The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, February 28, 1889. "A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 266, 28 February 1889, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, February 28, 1889. "A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN.”

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country's, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

“A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN.” The Poverty Bay people have long since been justified in their endeavors to keep that pardoned, but far from guiltless scoundrel, Te Kooti, out of the district. Had Te Kooti been the lasv-abiding, peace-loving citizen that it pleased the Wellington papers to picture him as, he would long ere this have departed for his home in the Waikato. Te Kooti exhibited his character in its true light when he disregarded the commands of the Government. Almost a week has passed since that command was given, and instead of departing at once he takes up a position of greater secur ty to himselt, throwing into terror the settlers in another district. This is the man who was coming here upon a peaceable errrand, and who in his own figurative language, was like the skilful captain who would look out for breakers. Te Kooti has seen the breakers, and even rocks, ahead, yet he does not budge, and gives more color to the meaning that some had assigned to his figure of speech, namely, that he had already judged, and was prepared for all emergencies. If Mr Mitchelson has not had his confidence in Te Kooti dreadfully shaken, it is a great wonder to us. When one sees the large expense that the whim of a savage is bringing upon the colony, with the special steamers, detachments of soldiers and policemen, telegraphing, the upsetting of business, and the thousand and one expenses and losses attendant upon an expedition of this nature, and at the same time remembers the warnings given time after time by the press and the settlers of this district, it is impossible to repress indignation. None desire more than ourselves to see the matter end in smoke—that is, that there should be no need to use force —so far as arresting Te Kooti is concerned. Nevertheless, the expense that he has put the colony to must stick in New Zealander’s throats for some time to come. Possibly this may have an unlooked-for effect. The surest way of appealing to the sympathies of a great many people is through their pockets, and those who denied us their sympathy in our late struggle can scarcely in future laud and honor him who has robbed them of so much money by his law-abiding, peace-loving qualities.