THE TE KOOTI TROUBLE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 264, 23 February 1889, Page 2

THE TE KOOTI TROUBLE.

MEETING AT THE CITY RINK. The City Rink was filled on Thursday night with the largest assembly that has yet been seen there, the meeting being called by the Vigilance Committee to give the townspeople an opportunity of expressing their views on the subject of the anticipated visit of Te Kooti. The Mayor took the ohair, and on the platform were members of the Vigilance Committee. The Mayor said the subject before them was somewhat difficult to handle, and he hoped that any speakers who came forward would be as temperate as they possibly could. They must endeavor to face the position from as broad a standpoint as possible; instead of giving way to their feelings they must try and speak from tha head, and not from the heart. Were they to take the latter course they would no doubt be led into expressions and exhibit desires which could not bi oarried_out, but the attempt to carry out which would involve them in endless difficulty. The Government themselves were placed in a very difficult position—much as they (the Government) desire to help us their hands were to a certain extent tied, and we must remember the position in which they stood now. It was not the result of any act ot their own, but they were bound by what was done by their predecessors, and however much they might dissent they could not get away from the consequences. To him (the speaker), it seemed that however undesirable a visit from Te Kooti might be it was almost impossible for us without trangressing the law to coerce him in any way. Te Kooti was not at all wanting in natural ability ; he would be quite knowing enough to evade doing anything else that would be distasteful to us. It the proposed movement, so far as he knew it, were carried out, it would land us in a difficulty, from which we would have difficulty in extricating ourselves. He agreed with the warmest of the speakers that Te Kooti’s presence was the last thing we should tolerate it we could avoid it, (Cheers.) But we were tn a difficult position and must face it in the best way, He might say this, that there were persons amongst us who, without making any groat protestation, will do all thsy can to prevent Te Kooti earning, at any rate very near, Although noaa of ths Ministers tall us they will prevent him coming, they will guarantee bo far as thoy cap tha safety of the settlers and prevent such an Intrusion in the Battled districts. There ware one or two oourtes open tons which it was not necessary for him then to disease, and he believed he could lay that Te Kooti would not coma here—(Cheers) —when ho said that, he meant it was not at all likely he would coma nearer than thirty miles from that hall. We could hardly inferiors with him until ho conqes within the settled district, but if he did ooms there that would be the titn-a for us to put into operation the plans, whatever they may ba, upon which we ultimately decided, (Cheers.j [A voice: Wmt did you shake hands with him for ?—I would just as soon shika hands with him as some people I know. (Laughter and applause.)] There are two or three oomsea which heads are now conai lering as to which would be the wisest to taka. Although not one ot them might be as satisfactory as thay oould desire, that one which would have tho least prejudicial results would be tha one to take. We ought to avoid any action which would produce lasting results to the district. We do not want it to fie as it was twenty years ago, when there were many settlers who would be glad to come to it, but were afraid. He did not want to take up tha position that he would allow paeuniary interests tq psrvade over sentimant. It the relatives hsra ot anyone who had suffered asked assistance he would not refuse