MEMOIRS

OF THE

KIHI KIHI DISTRICT

COMPILED BY

G. R. McGHIE Snr.

1947

• The early missionary History of Kihi Kihi and a full description of the Military, with their movements, also the Battle of Orakau, are well described by Jas. Cowan, in his book, “ The Old Frontier ”; so do not need repetition here.

• These Memoirs, or records, will give a list of the very first Settlers and Residents who came in those early days to make a home. All records given will be as far as possible before 1900, a few being carried past that date only to complete them.

EARLY DAYS

IN KIHI KIHI

HE BOUNDARIES of the Kihi Kihi district so far as this article is concerned, will be is follows:

Commencing at the junction of Main South and St. Leger Roads, following St. Leger Road, to Puniu River, then following Puniu River to S.E. Corner of Messrs. Brotherhoods’ Farm, along what is known as the " confiscated boundary ", until it strikes the Mangahoe Stream, following this stream and road running beside it until is crosses Golf Road to the Main South Road.

The Kihi Kihi Town District lies in the centre of this Block but will be dealt with separately.

As with most Pioneer Towns and Country Districts, no records have been kept as to who were the very first settlers. In this article it is the intention to try and give the names of those who first took up or bought sections and started to make a home in a new land.

As is well known, when the Maori War in 1864 ended, with the Battle of Orakau, there were Militia and Imperial Troops stationed in Kihi Kihi for some time. The Militia were men between the ages of 19 and 45 who had been conscripted or joined the various Companies, every man between those ages being compelled to join up.  New arrivals were treated in the same manner.  The Imperial Troops, or the " 1/- a day men ” as they were called, had served in India and various parts of the world, some had many years' service to their credit before being sent to New Zealand.

When it was decided that there was no further danger from the Maoris, the Militia were disbanded.  Every private was given a grant of 50 acres and a town section; a corporal 60 acres; a sergeant 80 acres and a captain a much larger block.  They were also given a few hundred feet of timber and some rations for a year or two.  The timber was pit sawn by various Militiamen

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at several places handy to the township.  The Bush in those days extended to about Mr S. Temple's.

The Imperial Troops were given the option of taking their discharge on the same terms as the Militia, and quite a number did so.  Most of the grants of land were not in the Kihi Kihi district.  Some idea of the value of these grants may be had when, as is well known, a number of men who bad no intention of settling in the district, sold their grants, including their town section for from five to ten pounds, and departed to Thames Goldfields or some other district where work was more plentiful.  A few who could not find a purchaser, even on those terms, not wanting to settle there, went away, not even bothering to get their Title.

At that time a dense bush extended for several miles alone, the Mangahoe River or Valley, from both sides of the low Kihi Kihi - Te Awamutu Road to Orakau; a block of Ti-tree and scrub from below the Schoolhouse, Kihi Kihi, to near the Freemasons' Hall, Te Awamutu.

All who have written about the early days refer to the numerous peach groves about Kihi Kihi and Orakau, also the number of large almond trees.  There is no doubt that in the springtime, it was a beautiful sight to see the peach and almond trees in full bloom.  Judging from their size they must have been planted about 1845 or even earlier. Their origin has never been satisfactorily explained.  Did the Missionaries give the Maoris young plants? Or give them the fruit, the stones being thrown out wherever they were crimped?  Some idea of some of the almond trees can be gained, from the fact that a swing for children and adults was attached to one at the front of the schoolmaster’s house where the annual school picnic was held for several years.

Then the railroad was one hundred miles away.  All goods and produce were carted to and from Alexandra (Pirongia), and along the Waipa and Waikato Rivers to Mercer.

Was it to be wondered it that men who had no experience of farming would go to another district where, work was to be found?  Several settlers' wives took three days to come from Auckland to Kihi Kihi; first day by coach to Mercer, 

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second day by steamer (Bluenose) to Ngaruawahia, delivering goods on the way, third day up the Waipa River to Pirongia, then to Kihi Kihi by dray some time during the night.  Others arrived by road in dray or trap, taking about the same time or longer.  There were no buggies in those days; when they arrived at their destination there was no modern bungalow to go to, no coal or electric range - their dwellings would now be described as "whares".  Camp ovens were used for bread making, and also for the family roast.  A few years later the Colonial oven as it was called, did away with the camp oven.

