The Te Kooti Episode.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 313, 18 June 1889, Page 3

The Te Kooti Episode.

MB ORMOND’S OPINION.

In his address at Napier, last week, Mr Ormond said in reference to the Te Kooti affair :—

I mention tha Te Kooti episode because I am in a measure responsible for what was done. I don’t want to recall the miseries of the time when Te Kooti was a ourse to this particular part of the country, For two years I was directing operations against him and had driven him out of this part of the country. I have a lively recollection ofjall the horrors attending that time. I entirely disagreed with my friend, Mr Bryce, when he pardoned Te Kooti. I think it was a great mistake. There was no necessity for doing it, We were Englishmen ; the time had gone by ; this creature was out of our sight. He had offended the laws, he had committed great crimes, and he was amenable to the laws. The other day, when he made up his mind to go t-Q Poverty Bay, it became a difficult question. What right had any person to stop - him ! He had the same right as any other person to act under the law. The poverty Bay people naturally enough considering what they suffered from him ana his followers, were very excited, and took strong action—the action they take in America. The country will take into its own hands the dealing with the matter, At this time Sir Harry Atkinson was in Napier. Just then Te Kooti waa on his way to Poverty Bay. The Premier recognised the Government had very great risk before they broke jn on the privileges of the individual. Te Kooti, fortunately I think, gave the excuse to the law to remedy what was going to be a great trial for our fellow colonist in Poverty Bay. He did not come as a man travelling about quietly, but came with a host of two or three hundred followers. Ha went to Opotiki and planted bis sentinels. Directly I heard that had taken place I saw Mr Te Kooti had put himself in jour hands, and it was perfectly right to stop any man going about the country making himself a terror. I gave Sir Harry Atkinson the advice to insist on that man being taken or sent back to where he had come from. It would be a cruel thing to allow him to return to Poverty Bay arid oatrage the feelings of the settlers there, who had suffered so much by him.