because his pockets would suffer, nor did he suppose there was one there who would; but while sympathising with tham, always remembering that their blood cries to ua from tho land, wo should not make the living suffer more than we can because of that sentiment. (Applause,) Mr Crawfori) apologised for the absence of Mr Chambers—that gentleman had received a telegram from his wife that she was in groat fear owing to some sixty natives having been seen near the place. Tha speaker then referred to the Makaraka meeting and the appointment of the Vigilance Committee. Their instructions were very strong, and they had acted constitutionally in all measures whioh had been taken. They had communicated with the Government, and had been the means of inducing Sir H Atkinson to visit GisbornA> They had called upon a number of men to enrol themselves under Major Westrup, and had asked tho settlers for subscription"!. This had all been done from instructions from the representative meeting at Makaraka. He felt, among others, that it was hardly sufficient—that they should have the vojee of the townspeople to confirm the instructions from the Makaraka meeting, or at any ra e an expression of opinion. The Committee were prepared to carry out the instructions of the Makaraka meeting, and were prepared to appeal to the people of Poverty Bay to assist them in their determination that Te Kooti shall not oome into this district. (Applause.) Numbers of settlers were now in terror of their lives. People who had their comfort, able homes in the middle of tho town could hardly realise that there were women and children trembling in the outlying district that some person would “pop” TeKootiuff, and that would be the signal for an outbreak. There was no doubt some cause for alarm. There might not be all the cause that some people imagined, but there is some cause, and they should stand up and prevent this man from coming into the district to insult them. (Applause.) An attempt was being made to popularise Te Kooti and he was being lionised as a hero instead of being treated as a blood stained murderer. He (the speaker) was not very easily stirred up, but if there was anything in the world he detested it was a cowardly scoundrel who murdered women and children. It would be a great shams to allow Te Kooti to come into this district to flaunt himself not only in the face of Europeans, but in the face of ths natives who had stuck to us, and who were actually being trampled on by Te Kooti’s people. He was quite convinced the Government were taking every step to stop Te Kooti. He had the greatest faith in ths gentleman (dir H. Atkinson) who had oome up here. He (the speaker) believed the Premier of all men in the New Zealand 'parliament bast understood the question which was agitating them at present. Tho Europeans ami Maoris in this district had always lived on good terms, and he hoped the day would not oome when it would be necessary to ask if any man was a Hanhau or not. If any trouble occurred it would be more difficult to travel than we had yet any experience of. He would move gs a first resolution, " That thia meeting is of opinion that Te Kooti should not be allowed to enter Cook County (Applause.) Other resolutions would necessarily follow this one. They would have to say whether they were satisfied with the present Committee, or suggest new members. Funfis would have to be provided. At the present moment something over £lOO had been subscribed. It won d take a considerable sum to place 200 or 3QO men ii; the field He thought they should appoint a Committee of Fmancc, (Applause.) The Chairman thought the motion should be amended to read that Te Keoti should not be allowed to enter the settled portion of the district, (Cries of dissent.) The proposition was unanimously carried amid great applause.