During those early days, there were several scares that the Maoris were going to raid the district, so all women and child­ren went in to the township and slept in the barracks or some cottage close to the barracks, while the men did sentry duty, all returning to their homes during the day.  One sturdy settler (Jas. Henderson), held that there was never any danger, and remained on his farm when all the others went into the township at nights. He always bluntly declared that a certain interested party raised those scares.

It may here be stated that credit should be given to the Maoris that they never made any raids on this district, although it was generally admitted that they could have wiped out the early settlers.  The only incident of any account was the murder of a man near the Puniu River, for reasons, 'tis said, that has caused many such events - the Eternal Triangle!

When the settlers went on to their sections, there were no Government grants or loans, no fences, only survey pegs, and lines cut through the fern, swamp, Ti-tree and bush.  The houses they built would not be described as modern.  All kinds of temporary fences were erected.  Nearly all started with a three-sod ditch, planting gorse and white thorn on the ditch bank - some of the white thorn is still going.  The gorse in most cases has been grubbed out.

The pioneers had difficulties to contend with. Red Clover flourished for a few years and then disappeared.  During the early years cattle, horses and other stock came by road from the Auckland district and when bullocks were ready for market they were returned to Auckland by road crossing the Waikato

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River at Hamilton by punt.  Wm. Qualtrough told that when taking some bullocks by punt across the Waikato River at Hamilton, the punt capsized! Men and bullocks had to swim for the shore, no lives were lost but it took a day or two to collect the bullocks!

The following were the first to take up sections and start to make a home in a new land.  Following the boundaries given at the commencement of this article:

Along Golf Road:

In the centre of this district and along Orakau Road:

Sales and changes that took place during the " seventies”:

E. Bridgeman sold to P. McDonnell.

P. Corboy to Jas. Henderson.

J. Ross to Ogle and Sons.

Hastie to J. Short, Jnr.

J. Short to Ellis Bros.

E. Martin to Wm. Corboy, and moved on to a block on Puniu River.

The Baker family moved into " The Blockhouse “.

W. Cowan sold to J. B. Hutchinson and moved on to T. Qualtrough’s and an adjoining block.

Hill sold to Cockerline.

A. Hastie to Wm. Ashby.

F. Gordon sold to Wm. Corboy and came on to McGhie’s.

J. Bridgeman to J. V. Bryant.

The following never resided on their sections but their homes were in the township: T. Anderson, Wm. Corboy, G. Maunder, W. Molloy, and F. Gordon.

The above were the settlers and changes that took place during the early years of settlement.

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Changes from then to 1900 were:

P. McDonnell sold to P. Collins.

P. Collins sold to S. Armstrong in 1896.

Ogle sold to A. Armstrong.

Ellis Bros. to Dixon Trust.

A. Kay and family moved to the Parawera district, Wm. Qualtrough moved in.

Wm.  Cowan left the district in 1887, the farm being to

A. Potts for about 3 years.

H. Warden bought and sold to J. Kewish a few years later.

Wm. Qualtrough’s farm was leased to Walton, later taken over by A. Buckland who sold to N. McDonald in 1892, sold half farm to M. S. Lawrie, who sold to B. McGechie about 1898.

Apart from the farms mentioned, there were a number of reserves – Native, Education, Hospital and Domain, but these lay idle for years.

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FIRST CROPS AND

EARLY INDUSTRIES

DAIRYING: Milk was set in wide pans and skimmed next day.  Butter was made, salted, put in small kegs and sent to Auckland, realising 6d to 9d per lb or sold to local storekeepers to pay grocery bill.

