THE TE KOOTI TROUBLE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 269, 5 March 1889, Page 2

THE TE KOOTI TROUBLE.

ADDITIONAL NEWS FBOM THE FBONT.

From Trooper W. D. Lysnar, who was among the first to return from Opotiki, we obtained the following particulars

After the order was given to march between 10 and 11 on Monday night, we pushed on (stopping for 5 minutes at Poututu) until 8 o’clock next morning, when a halt was made for breakfast. We then continued the march until about 2.80 that aftarnoon, when it was decided to camp, as the men were very fagged and there was no other camping place within miles. A start was made next morning about 4 o’clock, and Omarumutu reached about 3 in the afternoon. Just bere reaching this place a couple of Maori children who were sitting on a fence were asked where Te Kooti was, and replied * just over there,” pointing to Omarumutu. A halt was then made, to allow the main troop to come up, and the order was given to prepare to load with ball cartridge. Meanwhile numbers of the natives were seen running about in great confusion, and at last some Maori wahines came out, shouting “ Haeremai 1 Haeremai 1” The troops advanced and found on enquiry that Te Kooti had left for Waioeka—(it must ba remembered that the troops were not up to this time acquainted with Te Kooti’s movements). A forced march was then the order, the horses having to gallop through the heavy sand, and Opotiki was reached at 5.30 in any amount of time to cut off Te Kooti’s retreat. The troops remained in the saddle for three quarters of an hour while Major Porter and Captain Winter consulted with Mr Buah, the Resident Magistrate. The result of the consultation did not seem to W please the officers, rumour having it that there had been a great row, and the troops to their disgust were ordered to dismount. Meanwhile Bush had despatched a letter to Te Kooti asking him to give himself up, to which an answer was received that he would not—he would go back to the Waikato, At five in the morning an advance was ordered. The troops could see marching towards them on horseback a compact body of natives covering the road from aide to side. This was at first taken for a hostile body, but on approaching near they were seen to be un. armed, and to include numbers of women and children, On being asked tor Te Kooti they stated he had left for Waikato during the night. There was nothing to do but turn back, and this was done, the men being in any but a pleasant frame of mind. At er their dismissal great indignation was expressed, aud a round robin resigning their positions was almost unanimously signed by the men. Major Porter awaited orders from the Government and about 11 o’clock ha got in. structions to follow Te Kooti up, Some policemen had been sent out in the morning and one of them had seen Te Kooti at Waiotahi, and a letter was sent to Major Porter, Te Kooti refusing to give himself up, the inference being that he would resist. Tbe Hussars were then marched out to the pah, the Permanent Forces taking up a position about two miles outside the town, and nine miles from the pah. Tbe Hussars and Ngatiporous were drawn up about a quarter of a mile away, and Major Porter and the policemen (with Mr T. Smith, the Gisbobnb Staniubd special correspondent; and also a representativs of the Auckland Herald) went forward to interview Te Kooti. At first he was obstinate and re. fused, some of his friends advising him to fight, but he very impolitely told them to be quiet. Eventually he decided to oome. The body of the Hussars received tbe first information of the arrest from the SraMDian representative as he galloped back to town to despatch the news to his journal. The an. nounoement was greeted with cheers, the Ngatiporous being especially jubilant. Te Kooti got his boots on, bestrode his horse, a d the whole force marched into town, where To Kooti was lodged in gaol. After the case was heard against Te Kooti some fear was expressed lest be should find the £1,500 and all the labor would be lost, but after commuoica. tion with the Premier it was understood that another information was ready to be sworn which would have the effect of keeping Te Kooti in gaol until an Act could be passed preventing him from entering the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay districts. The trip all through was pleasant, though attended with a great deal of fatigue, and the feeling amongst the men was of a cordial nature. Seven of the Hussars wen released to return to their homes, but they are under orders to rejoin their troops at Makaraka to-morrow at 10 a.m. The Permanent Forces cannot reach Wethered’s till to-night, and will rqost likely march back to town at the same time,

