TE KOOTI TROUBLE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 267, 2 March 1889, Page 2

TE KOOTI TROUBLE.

HOW HE WAS ARRESTED. (By Telegraph.) [from our special reporter.] Opotiki, Thursday night. The following was contained in our special edition yesterday morning : — The police and Ngatiporous followed Te Kooti’s track this morning, taking different’ routes, so as to prevent any chance of escape. Major Porter has received a letter from Te Kooti, who has evidently changed his mind as to the advisability of endeavoring to elude the authorities, which it was expected he would have done successfully for a lengthened period. The double-dyed impostor or whatever you like to call him, in his letter asks that the troops should return. He says he wants to be friendly.

The letter ought to bring matters to a head one way or another very soon. LATER. Te Kooti was arrested this afternoon. He made no resistance.

FULL DETAILS.

Opotiki, 10 p.m. Thursday. Major Porter had a “ korero” with Te Kooti this afternoon. The place was about ten miles from the township. Te Kooti would only admit of the presence of six policemen, besides Major Porter and the Gisborne Standard representative. About an hour’s talk took place, Major Porter telling Te Kooti in a calm but firm tone that he had only one sensible course open, which was to give himself up without trying to make any further trouble.

Te Kooti eventually agreed to surrender quietly, but asked to be allowed until Friday, so that he might be able to communicate with his friend the Native Minister (Mr Mitchelson), who had treated him so differently in Auckland.

He would, he said, have no objection to the policemen keeping guard over him in the meantime.

This was thought a rather cool proposal, and certainly was not congenial to the unsentimental mind of Inspector Goodall.

The Inspector objected to any such nonsense, saying they had had enough trouble already to get their man, and that he should not have further consideration at their hands. After further korero and cogitation Te Kooti saw the hopelessness of his situation, and agreed to come on to Opotiki to-night. The dismal prospect caused him to look downcast and sullen.

He is to be shipped to Auckland by steamer to-morrow (Friday).

He objected to going by steamer, and wanted to go overland, but this proposal also was not to be taken into consideration.

Wi Pere, of land settlement principles, spoke to Te’Kooti’s followers. He urged that there should be no disturbance on the part of the followers, and the prisoner should be allowed to go peaceably—propositions which, by the way, “ muchly ” amused the Gisborne “boys,” who enquired of one another when the “ Haurangi ” was to arrive with the East Coast settlers.

Something unexplainable tickled the fancy of our fellows, but as I have not the privilege of sending messages free, on the 0.P.5.0. tack, I must confine myself to the narration of facts, and not indulge in romance. Wi Pere was followed by much gesticulating and speechmaking on the part of other chiefs or sympathisers. More details later on.

LATER. Te Kooti is now safe in gaol. He was met here by hundreds ol natives and Europeans.

The crowd remained some time outside the gaol. To me the whole thing seemed like a dream that such things should happen in so small a space of time, for it is only a little over a week since I was roused out ot bed at two in the morning to help to get out a special edition of the Standard, expressing the indignation of the settlers at Te Kooti being allowed to come and disturb the peace of the Poverty Bay district.

Te Kooti looks quite broken down. He was accompanied to town by Wi Pere, whom the Gisborne people here do not regard with much affection. There is a feeling of great relief here now, but the Gisborne troops will probably remain until Saturday, to allow the excitement to blow over. LA.TEB. TE KOOTI BEFORE THE BENCH. . THE EVIDENCE TAKEN. BOUND OVER IN HEAVY SURETIES, OroTiKi, last night. Ta Kooti waa brought before the Coart thia morning, on the information of Inspector Goodall, for assembling ahout 250 natives. The information was laid under the Justices of the Peace Act. Inspector Goodall deposed that he saw Te Kooti on the 17th and 18th inat., with about 75 followers at Matata, and on the 20th at Pororo, where they were fully 200 strong. On reaching Opotiki he had about 250. He had reason to believe that they had since been increased. He knew from the name borne by Te Kooti in connection with the Maori wars, and his indifferent reputation in times of peace, the inhabitants of the Bay of Plenty were in fear and dread of him when he was present with his followers. There was a general complaint that something would happen. He knew that Te Kooti had been asked to return to Waikato, but bad refused. Defendant was addicted to drink, which was another cause of fear, that during his state of drunkenness he might say anything to hia followers that would lead to a disturbance of the peace. Amongst Te Kooti’s followers there were men of bid character, Last year he paraded through the town with the same effect. One particular reason why hia presence was calculated to provoke a breach of the peace was the enmity that existed between him and the Ngatai tribes. When Te Kooti was coming the Ngatais got arms and intended to prevent him doing so, by using forcible measures. When determined upon effecting his arrest, Government had sent 250 armed men to do that. Prisoner asked witness what crimes he had found him out in when witness replied that he considered it an offence to assemble so many people together. J T. Connelly, a resident, deposed that he knew accuaed p -rsoaally and by reputation Te Kooti only knew one person amongst the Opotiki people on his first visit about three years ago, while he had 500 follower* on the