POTATOES: Potatoes were grown, but owing to Freight and Cartage there were only a limited number planted until the railway came later.  Later a considerable acreage was grown in this and other districts, with the result in oversupply on the Auckland market, prices were so low that some settlers about 1890-1892 received only a few shillings return for a five-ton truck.  As the Maoris were paid 6d per sack for picking, sacks were worth about 4d each, plus cartage to station, it left ­the growers out of pocket.  That, with the blight later, put a damper on potato growing for a time.

HARVESTING: A favourite way of breaking in land in those early days was after clearing a few acres, to plough and plant swedes or potatoes, next season a crop of wheat or oats, then laid down in grass.  A limited acreage was sown in grass after the first ploughing; when wheat was grown the grain was taken to the nearest flourmill to be ground into flour for their own use.  A description of harvesting the wheat in those early days would be almost like a chapter taken from the Bible.  The wheat was cut by scythe or sickle, gathered up and tied by hand, stacked, later threshed by flail and winnowed by hand.  A little later R. Cockerline brought a mower with a back delivery attachment into this district.  It required two men on the machine, with another four or five men to gather up and tie the sheaves.

The first reaper and binder was brought into the district by J. B. Hutchinson, wire was used to tie the sheaves.  The driver must have often had a headache, as repairs were frequent!

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The first thrashing machine was introduced to the district by S. Short during the late seventies.  It was driven by two or three horses, the sheaves were put into the drum, the grain and chaff fell on a sheet on the ground, gathered up and put through a hand winnower.  It must be remembered that only small areas were grown.

Between 1885 and 1895 wheat and oats was grown on nearly every farm, reapers and binders could be heard all over the district: later the hum of the thresher was a familiar sound.

Some idea of the amount of grain grown can be given by stating that off one farm, J. B. Hutchinson's over 1000 sacks of wheat and oats (chiefly wheat) was thrashed in one season, about 1891.  Which in those days was worth about 2/6 per bushel or less.  Oats under 2/-: Now (1948), not one acre if grain is grown.  Reapers and threshers have now about rusted away! Later oats for chaff was grown, but the price went down to about £2 per ton, so chaff growing languished for a time.

INDUSTRIES: During the seventies two saw pits were working in Wm.  Qualtrough’s bush, one by the Armed Constabulary another by D. Donovan, E. Sullivan, J. Mattrass and J. Verner.

SHINGLES: Shingles covered all the early buildings, they were mostly split by C. Temple or F. Gordon.  Both the Alpha and the Star Hotels were covered with shingles when first built.

BRICKMAKING: About 1876, a man called Stronach made an attempt at brick making on Wm. Corboy's farm (now G. McGhie).  He made by hand two small kilns, but was not very successful owing to the fact that he had no proper kiln to burn them in.  He made another attempt nearer Kihi Kihi, on what is now W. McGhie’s farm, with a like result.

FLOUR MILL: During the early seventies S. Short started a small flour mill on the Mangaohoe Stream, a few chains outside the boundary given at the commencement of this article. It was water driven.  Farmers would take a sack or two of wheat, getting it ground into flour for their own use.

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It may be here stated that, prior to the Maori War, there was a flourmill worked by Maoris on a stream running into the Puniu River from the western side of Kihi Kihi Township.

SAWMILL: About 1880, Berry, Gairdner and Neil started a sawmill on J. B. Hutchinson's property.  It continued there for some years, cutting out all timber on Hutchinson and Cowan's property. The price of timber at that time was 8/- per 100 ft. Rimu, 7/- for Kahikatea, first grade!

FRUIT GROWING: F. Gordon started fruit growing about, 1879, gooseberries, and later apples and plums.  In a few years, R. Buckworth, E. Martins, W. H. Grace, F. Moody, G. Jen­nings, Mrs Sullivan and a number of others were growing gooseberries.  It was estimated that from the seasons 1887 to 1895 about four tons of gooseberries were sent to Auckland in one season from Kihi Kihi district.  Other districts were doing the same.  Like other produce in those days, the demand did not keep up with the supply, prices during those years rang­ing from 1d to 3d per lb in Auckland, less freight and commission, averaging several seasons between 1 ½ d and 1 ¾ d per lb nett, so gooseberry growing began to peter out.  Now the local demand exceeds the supply!  Apples and plums suffered the same fate.