Our Special Reporter’s Return. A LITTLE OF WHAT HE SAW AND WHAT HE HE ABD. AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE. MY RETURN FROM THE BLOODLESS CAMPAIGN. The bloodless war has terminated, and I am back once more in Gisborhe to take my humble part in the usual humdrum life which is our common experience here. Of course we have our little excitements here, but I think it is about twenty yean since we have had a crisis to go through so serious . as the recent one might have been, and ing without regard for my own I hope such a time of suspense may never occur again. There are some whose lives are made much happier by a little excitement, and I confess that my own occupation cultitivates one’s appetite in that direction, but no thinking person could wish that there should be a recurrence of the experience of the past couple of weeks. Certainly the action of the settlers has done an immense service in I hope once for all preventing the painful agitation that occurred almost without fail every year. However, that concerns me little at present, and I must Isays philosophising to other jcinds while I narrate the development of proceedings! still I may add that there has been much gratification expressed throughout the country districts at the determine! action that was taken by Major Westron and Mr Chambers and others, and I received many compliments as to the journal with which I am mysslf connected.

ON WAY OUT. My last ordinary despatch took mo up to the time when the Premier addressed tbe troops at the first camping ground—that was on Monday night. As I observe Mr Lysnar has already given you information as to our actual start for Opotiki I will omit reference to it. The Permanent Force last Tuesday started on foot for the Motu Bridge, where they took up their position, after which the men in charge of Constable Farmer where withdrawn. During the letter’s stay at the bridge they bad orders to arrsst any Maoris passing either way and one native wee arrested on the following Sunday, but on th* following day the order was countermanded. The natives on the Opotiki side having heard of the arrest despatched about fifteen of their number to rescue the prisoner. Fortunately, perhaps, tbe prisoner had been released some time previously, so that an almost certain collision was (averted—a fact which hae| no insignificant bearing in reference to some of

your comments which I have just read. Shortly after thia native had been liberated, two other natives (one from Karaka and the other from Opotiki) approached the bridge. It was quite evident they both had despatches, but the guard had no power to interfere with them. When the natives nqet on the bridge they had a few minutes " korero," which N* suited in both going on to Opotiki.

AN EXCITING STORY. During the abort atay of the troops in the Motu Bush some excitement wee caused by two swaggers, who had some through from Opotiki, stating that a large number of Hauhaus bad encamped some distance from the troops. A strict watch Was kebt, %«t nothing transpired during the night to Sanaa any alarm. ft appears however that khaeS men were the ones who intended resetting th* Maori that bad been taken prisoner b» 90Ml»b)e Fenner, p