A resolution was proposed to the effect that tha Committee take every means, constitutional on otherwise, to prevent Te Kooti’s coming, Mr File proposed an amendment to tho effect that the meeting should be satisfied with nothing less than tha personal assurance of the Premier that Te Kooti should not be allowed to enter the district, Mr DuLautour thought the question was qne of the gravest importance, ard he quite agreed 'with the Chairman that they should speak from the head rather than from the heart. Te Kooti bad the law entirely on hie side. He agreed that thia should not Ba, but still it was so. The difficulty arose from two things—the foolishness of the Ministers in taking notice of Te Kooti, and the hasty I action ’pt thp people here. Instead of magi nifying the m4n find settjqg bin; on a pedestathey should take no notice of him. They would have their district branded, like the I West Coast was for yean, as the disturbed portlah of New Zealand. The Committee I by inviting the Ngatiporou io their aid, were I

arousing the worst passions of the savage, and once started they did not know where the trouble would end.

Mr Smith blamed the Government for the trouble that was now being caused, and the Government of tho day were responsible for the protection of women and children. Such a thing would not be tolerated in any other district in the colony. He advised that about titty armed men should ba sent here, and if Te Kooti came they should just march him back again. Te Kooti would be more dangerous on the outskirts of the district than he would in Gisborne. He was sure they all wished to keep within the law. but if the Government failed to protect them they were justified in doing so themselves. The action was thrust upon them, they could expect no sympathy from a Government that treated Te Kooti as Mr Mr Mitchelson had done. The responsibility of their actions upon the Government. Tha Rev A. H. Wallace said if Te Kooti were allowed to come into the district there would probably be a similar occurrence to that which happened in Canada some years ago, when a pardoned rebel came into a district professing peaceful intentions, and in one night 600 persons were numbered with the dead. He himself, it it wore necessary, would go to the front. They should demand onde for all that Te Kooti should not be permitted to enter the district. (Applause.) The Chairman thought it would be unwise to insert the words “ or by other means ” in the resolution, as if anything happened tho words would surely bo used against them. Mr Chambers said he wae entirely in favor of this resolution as it stood. It was quite easy for the Chairman or Sir H. Atkinson to say “ You propose to take unconstitutional means.” Surely there was not a man in the room who did not know that tho Committee itself is unconstitutional. The position had come home to him that evening. He had to leave the meeting which was interviewing Sir 11. Atkinson. An urgent message came from his wife that her servants wished to leave because they were in terror at so many natives being seen near the house. He asked them was it a tolerable thing that they could not live in peace and quietness in their own homes ? He thought when It came to being ousted front their homes they should use some moan* to put a stop to It. The Chairman ■aid ho merely objected to tfy> words whioh were mad iu the resolution, Mr Chambers preferred to leave the resolution as it stood, This resolution was also carried without opposition and with enthusiasm. Mr W, C- Walsh moved “That thia meeting requests the Vigilance Committee to organise a’force as time will permit." They should protect tfie weal;. It was all very well for the Government to say that because they haff taken a sheepskin and thrown it over Te Knoti’e shoulders lie was a lamb, He was a tiger all tho same, Hie very appearance was an insult to tho eottlera hare, and his name created a terrorism io the district. Mr A. F. Hardy seconded the motion. Ho was surprised that them bad been eo little expression of opinion from ths body of the hall. There was a considerable amount ot alarm in the country districts. Mr Chambers had told them that his wife and family were coming into town. Peti Moreta and her children had ooms in from Karake, and bit (Mr Hardy’s) wife and family wero coining in next day. His wife was so sqrc ot the danger in 1868 that ehe made him promise that he woqld blow her brains out, and those ot her child, sooner than lot them fall into the hands ot the Hauhaus. Ha promised, but whether ho would have done so or not God Almighty only know. Te Kooti. when in the Chatham Islands, wrote saying he was going book to his own country and was going to extirpate tha pakoha from father to son for ever. Ta Kooti was a most determined man. It behoved them to protect themselves, and also those Maoris who had tor the last 25 years stuck to them through thick and thin, and wero sticking to them now. Mr Hall moved that Messrs Matthews, Butt and Parker be appointed to act as a Finance Committee, Mt Espie seconded.

Mr Matthews asked to have his name struck out, and the motion was then carried, with the omission requested ; but at a later stage Mr Crawford, who was absent when the motion was passed, pointed out that neither of the gentlemen elected were present, and they must have a Committee that would have time and energy to go into the matter thoroughly, and it was decided that any one who would volunteer to act should give in their names after the meeting, Over £lOO had already been collected. Mr Joyce thought it wouldbe judicious to send a respectful message to Sir Harry Atkinson and have the resolutions read to him. It was ignoring the people for him to stop nway. To hear Messrs Hardy and Chambirs" speak, they could tell tha seriousness of the position. He proposed the Mayor send a respectful message to the Premier, inviting him to attend the meeting, Mr Taylor seconded. Mr Chambers agreed that it would be desirable to have the Premier’s attendance, but he thought it would be undignified now to ask him to attend. The motions would be shown him in the morning.

The Chairman repeated that he had asked Sir Harry Atkinson to be present and it was not tor want of invitation ho was not there. He could promise them that the motions carried and the feeling of the meeting should be fully conveyed to the Premier, through the proper channel. He thought they would see it would be undignified on their part to press an invitation which had already been declined.

Mr Joyce contended the Premier should be there, and asked for a show of hands, a majority being in his favor. Major Westrup and Messrs Crawford and Hardy were then deputed to interview the Premier. The Chairman said the natives on the plat form had Been Sir H. Atkinson, and had spoken to him very firmly on the subject. One of them had eoid he could find 200 men and arm them, and another speaker said if these were not sufficient there are the Ngatiporou, and when Ngatiporou start anything they never stop.