DAIRYING: The early residents of Kihi Kihi Township, front the early days till after 1890, nearly all kept two or three cows which were kept on the owners' sections at night and turned out on " The Run " as it was called, during the day. “ The Run " consisted of several hundred acres of unoccupied land, town sections, Native land and reserves, only about ten per cent of town sections being fenced at that time.  However, as the sections were gradually fenced, cows had to be kept on the owners' sections, and that reduced their number to vanish­ing point in some cases.

The first farmer to supply milk to a factory creamery from this district was A. Ross, who supplied the Te Awamutu Cheese and Bacon Factory, situated on the Hairini Road, some time during the 'eighties, continuing until the Kihi Kihi

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Creamery started.  A little later J. B. Hutchinson and W. Ashby also supplied for some years and A. Potts for one season.

When Henry Reynolds and Co. was asked to erect a creamery at Kihi Kihi they asked for a guarantee of 300 cows. The Promoters had some trouble to get that number.  However, they nearly succeeded, and the creamery started operations in 1892 on a site given by A. Henderson on Orakau Road.  Jas. Bannantyne was the first manager, then Johnstone Roach to 1896, G. H. Walker to 1900. The largest supplier for the first season after the creamery started was A. Ross with about 35 cows.  It was not long before there were several larger herds.

The milking season in those days commenced about the middle of September, finishing at the end of May and closing down till September.  It was all hand milking; the price for milk was about 3d per gallon.  About half way through one season the Dairy Company notified suppliers’ that owing to unfortunate circumstance they were compelled to ask suppliers to consent to a refund on all milk supplied to date, one eighth of a penny per gallon: also to accept for the balance of the season the same reduction from agreed price, otherwise they would not take any milk from suppliers who would not consent to a refund!

Until 1897, all milk received at the creamery was measured, then weighing was adopted.  Here is a copy of how payment was arrived at in 1897:

8834 lbs=841 gals. at 3.57=834 gals at 3.6 @ 3d -£10/8/6. When the creamery commenced, milk was tested in a narrow graded tube. 10% cream was the standard milk testing, under or over was paid accordingly.

"Going to the Creamery" in those days provided a lot of excitement for the younger (and the older) generation, racing their neighbours.  It was no unusual sight to see two vehicles coming along the road; horses at a gallop, milk spouting up now and again, like a small volcano - roads were rough in those days! More than one lad arrived minus a can that had dropped out and was not missed until arriving at creamery.  One turned the corner a little too soon and upset horse and cart! A man arrived one morning with his baldhead shining

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in the sun; his hat bad blown off and he could step to pick it up as his neighbour was coming along.  Another came down the road (in a trap) at a gallop and in turning into the creamery gate, the hub hit a gatepost, the horses went straight out of the trap, the driver shot up in the air and turned half over, landing fair on his hat! For a wonder there was never a serious accident.

“ The Green " at the front of the creamery during Elec­tion time was used by older men to settle affairs of the world, discussions and arguments got so interesting that they forgot that hungry calves and pigs were waiting for breakfast - to say nothing of an irate wife!

To give some idea of the way in which farms have increased their carrying capacity, a farm that in 1893 would only carry 12 cows, is now carrying over 70 (in 1947).

The first Milking Machine to be brought into the district was by Henderson Bros. in 1907 or 1908.

The credit for bringing the first Jersey Bull auto the district goes to Henderson Senr., when the Jersey breed was not as popular as it is today. The early breeds of cattle were mostly Shorthorn or Hereford Shorthorn cross.

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THE KIHI KIHI

TOWN DISTRICT

LOCAL BODY AFFAIRS: The first Local Body was the Rangiaohia Highway District.