second visit, and when he rode through Op tiki on Friday last he had 250 followers. The people were great enemies on the first visit, but Te Kooti then kept within bounds. When Te Kooti notified his intention of visiting Gisborne, there was a feeling of great uneasiness throughout the district, it being known thst had he attempted to visit that district it would lead to trouble, and the trouble would affect Opotiki, as Te Kooti, in beating a retreat, would have to go through their district. When witness was in Auckland he had an interview with the Native Minister and requested one hundred stand of arms for the use of volunteers. Mr Mitchelson said there was no occasion for such protective measures, as he bad told Te Kooti to return. Since then arms had been issued to the inhabitants. Mr Kemp, a settler, deposed that he knew Te Kooti, who had a bad reputation. Saw him come through the district with about 250 followers. Witness waa alarmed, and did not consider his family safe. Prisoner: Did I take any of your horses or cows, that you need be »fruid of mo? Witness : No ; nothing of mine. This closed the case. Inspector Goodall asked for sureties. Mr Bush, R.M., addressed the prisoner, telling him that many settlers were afraid, and were leaving their homes owing to his going about with a large number of followers. Te Kooti replied that when he came first he hid nothing offensive to anyone ; did not touch so much as a boot bee. On his second visit his conduct waa the same. On this occasion his only companions were women and children. VVi Pere and Major Porter came to him yesterday, and he agreed to return to Waikato. After he left Waioeke and arrived at Matata, he found that his following, including women and children, were detained and afterwards taken prisoners. He considered it wrong to detain them. He concluded : Perhaps you were afraid would kill somebody. I have ceased to that and w ill never do such a thing egaiu, That is all I wish to say. The prisoner was then ordered to bo bound over, himself in £570, and two sureties ot £570 each, to keep the peace, the bonds to be coin of the realm. A Volunteer corps has been formed here, for which arms have been issued.

ORMOND NOTES.

[from our own correspondent.]

Yesterday. In striking ths Cook County Rifles off duty this morning, Captain Kenny, who has been in command of the garrison here, addressed the men as follows “The Premier desires me to convey to you the thank* of him-elf, and the colony, for the excellent service yoa have rendered during the past week, and to say th <t he was very sorry he oould not thank you in person, having to go to Gisborne. I have also to thank you myself for your very steady and soldierlike conduct while under my command.” This corps during the past week has been drilling assiduously, and has attained to wondei ful efficiency in the time. The men were very anxious to get to the front, and only the fact that the Hon the Premier intended to posh them on there should T* Kooti fight, reconciled many of them to stay in Ormood.

Captain Kenny's duties here have bean numerous and onerous, but the excellent manner in which they have been carried out is proof that the right men was chosen for the position. It is impossible for me to convey to you the feeling of relief that permeites thia district since the news of yesterday, that Te Kooti had been takeo. lam prepared to state that people slept souuder last night than they have done any night during th* past fortnight.

Mr Sydney Taiwhanga, M.H.R, was much disgusted at the fuss made over Te Kooti. He says “ Here is a man who haa mamcred European women and children, as well as those of the natives, and you givs him presents of butter and tinned meat. Here am I doing my best for both races ; who gives me any presents of butter and beef, or makes a fuss over me ?” It was pointed out to Sydney that “ Virtue is its own reward,” that “ the public never recognised patriots till they were landed in the cemetery.” He retused to bs oomf irteii.

Have the Government got a military adviser ? Newspapers cannot claim to bo authorities on warlike preparations, but we fancy that a committee of journalist* wou'd not have omitted, as the Government have done, to send a few score drilled men to Opotiki. If that had been done Te Knot! would by this time be looked after from both front and re ,r. and in addition the Opotiki settlers and those in the surrounding districts would be safe in case Te Kooti plots mischief. And a man of his propensities who is shrewd enough to profess that ho is divine isoapibleof plotting anything. His deluded followers believe that he is a god, and as th< y are no dunces at fighting, ana he is no dunce at controlling fighting operations, th* Government should have done more than they have since deciding to interfere. Are rifles so scarce in New Zealand that the old carbines of the long ago are considered good enough to send to Gisborne for (possible) use and has not the colony got a Gatling !—H. B. Herald. A little difficulty (says the N Z. Herald) has arisen in the Auckland Fire Brigade. It seems that a number of the members are also members of the Navals, and about a dozen volunteered for active service on the Rast Coast. When Superintendent Hughes found 1 this out, he went to the D ill Shed, where the volunteers were mustering, and notified these men that as they were paid a “retainer” of £8 per annum for their services ss firemen by the City Council, they were bound in honor to remain at their duty instead of volunteering, while if they were drawn by Government he would claim their exemption as firemen under the Act. To bring mt'ters to an issue Superintendent Hughes ordered a fire drill that night, and, of course, these men were absent, as they had sailed in the Chelmsford in the afternoon. They were, h* states, fined for their absence. There was an alarm of fire yesterday, and being absent they were fined again, while the'r “ retainer" will be proportionately stopped. Superintendent Hughes states that if there is ano her “ turn out" for a fire during their absenc* these men will be struck off the roll, and ordered to return their uniforms into store.