IE KOOTI’S ARREST—DESCRIPTION OF SURROUNDINGS,

I am compelled to omit many details that I am sure would prove interesting, but while I write the fatigues of my return journey have a soporific effect which makes me bless the mandate that there is little space at my disposal. On my arrival at Te Kooti’s settlement I found the place was under cultivation, fruit and vegetables growing in abundance. The old rebel was nicely shaded from the broiling sun by a sort of arch which had been made out of branches of trees stuck in the ground. He seemed to be enjoying himself, though he had Inspector Goodall and two constables keeping guard over him before our arrival. He was sitting down on two Maori mats ; his legs akimbo, and his four wives keeping him company. Alongside his body was a tomahawk in a leather case, and by his side was a dishful of plums which he invited those present to partake of. In the meantime his followers, who numbered about a hundred, kept closing in on their lord. When Major Porter arrived opposite Te Kooti I was rather surprised to see him step forward, and shake hands, rub noses, and then sit alongside him. Near' by Te Kooti on his right were his wives, Wi Pere in a small intervening space between the husband and wahines; close alongside, on the left, were Inspector Goodall and five policemen, three of the latter having arrived during the discussion; just opposite in front sat Major Porter, and close by were Te Kooti’s followers, listening to what was being said, and evidently prepared to adopt immediately any orders that might be suggested by a twinkle of the leader’s eye. No arms were visible, but the women kept to the rear, as though something serious were suspected. I omitted previously to ' mention that a representative of the N.Z. If Herald (Auckland) also accompanied us, the W two of us being the only reporters present. A LONG KORERO-DISCORD AMONG THE OFFICERS. A long discussion in the Maori language then took place and Wi Pere eventually addressed those present urging upon them to let Te Kooti go peacefully, and one of Te Kooti’s chiefs replied. Te Kooti new took a cigarette from Wi Pere, and commenced smoking vigorously, kt the same time looking very dejected. The interview had lasted fully an hour, when Inspector Goodall asked Te Kooti, through Major Porter, whether he intended doming to Opotiki with him (the Inspector), to which Te Kooti replied, saying that he would give himself up, but he wanted to be allowed to remain until the following day at the settlement, until he had time to communicate with the Native Minister on the matter, and he asked that a policeman should be left, so as to prove that he did not intend to escape. Inspector Goodall said that Te Kooti had caused him personally, as well as the Government, a great amount of trouble already and he would not now lose sight of him again. Te Kooti had put the colony to a great expense in having about 300 men under anna and every day they were kept at Opotiki it ran the people into further expense. He could not, he said, remain much longer as it was getting late in the afternoon, and he Wanted a decided answer at once. Thia seemed to vex Major Porter, who said he was there on behalf of the Government, to see that no disturbance was created, and - he would report Inspector Goodall for the manner in which he had spoken. Inspector Goodall replied, saying that he had a duty to perform and intended to carry it out, without the interference of any person. He then produced the warrant and said that if Te Kooti would not go at once he would have to use main force, Mr Gannon, who had arrived in the moantime, read the document, and asked Major Porter whether as a J.P. he had not the power to bring Te Kooti up there and then before him and remand him till the following day in charge of a constable, according to Te Kooti’s wish.

Inspector Goodall said he would not hear of such a proceeding, and would put the warrant into immediate force. Major Porter then asked Inspector Goodall where he intended getting his force from, but, as luck would have it, the Ngatiporous, who had been sent a roundabout way, no doubt with the intention of putting them off the track, came down a hill quite unexpectedly, and Inspector Goodall, seeing them, said if ha had no others,he would take Te Kooti prisoner with their help, if neces-

•7hu turned the tables at once, and shortly afterwards Major Porter announced thatTe Kooti waa willing to go with the Inspector. Te Kooti asked that should he be ordered to go to Auckland he might go overland instead of by steamer. When the above proceedings became known to the men it was at once surmised that from the first it was intended to let Te Kooti escape the clutches of the law, as when the troops arrived st Opotiki Te Kooti was then only about foqr mile* from th*t plage, and the troops could easiiy have surrounded the pah and captured Te Kooti the same evening. It was reported that Major Ropata’s men were highly indignant at the stand which had been taken from the first, and even talked about returning home before Te Kooti’s arrest was effected. On Te Kooti’s arrival at the gaol he was met by Mr Bush, R M., who ordered his removal to an hotel, to which request Inspector Goodall would not accede. After committing Te Kooti at the R.M. Court on Friday last Mr Bush stepped off IMffiKthe Bench and shook hands with him. VARIOUS ITEMS. After the arrest of Te Kooti the Hussars were thanked by Captain Winter for their assistance. * Cheers were then given for the officers. Inspector Kiely remained in charge of the camp at the Lome Station, for the purpose of giving security to the outlying settlers, and during the week mounted patro's were despatched all round the various settlements. Inspector Kiely proceeded to the Karaka on the 28th ult,, and remained at that place till the 2hd Inst. About 500 natives were at the Karaka, and most of them left on the Ist Inst, in small bodies. A good number of Maoris came from the Napier and Wairoa dir riots. To Inspector Kiely and his men a word of praise is due for the hospitable manner in which they treated persons who had occasion to visit their camp. If the visitor did not drop in at meal times he would not be allowed to go away without partaking of some Mreshmdbt, in fact a cook'was very nearly kept employed during the whole of each day, Tha same words can apply to the Permanent Force. The Permanent Artillery arrived at the Lome Station yesterday afternoon, and the Hussars were expected there in the eveniug. The whole force will move off at 6 o’clock this morning and will reach here about 1 O'clock to-day. The troops, I believe, will be shipped in the Stella shortly afterwards. One of Te Kooti’s wives was allowed to accompany him to Auckland. About fifteen men left Gisborne last Tuesday with the intention of joining the Hussars, but on reaching the Motu Bridge they were stopped by Captain Messenger who would not allow them to pan. Most of them returned to town thoroughly disgusted with the whole affair. The followers of Te Kooti, after a detention of about four hours, were released, but before being allowed to leave they had to undergo a thorough scrutiny by Major Porter, who wished to see whether they had any anus or otfier implements of warfare in their sionwhile proceeding through the Motu Bush the advance guard consisted of sotqe of the Ngatiporous under Major Ropats, following them waa also a guard of the Hussars, the troops bringing up the rear. On tha return of the troops to-day the Garrison Band, and no doubt many people will also go out to Read's Gate to welcome them,