Jas. Farrell was the Rate Collector till 1880, then H. L. Sibley from that time till the Rangiaohia Road Board was formed some time later and remained the controlling body until merged in the Waipa County many years later.

The early settlers took an active interest in local body affairs. A. Kay was a member of the first road board, chair­man of the Kihi Kihi School Committee in the early days: J. B. Hutchinson and W. Cowan also were members of local bodies: A. Henderson was a member of Rangiaohia Road Board, later G. Mackiner represented this district on the Waipa County Council and Rangiaohia Road Board.

THE KIHIKIHI TOWN DISTRICT: was, in those days the most southerly pioneer settlement in the Auckland Pro­vince.  When first laid out, it consisted of over 400 acre sections and over ten miles of streets.

A large number of those sections were allotted to men who did not reside or intend to reside in Kihi Kihi. Many paid rates on their sections for years and then sold to adjoining owners or to new residents coming to the township. A small percentage paid no rates at all, so about 1885 the Town Board very wisely sold them for non-payment of rates, so were not troubled with absentee sections like some other Local Bodies.

The Kihi Kihi district first came under the Rangiaohia Highway District; until a Kihi Kihi Road Board was formed in1884 a Town Board came into being, the first election being held on 5^th January 1884. The following were the candidates for election: -

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The same year a loan of £ 200 was raised for street improvement in Lyon Street.  Jas.  Kennedy and Wm.  Stuart was the contractor’s for Earthworks (sixpence per yard) and P. Mc­Donnell for gravelling (two shillings and sixpence per yard). The above loan was the only one ever raised by the Town Board, rather a unique record.

GENERAL ELECTION: The population of Kihi Kihi was not very great in those early days. At the General Election in 1878 all Kihi Kihi electors had to go to Te Awamutu to vote, the two candidates then were E. McMinn, who scored 58 votes and F. Whittaker 21 votes.  The total votes cast in the Wai­kato Electorate, which included Hamilton and Cambridge, was 471, E. McMinn 252 and F. Whittaker 219.  Women's Franchise did not become law until years later.

The first polling booth in Kihi Kihi for a General Election was in the School in 1884.

STREET NAMES: When the Kihi Kihi Road Board was first formed, they were asked from Wellington to forward names for the various streets.  A meeting was called and it was arranged that all the first residents were to have the choice of having their name put on the map for certain streets, either their own name or any other that they fancied.  This was done, and the map with its names was duly sent to Wellington.  After some considerable time the Board received a map from Wellington, but not one local name was shown thereon! When the Board wrote asking for an explanation, the answer was to the effect that the Kihi Kihi map had been lost or mislaid, so they bad given the streets names of leading men in the Ministry of the time! So Grey, Herbert, Bryce, Rolleston and others were not to be altered, Lyon Street was the only one that had any " local flavour ".

" THE TOWNSHIP ": To describe the approach to Kihi Kihi about 1878 might not be amiss.  Coming from the present golf links, the only buildings before coming to the Alpha Hotel were a small cottage, a blacksmith's shop and slab dwelling.  Both sides of the road were unfenced scrub, fern and swamp.  The Kihi Kihi Hotel was on the corner opposite the "Alpha," to

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the west of which, and on the same section, was a small chemist's shop then Corboy's General Store, and further east, Corboy's Bakery.  Along the Main Road, the one roomed school, a small post office on the south corner of the section and no other buildings until Farrell's Store and Butcher's Shop on the Orakau Road.  Opposite the post office was the barracks building, surrounded by a deep trench and drawbridge and from the corner of the barrack section a gorse hedge to G. Maunders dwelling (now the Star Hotel). Behind this gorse hedge, Denny Harrigan had a small shoemaker's shop, where the town hall now stands.  A number of small cottages were dotted around the township.

The Town Board in 1900 was J. G. Elmsley (Chairman), J. Q. Tristram, Wm. Thomson, F. Moody, P. Corboy, R. Mainwaring, Clerk.

