Te Kooti's Expected Visit.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 262, 19 February 1889, Page 4

Te Kooti's Expected Visit.

(From our Special Edition, Monday, Feb. 18.) Major Westbup, and Messrs Chambers, Espie, J. W. Johnson, McKenzie, Sunderland and others have interested themselves, and issued a circular to the settlers, asking them to attend a meeting this morning at Makaraka. It was not considered certain until Saturday afternoon that the arch fiend was really coming, when the above named gentlemen took the matter up warmly, and rode through the Ormond, Patutahi, Te Arai, Waikohu, and Murewai districts and interviewed many of the old settlors, all of whom unanimously approved of the action intended to be taken of stopping Te Kooti from coming into the district.

Mr Chambers saw Hapi Kiniha and explained to him the object of his visit. Hapi replied : It is good ; we have been in great trouble this last week, searching for means to prevent Te Kooti coming. We expected to hear from you pakehas before about this matter; we are constant now and will come.

Hapi has undertaken to send messengers all round to those natives who ace opposed to Te Kooti returning to the scene of his former butchery. The Government having failed to take steps to prevent the murderer’s return, the settlers are now taking the matter in their own hands, and are showing such a determination that the affair must now be settled once for all.

This action has not been taken a moment too soon; already several families have removed from the outlying districts into Gisborne, and many more are reported to be coming in to-day and to-night. This panic has arisen from the belief that the visit will lead to trouble, and the settlers are determined that their mothers, wives, and daughters are not to be continually subjected to this feeling of terror, simply to satisfy the whim of a savage. We would strongly urge upon all who have at heart the peace of the district to attend the meeting to-day, and express themselves in language so unmistakeable that the womenfolk of the district can accept the assurances as a guarantee of safety. As matters have gone so far only the absolute prevention of Te Kooti coming here can restore confidence. Again we implore,the Government to avert Te Kooti’s purpose, and again do we warn them of the terrible con sequences which may ensue if this is not done.

If Te Kooti once comes into the the district and we remain passive, the outsettiers will be in a continual state of uneasiness, knowing that at any moment of excitement some of the injured ones may seek revenge, and the result would probably be a repetition of the dreaded doings of 1868.

The real danger lies in the fact that the natives may be raised to a pitch of fanatical excitement by tbe preaching of Te Kooti, who is a fanatic.

We have had experience of the effect of fanaticism in • the visit of Patara and Kereopa in the past, and people then had so much confidence in their knowledge of the Maoris and their customs, that it cost them their lives and homes.

The following is a copy of a circular which has been issued :—

“It is proposed to hold a meeting of settlers at Makaraka at 11 a.m. today to consider what steps shall be taken to prevent Te Kooti from coming into the district A proposal will be made to get 200 or 300 mounted men to meet 'J e Kooti and turn him back at once. All are requested to attend, and bring the right sort of men with them.”

Sergeant Bullen has been informed of the intended action, as the settlers feel they are acting within their legal rights, and wish to give the Government due notice of their determination.

Our reporter visited the Maori camp at Karaka yesterday, and although it was the Sabbath everyone in the camp was busy making preparations for Te Kooti’s arrival.