INCIDENTS BY THE WAY. Several hairbreadth eeoapas occurred during the trip to Motu. Trooper Milne was thrown from his horse and dragged some distance before he oould free his foot from the stirrap. As Constable Reddel was riding pver die Of the bridges it collapsed, throwing h&TM rider dowo g Both hid a HklMeUtotU WMUNI

A Ngatiporou was leading his horse along a steep cutting, when the horse missed its footing and fell over the cliff. The native was. unable to recover either horse or saddle. Constable Hansen’s and Sergeant Thelwall’s horses both fell over a cliff, but were recovered with much difficulty. When the police (whom I accompanied) were returning to town on Sunday last, they met with a most unpleasant experience. As they were driving the pick horse through the Motu Bush it fell some distauce over a cliff and had a narrow escape, rolling over several times before it reached a clump of trees which stopped its downward progress, and after a deal of trouble the horse was got on firm ground. In the meantime some of the other horses were let loose while the pack horse was being extricated from its perilous position; they decamped, and the track, which is a very narrow one, would only admit one horse going along at a time, and consequently the runaways were not captured until they had travelled fully three miles. This was not the only trouble with the pack horse. After emerging from the Motu Bush, late in the afternoon, the Constable who was driving it, together with another Constable and a young man connected with the staff of a Gisborne newspaper, took a short cut as they thought over the hills, but they had not travelled far before they lost themselves in a dense bush of fern and could not find their way out, being compelled to camp in it for the night. The other men continued their journey for a considerable distance, and not seeing the pack horse had to camp for the night without having anything to eat, so they could hardly be said to hive had the best of it. At daylight a start was again made and the place where the police and Permanent Force had camped was reached. The cravings of the inner man were then appeased, but it was not till eleven o’clock yesterday morning that the lost ones put in an appearance.

“ County Settler ” writes thanking us “ for the able and consistent part we took in knocking the Te Kooti affair on the head, and thinks without our aid the Vigilance Committee would have been powerless to do furlhsr than intensify the trouble and bring ridicule upon itself by its worse than failure,” We accept the compliment in the spirit in which it is given, and feel thankful if we have been able to render signal service, but our correspondent does not do justice to the Vigilance Committee. We did no more than our duty and what the settlers had a right to expect from us, It it is considered that duty was done well, then we are gratified ; if the reverse is the case, then we deserve to be blamed accordingly, We should not have taken public notice of " County Settler " only that somewhat similar communications have been made, and the one answer will do for all-; therefore that portion of the subject is dismissed.