Farms continuously occupied by original owners and direct descendants:

• Only two come under this heading - P. Hayes and G. McGhie.

• Mrs Wynyard is on her grandfather’s farm (Jas.  Henderson), but it was leased to others for ­some years.

The first white child born at Orakau was Wm.  A. Cowan, now residing at Ellerslie, the next the late Wm. Kay.

The oldest local born adult now residing in Kihi Kihi is S. E. Temple.

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KIHI KIHI

CHARACTERS

In 1884 there were over 150 names on the rate Roll, but numbers were not residents only those who in early days were resident for some time will be mentioned.

JAS.  FARRELL: Jas.  Farrell might be called " The Father of the Township) ". Coming to Kihi Kihi with the Troops as a Hospital Orderly, his services were often called upon in those early' days, to bandage cuts, bruises and broken bones when it was difficult or impossible to get a doctor.  He was the first to start a butcher's shop and later a general store.  Like a true born son of the Emerald Isle, he soon took a keen interest in local body affairs, was rate collector for Rangiaohia Highway District till 1880; chairman of the Kihi Kihi Road Board when it was first formed, and when Kihi Kihi was constituted a Town District in 1884 he was the first chairman, continuing to hold that position till about the time of his death.  When seen fighting a keen town board election he was seen at his best.

M. D. DINNEEN: Before coming to Kihi Kihi with the troops had seen service in the Indian Mutiny after serving in the Waikato and Taranaki Wars as Sergeant till 1868, he joined the armed constabulary is sergeant-major until it was disbanded in 1884. He was chairman of the town board from 1890 for several years and also chairman of the school committee for some time.

MAJOR JACKSON: of the " Forest Rangers " after selling his farm in Hairini built a house in Kihi Kihi about 1877, bringing a gardener with him. He laid out in acre in flower ­and shrubs and it the show place of the district in those days.  Major Jackson represented this district in parliament for two terms.  After his mysterious disappearance from the steamer between Wellington and Onehunga, his widow resided in Kihi Kihi until her death years later.

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F. MOODY: Came to Kihi Kihi as gardener for Major Jackson, but shortly afterwards started a nursery and garden carrying on that business for many years.  He planted most of the fine trees that are growing around the town, was a member of the Town Board and chairman of the Cemetery Board.

W. THOMSON: Came to take charge of the house built by the government for " Rewi ", afterwards taking up carting.  With W. Qualtrough at one time he carted some of the material for Poro-o-tarao Tunnel, from Te Awamutu railway sta­tion to Te Kuiti.  He was also one of the early members of the Town Board.

W. H. GRACE: Was one of the early residents of Kihi Kihi always taking an interest in local matters.  Chairman of the school committee for several years, chairman of Town Board for some time.

J. G. ELMSLEY: Came to Kihi Kihi in 1881 to join his brother in business.  After his brother's death he carried on until his death in 1916. In 1900 he was chairman of the Town Board; chairman of the school committee for several years, and a member of the Waipa County Council.  During his term as chairman of the Town Board he was responsible for the plant­ing of a number of English trees around the town, a number of which are still flourishing.  He also bought W. Corboy's bake house, rebuilding it on its present site.  He also took over Moncrief's butchery.

J. Q. TRISTRAM: Came as a bandsman with the Imperial troops.  He started a tailor's shop near the Anglican Church, continuing till near his death.  He was at one time a member of the Town Board and the school committee.  Mrs Tristram was the first dressmaker to start in business in Kihi Kihi.

THOS.  POWER: Who, previous to the war, had been sent by the Government to Rangiaohia to teach the Maoris the rudi­ments of agriculture, came to Kihi Kihi after the fighting was over. He took up road contracting, and with his Maori wife, a kindly soul, always spoken of as " Granny Power ", lived for years in the township.

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A. RYSDALE: who was one of Von Tempsky’s Forest Rangers was beside Von Tempsky when he was killed during the Taranaki war in 1868.  Alf could tell some thrilling tales “when in the mood!”

