DESPATCH OF THE PERMANENT ARTILLERY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2071, 23 February 1889, Page 2

DESPATCH OF THE PERMANENT ARTILLERY.

The Wellington «• Own. 11 of the " Brest" telegraphs under date, 22nd Inst, the following particulars t—fhe Te Kooti affair appears to be Increasing m complexity and to be assuming a very awkward aspect, and «o serions do the Government deem the matter that they have oonotdered it nebet* eary to despatch a strong detaohment of the Permanent Artillery to Gisborne tonight, a« w ell as a foroa of Wellington Oonatabalary. The Intentions of Government were kept very seoret, bat it leaked ont there was aomethlng m the wind, and this soon took the shape of a rumor that the step above-mentioned was to be taken* A sudden stir was noticed at the barraoks, and then the Government steamer Ellen Baliance was seen plying, to and fro, taking men from the forts round the bay. Ultimately the Ellen Ballanoa proceeded seaward m the dlreotion of the outer forts, taking with her forty permanent artU* lery, and it tben appeared that at fonr hours' notice the men Lad been oalled to get ready to proceed to Gisborne for ten days' service, and they accordingly prepared with great smartness, and by the time named were all prepared to start, with arms, ammunition, clothes, etc., all shipshape for a campaign, Tha great object of Government was to ship them off without attracting any attention, but his was manifestly hopeless, and as time drew near for a start to be made there were plenty of people on the watob, and m order to oarry ont the plan of sending the armed force seoretly, arrangements were nude for tbe Union steamer Walrarapa, which was to leave Wellington this evening for the East Ooast, to find room for the detaohment, and to heave to off the pilot station to take them on board instead of ahlpptog them at the wharf. Accordingly the Walrarapa left In dua time, but: it was notloed that the Minister for Ddfenoe (Mr Fergus) and the Minister foi Eduoatlon (Mr Fisher) were on board, and conclusions were drawn therefrom. I arranged for a wa'oh to be kept from the v oialty of the Pilot StaHoa, and M a result was rawarded by the sp9otaolo q( the Waiwap.* lying to just i.n.sJ4q

the heads, while the Ellen Ballance ■teamed rapidly out from the heads and got alongside. ' A telescope then ■howed the artillery men embarking, after which tha Walrarapa went to sea and It 1b understood she will make all convenient speed for Glsborne. Messrs Fergus and Fisher returned In the Ellen Ballanoe. It Ib raported that the Ministers In Wellington are m favor of Te Kooti being arrested and held In friendly onstody, as mi done In Te Whitl'a case, on the ground that his presence In Poverty Bay will cause a breach of the peace. It is onderstood that the Premier has prohibited Te Kooti's further advance. Public opinion here seems deeldddly advene to the action of Government In falHw? to prohibit Te Kooti s visit In the first Instance, and there ia anquestlonable sympathy with the Gisborne people. On the other hand, all fthrae papers severely oondemn the latter, •nd support the action of the Government la refusing to break the law by imposing Illegal restraint on Te Kooti, he being now a free subject of the Queen, and entitled to all rights and privileges of a rabjeet. A later message from tfce same source adds : — Another version gives the number of Artillery despatched as sixty-five. Some more will be picked up at Napier. Aooordlne to the latest accounts from To Kooti's line of route the number of his followers U increasing so rapidly that they are likely to reaoh tally a thousand by the time he approaches Glsborne. The situation is now regarded as very threatening. It Is rumored to-night that H M.S Orlando will go up to Glsborne and lie off there m oase of need.