The Te Kooti Scare.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 59, 27 October 1887, Page 2

The Te Kooti Scare.

HI3 INTENDED VISIT TO GISBORNE.

NO NEED FOR ALARM.

As there has been some alarm felt throughout the district at the prospect of a visit from the murderer Te Kooli we wired to our correspondent at Wellington to know if the Government had received any information on the subject, and last night received the following reply i—"'J he Government have received no official intima, tion of Te Kooti’s intention to visit Gisborne neighbourhood If the Native Minister learns that he has made up his mind so to do he will take every stop possible to prevent the ex-rebel carrying out his intention.” No doubt Te Kooti has a great desire to visit the scene of his former atrocities, but we never have thought that he would come in the face of the bitter feeing that has always been exhibited towards bitn by the residents of this district. There are a section of natives on the East Coast who have embraced his faith, aud would only be too glad to receive him with open arms, but they know full well that his life would be in danger were he to show his ugly earcase here. So to show him that their appreciat.on of his valor—knocking the brains out of women and children—has not been forgotten they have built churches and runanga houses to h s memory. We would suggest that the Government place no obstacle in the way of a visit from Te Kooti. It would be far and away the best way of settl ng the difficulty once and for all, for he would not trouble us again. Ttiero would be a tangi. and that wou d ba the last of the “Te Kooti Scare.” At the outset the Government made a grave error in pardoning the wretch. When that pardon was extended the rebel stated he would fight again if molested, but there need be no fear of such a threat.