Hoani Ruru then addressed the meeting. Ho said: May we all sunneed. I want to tel ! yon that for eome time past we have been suffering from our feelings, and our thoughts have been ead. We want to the Premier to- ! day and told him what we thought as to stopping Te Kooti, As to tha law, which the Hauhaue say protects tham, tho only thing wo can do is to lot the law ba suspondoi. and get round it somehow or other. We told tho Premier that soma way or somehow we would have satisfaction for our painful thoughts. He said this law was the law to protest and surround us. We said, “Yes, that is good enough, but it gives us great pain when we consider our friends who were destroyed by Te Kooti. We tell you straightforwardly what we intend to do, and it is this, that somewhere between here and Opotiki, wa shall go and we shall etop Te Kooti. Wa shall find weapons, some gnns, some bayonets, eome sticks, meremeres, tokitokis, etc. As for the law yon speak of—the amnesty—that is a matter of only a few years. The grievances that we suffer from have lasted for 21 years, and of course they must prevail. If the law was blind to follow up tha murder of Wallis, who was thrown overheard at sea, perhaps the law will be equally blind to whatever is done by two qr three hgndrad who are suffering under what Te Kooti did. Do not think that I am speaking to you now with regard io the natives only. I have the Europeans on my side who with ourselves suffered an! have the same grievanoe to redress. We suffered with them and we shall go with them to somewhere between Qpotiki and Poverty Bay to get redress." His reply was this : I cannot give you the redress you aak, because the Government must deal with even handed justice. Tho law in 1885 was that Ta Kooti was not to oome here. Te Kooti wished to come, but Mr Ballance forbade him. In 1887 Mr Mitohehon forbade his coming, now it appears to be altered, What we ask him to do now is exactly what was done then—prevent this man moving about. If you do not pay some attention to what I have represented to you then you will find that the natives aided by the Ngatiporou will go and get what satisfaction they can from Te Kooti, I am not classing all persons with Te Kooti exactly as himself. What I say is that he himself must be prevented from Coming here. Mr Crawford said he had waited on the Premier, who said he had administrative reasons that prevented him from attending the meeting. He had come here to gather information and digest that information. He had been informed of lhe resolutions by

the deputation, and regretted that they went outside constitutional law. When he had considered the subject he would give the •Gisborne people a bit of his mind. Wi Kaba : I saw a Minister of the Orown to-day and said to him—“ I belong to tha Ngatiporou. As for Te Kooti, he is a relative of mine, but when he sinned I forgot the relationship. As you have come to Gisborne I may just as well tell you straightforwardly I will never cease my enmity to Te Kooti as long as he lives.” The Premier said ’ Well Kopata guides the Ngatiporou.’ I said “ Well, I am a close relative of Ropata’s. Even though I heard that Ropata, when in Wellington, consented toTe Kooti’s coining I never will consent. I have been tola that the Hauhans here number 400. I have to say that the Ngatiporou have 300 or 400 here also. I have only got to lift my hand and tell them to go and they will go. Your being here would not prevent me from taking my people and going up to meet Te Kooti.”- If you are Ngatiporou I would say to you ” Hold up your hands.” [A forest of hands at once went up ] They would then go and meet Te Kooti. We will not allow the Hauhaus to despise the name of Ngatiporou. What I would say to the Ngatiporou would be simply this: "Entirely unite with the Europeans: let there be one thought; let us act together.” Hapi Kinihu: lam exceedingly glad to see so many here together about one subject. Not only do I feel great pleasure at the meeting here, but also at the one at Makaraka. It is not necessary to tell you what was said at the meeting with the Premier to-day, as the other speakers have already told you. I can only ask you not to let Te Kooti oome into this district. (Applause.) I said to the Premier, •* If you do not send a message to Te Kooti to tell him to stay away myself and my European friends will join together and send him back. AU the people adhering to myself, Wi Kaha, and Hoani Burn think the same. We have always thought the same previously when it was suggested that Te Kooti should here. We have always said the same and have always preserved the same tads. (Applause.) The following message, brought from the Hauhaus at Ksraka by Mr Dssmond, was handed td the Chairman:—” To all the people of New Zealand.—lt one men has just anger against another doss ho invite that other to enter his house? Who than (other than the owner of the house) has the power to issue such invitations? It a man invites another to bis house, who has the right to order the visitor outside ? Now hear, O Government, and listen all ya people. We invite (under shadow of the law) a friendly visitor to our > house (not to the Europeans’ house). We do* not interfere with the European’s bouse, and we do not wish to be interfered with. Te Karaka is our house. We are peaceful subjects of the Quean, and wish to live in quietness. In ths words of Jeremiah, ”Wa looked for peace, and no good came; we hoped for healing and babold dismay. Ended.— KaßAntAirA Robo and Piniin Tu." Tho Chairman said they were all joint tenants of the ” house.”