R. MAINWARING: Settled in Kihi Kihi in 1884 and a few years later became Town Clerk for many years.

C. TEMIILE: A member of Major Jackson's Forest Rangers (later a Militiaman) with other Forest Rangers, lived for a time in buildings on the North East corner of the ten acre reserve, surrounded by a trench, the marks of which are still to be seen.  Some of the timber from those buildings is now part of S. E. Temple's house.  C. Temple later spent most of his time in the bush splitting shingles, palings, rails, etc.

" TOMMY THE CLOCK ": (Surname unknown) was, as his name implies, a repairer of clocks and watches, going around the district from house to house wherever his services were required.  While he was in a house, a radio or newspaper was not neces­sary!  He sometimes remained for the night and next day would invariably be found sleeping off the effects of what he had purchased with the few shillings his work had realised.  However... someone stole his small kit of tools when he was sleeping out so Tommy left, never to return.

BARNEY QUINN: A militiaman once made some hay, almost filling his little shack with it.  He then took sick, going to be nursed by " Kelighers " where lie died later, leaving his hay to them for their kindness.  The lads of the village knew this, and spread the story that Barney's Ghost had been seen looking around for a pot of money he was supposed to have buried! The lads also found out when Keligher was going for the hay and made a point of going there a few minutes before him.  They lifted up a portion of the hay one; of their number crawling in as far as possible the others hid and waited.

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JACK LANDERS: Came with the Imperial Troops, having served in India and other places, he had a stock of great exploits, real or imaginary, to tell  “ The Boys ". He was never guilty of hard work, a born huckster, he hawked fruit and vegetables, which he grew and " acquired " in various ways. Rabbits were, not as plentiful then as they became later and be used to catch them with a pack of dogs.  Jack was a well-known figure at every sports gathering within 15 miles with his little trap, selling fruit etc., in season.  During the winter months, he could be seen with a pack horse loaded with dangling rabbits and an odd hare, sometimes going as far as Cambridge. However it became known that he had a nice cat-skin mat in his little shack, so these who had been in the habit of buying skinned rabbits from him, demanded that rabbits should be delivered in their skills or else, skinned in their presence! Jack would celebrate now and again and after one of these celebrations, when he was suffering from a bad "hang over" two lads went to his shack to annoy him.  Jack came out with his gun, looking like business, so they thought it time to move, one along the road, the other across an open section - when the lad on the road was about a chain away, he heard a report of the gun and a fearful yell from his mate.  Without looking to see what happened, he tore up the road to safety.  Once he was out of harm's way, he ventured to survey the scars of the “tragedy” and beheld his mate - minus his nether garment - trying to pick pellets out of a very soft part of his body!

ALEX. CAMPBELL: " Trout in Puniu Episode." During 1886, the Kihi Kihi Town Board entered into negotiations with those controlling the trout hatchery at Hamilton, re introducing trout into the Puniu River.  During July Mr Gelling wrote to the clerk of the Town Board and in the same month instructed Mr F. B. Gordon, town clerk, to go to Hamilton to take delivery, which was duly accomplished by train and

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coach.  Members of the Town Board, with some leading citi­zens, proceeded to what was in those days known as  “Anderson’s Crossing," to introduce with due ceremony, the trout to the Puniu river. The container was placed on the bank of the stream, and while, no doubt, the members' attention was occupied discussing the correct way to perform the introduction, Alex Campbell, who bad unofficially accompanied the party, tipped the trout into the river and always afterwards claimed that he was the first to put trout in the Puniu.  It was a very disgusted " official " party that returned to Kihi Kihi.