During the scare a Karaka resident whp had been threatened by the natives telegraphed to Government, saying he would hold them responsible for compensation if his property were damaged owing to the insufficient protection afforded. He received a reply as follows :— In reply to the telegram of to-day, forwarded by you and certain other residents of Te Karaka, in connection with Te Kooti’s proposed visit to Poverty Bay, the Acting Native Minister directs me to say that the Government regret that you should consider a disturbance likely. The Hon. the Premier is in Gisborne, and it is to be hoped that all good citizens will join with him in his endeavor to preserve peace and allay excitement. It is to the interests of all that there should be no disturbance, and especially so to owners of property, as the Government can recognise no responsibility. The Minister trusts that you will join your assurances with the Ministers that if the settlers will only conduct themselves cautiously there will be no disturbance. It will be wiser to dissuade those who have expressed themselves incautiously with regard to Te Kooti than to give countenance to unlawful threats. The Government are taking all possible means to prevent trouble. Says the Auckland Star:—No doubt officers aud men are bound to go on such service when called upon, but their willingness to encounter danger and inconvenience in the public interest is at once an evidence of the true volunteering spirit, and an expression of warm sympathy with the East Coast settlers in their present trying circumstances. The Napier News Bays :—Our own idea is that Te Kooti should be given a piece of land in or near the Waikato township, upon which he should reside in future with the distinct understanding that should he ever dare to leave it he should be treated as an outlaw and be liable to be seized and imprisoned without further notice. The man is getting on in years, but old as he is, he is still capable of great mischief. A tiger never loses his taste for blood even though his claws get blunted and a few of his teeth may have gone. Once a tiger always a tiger, and his age is no excuse for Te Kooti being allowed to have complete liberty. We trust that the Government will not be deterred by the silly special pleading of the Wellington papers in Te Kooti’s favour, but will take such steps as will effectually prevent the Poverty Bay murderer from repeating his conduct of the last fortnight or so. The tiger should be caged. Let the cage be large and airy, but still let it be a cage, and a secure one. A political opponent of Sir Harry Atkinson gets off a joke sit his expensels this true that Te kooti’s had Atkinson arrested for unlawful assembly and shipped him off to White Island to keep him out of mischief ? I don’t know, but I hope it is. It would be quite the proper thing to do. It’s most dangerous having these cranks going loose about the country. A writer in a contemporary has an impression that it would not be at all a had move from a financial point of view, if Te Kooti were paraded around the leading towns of New Zealand, Australia, and then home to the Old Country, in shape of a wild beast, chained and oaged, just to prevent further injury to self or others, and exhibiting at say 2a 6d for admission, and the profits {accruing therefrom after advertising and other ex’s are paid, to be equally divided among the Poverty Bay settlers. The Mayor said at the meeting in Gisborne the other night that the present Government is not responsible for the unconditional pardon of Te Kooti, The Wanganui Herald remarks:—lt is said that chickens come home to roost. Sir Harry Atkinson was Premier of the Government that pardoned Te Kooti, and now we have the gallant Major threatening the pardoned citizen with the resistance of the Permanent Militia if said citizen passed along the Queen’s highway, into a certain district, A witty writer asks what will they do with Te Kooti how, and then replies ” Oh, the usual thing, I suppose, give him a seat in the Legislative Council."

Of the whole Press of the colony only the three Wellington papers and one or two further SCuth have made adverse comment on the determined action of the settlers of this district. ” Touchstone ” has word or two to say in regard to these journals :—Are the Wellington papers still as wrath with the Gisbornites as they were ? Oh, yes, still grinding away at the Poverty Bay settlers for daring to object to the presence of a murderer amongst them, Some people have queer notions, After the Indian Mutiny Bryce would no doubt have pardoned Nana Sahib, and Mitchelson would have invited him to take tiffin with him and then go on a pleasure trip to Cawnpore, while the Wellington press would have applauded the magnanimity of both. Happily we don’t all hold the same opinions. At Wellington one day last week some one put a notice up outside the Post (newspaper) office stating that a big battle had been fought in Poverty Bay, and a large number of peopa had been killed. Many people believed the statements to be genuine and those who bad friends in this district were in painful anxiety for a time. The proprietors of the Post offer £25 for the discovery of the perpetrator of the disgusting hoax. Although the Wellington papers are against us the sympathies of the residents of that city are cn our side. "he Auckland Star’s Opotiki correspondent telegraphed that the other morning a Maori with a gun was found prowling round Te Kooti’s tent, bent on killing him, Chase was given, but the Maori escaped. Writing of the flight of the bird the other morning, “ Puff ” remarksX say, here's a lark, Te Kooti’s cleared out, and left Atkinson like pelican in the wilderness!! Lovely I An army without an enemy I The play of Hamlti with the Prines ol Denmark left Sat I