the. gravel they used for tho main street. Mr Coatcr. has had to pay 10s so far, and as he wants at least 100 cubic yards more, has tho ]jlf>n«int prospect nf hnvinf? to submit to being robbed of £."> more. Ho has compromised. with them for tho passage of his waggons. On Saturday, however, there were no guards on tho ford, do that it i< ju«t possible they may have Riven up the id. a of enforcing the toll. One man who was t\king a load of chaff to one of tho contractors had to turn back, as ho had no money with him, and the nstute savages icfusxd to give tick. I woudor what tho

j hypocrites who compose thn Kxrter Hall clique will nay whon they hoar of this latent [ phaKO of Ma.ri bounce. This »t*te of I affairs points to the necessity rf a return of Mr Bryco to ofhc-, for ho was I tho bo«t Native Minister wo have I ever had. Were he in power, John Maori would never dare to rob people in this way. The (JovrrHmont hiving nc cepted tenders for tho line must assift tho contractor* in getting tcc'^s,, to their work. If the natives sustain any dam.igo by waggoni going over their land let them liy thoir claim bofore tho (im eminent in a proper manner, and ju Iging from prc- | cedonts I »hould say thoy would be componsated, and handsomely too, for tho groat fault of most of our Native Minister* ' was theit excessive lnnienee to tho Maori*. I wa>itold rather a good »tory last wrek. Sonic natives dnch led their willingnfKS to open tho country to diggers, but they vvould have tho making ot all regulations and would collect all fees from miners' right*. When asked how law and order were to be maintained, roads made, courts kept up, ke, they said they nould do «11 that. Very good of them no doubt, but it shows a, dmtrust of the Government which I think is hardly warranted, for however much they may have been bewildered l>v constant ch.ingen r>f policy, they cannot charge any (so> eminent with a desire to defraud them. As a rulr Ministers have, gone to the othor extreme by (riving in to thmn too much. The lato Native Minister, however, was an exception in tho matter of (rivmg in to them unduly, whilo he was actuated by a sincere desiro to act fairly, hr was firm in his attitude towards thorn and commanded their involuntary respect. nor. poihovino. Homo malicious rascal lias boon poisoning dogs hero recently. Major Jackson found a valuable fox terrier of his poisoned in his own puldock a short timo ago, and a valuable cattle dog belonging to a settler was poi<oned at the saino timo. Poinon was also laid in the back yard of a lady's house, w Inch was no doubt meant for her dog, but which her cats got instead, for both were poisoned. This may appear a trifling lorn, but it is not so if ono's house gets overrun w ith rats and mice. I hope the scoundrel will be f und out and punished.