JOCK HUNTER: Was one of the Militia, a genuine " ne’er do well” but his wits got him out of trouble on more than one occasion.  When the Militia were on the road from Auckland to Kihi Kihi they were camped for some time at one place.  In the vicinity of camp a farmer had about a dozen ducks in a pen at night - in the morning only a few feathers! After looking around the farmer was seen coming towards the camp - about a dozen men went at once to the temporary cookhouse, where ducks were being cooked in various ways! All pots and pans were quickly hidden in the fern or scrub.  Jock Hunter was the last to hear about the farmer's arrival, but quickly made for the cookhouse, the sergeant and farmer a short distance away.  Jock had been boiling a duck in a kerosene tin and its legs were sticking out of the boiling water - he quickly grabbed its legs, swung it around his head a couple of times to get rid of the boiling water, put it inside his jacket and marched out, meeting the sergeant and farmer at the door and going straight on to the parade ground as alarm bugle sounded " Fall-in ", he had no time to get to the scrub.  Naturally, the duck soon made itself felt on the wrong side of his stomach, and Jock was forced to shift it frequently to a cooler spot - that was all very well while the sergeant was asking questions it the other end of the line, but when he came near, Jock had to stand at attention and when asked if he knew anything about duck, answered “No, Surr".  The sergeant, noticing the uneasy look on Jock's face, repeated his question, and Jock, with a very indignant movement shifted the duck with his elbow to a cooler spot and drawled out in broad Doric, "No Surr, and it's a graan thing to hae an honest conscience. The Sergeant passed on and

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Jock was at liberty to keep moving! For many years after Jock Hunter and his “honest” conscience was not forgotten.

THE KELLY GANG: During 1885 three youths who no doubt studied the performances of the Kelly Gang in Australia some years previously, called themselves by the same name. They started out by " borrowing " a horse, saddle. etc., and living in empty shacks and whares in the bush and scrub around the district.  For about two weeks they kept the womenfolk worried as their most desperate deeds were raiding meat safes at night! On one occasion they bailed up a man, and demanded his money but when be showed fight, they bolted! The police had some lively chases before they were caught and dealt with. That cooled their ambition to emulate " The Kelly Gang”.

THE WHITE MAORI: Among a group of Maoris who came into Kihi Kihi regularly for some years, from about 1880, was a woman known as " The White Maori ". She was tattooed could hardly speak a word of English, her hair was flax coloured with complexion to match - in fact she could have been described as a blonde, and appeared to be about 30 years of age.  Naturally she was very conspicuous among a group of Maoris and aroused a good deal of curiosity as to her history, but all inquiries then and for years afterwards among the Maoris, received the one answer only, that she was born down on the East Coast, that her parents were pure Maori and she had lived with then as their daughter till coming with other members of the tribe to the neighbourhood of Kihi Kihi.  It is well know that it is impossible to get information from Maoris if they do not wish to give it.

Some years later the death of " 'The White Maori " was reported, and the mystery of her birth remained unsolved.  Various theories were advanced: (1) Albino-but she was not that type. (2) That she had been given to or adopted by the supposed parents.

However, it was generally supposed that she had been stolen from some distant parts, and some parents mourned the loss of a little one whose fate they never knew.

A number of cases are known where a child has been stolen, taken to a distant district, and there lived as one of the tribe. Maoris as a rule, treat all children in their care in the same manner as their own.

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EARLY SETTLERS

AND TRADESMEN

G. McKEOWN AND FAMILY arrived in 1874, shortly afterwards building a small cottage which is still inhibited.

McKeown was accidentally killed a few years later on the Te Awamutu - Kihi Kihi Road.

W. M. KELIGHER of the Imperial Army, and Wife, lived just below the Catholic Church, and could be heard all over township after " celebrating ".

OWEN MURRAY was one of the Imperial Troops but did not appear to like water outwardly!  However, he was reported to have a good wash twice a year, and looked like it!

G. JENNINGS was one of the Imperial Army who resided in the Township for many years.

JOE FRATUS (a Portuguese) came in the early days.  Worked in the bush, later making a nice garden.

E. GILL arrived in New Zealand in 1859 and in Kihi Kihi after the war.  He was a most unfortunate man.  His wife and children were to follow later; they were on a ship that was classed, as “one of the mysteries of the sea," after leaving England it was never head of or seen again.  Some years later, he met, with an accident and was badly disf