Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 758, 3 February 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1870.

It occasionally happens that we are able to agree cordially with the views expressed by our local contemporary. An instance in point has just occurred, i It is in relation to an interview that has taken place between an Auckland settler, Mr J. C. Firth, and the rebel Te Kooti. This Mr Firth, as many of our readers know, is a resident on native lands outside of the connscate4 boundary, for which lands he pays the native owners large sums of money as rent. jWith some difficulty he has main-

tained this position in the rebel territory throughout the war; mainlyowing to the friendship which existed between hjm and the late William Thompson, to whom, it will be remembered, he erected a monument commemorative of the last words of 'hat chief, —" Let Mr Firth remain on the land," or something to that effect. Occupying, as he does, a sort of intermediate position between the rebels and the settlers, we suppose Te Kooti thought him a fit mediator to act between him and the Pakeha Government. Concerning this interview, we agree with our contemporary when he says, "The possible mischievous effects of such action as this by private unauthorised indiT viduals is matter for serious consideration." Some particulars of the affair have already appeared in our columns as extracts from the Auckland journals, from which it appears that Te Kooti sent a message to Mr Firth requesting an interview, which Mr Firth granted him, appointing the beforementioned monument to Thompson as the place of meeting, where the parties met accordingly, Te Kooti, it appears, infoimed Mr Firth that he was tired of fighting, and wanted to live in peace at Tapapa, at the same time stating that if he was not allowed to do so he would turn upon us again—-rise up and kill-all, as before. Mr Firth, in reply, suggested that he .should make an offer to the Government on his part and that of his followers of a surrender on condi-r tion that their lives were spared; but this v as indignantly refused, Te Kooti saying, "I will not surrender; if they will let me alone T will live quietly; if not, I will fight." Ami so the meeting terminated, nothing seeming to have come of it; though mischief may follow, for this suggest tion of Mr Firth's may hereafter be twisted into an implied promise, and so involve the Government. From a paragraph in the New Zealand Herald of the 25 uh ult. we learn that Mr Firth was arrested by a Government officer (Cape. Beere) on his finding that he had been in communication with the lebels; but that gentleman's zeal in the public, service has been rewarded by his suspension from office, Mr Firth being set at liberty. This is not the first time that Mr Firth has been engaged in able deeds of a like character. During the Stafford regime he took upon himself to call a meeting of the King party to discuss terms of peace, and considerable odium was cast upon the Ministry of the day by several of the Colonial press, though Mr Stafford publicly denied having given his sanction to that meeting. We are sorry for the present Government that so much cannot be said in its. favor, for not only does the release of Mr F;rth from custody, and the suspension from office of a zealous, public servant show that it has their sanction, but Mv Firth has actually —however incredible it may appear —presented a report of his proceedings to the Native Minister. Such a report has been officially published, and may be found in the Auckland papers. From this report it appears that Mr Firtb c(id virtually receive the sanction of the NatUe Minister to his negociating with Te Kooti. He received and replied to Mr Firth's telegrams, thanking him for his information and attention, and requesting to hear further of h,is proceedings ; and if Mr Firth could not, offer terms to Te Kooti it was because his messenger had not returned. Those terms were, afterwards senj; %o,

Mr Firth, and by him transmitted: by means of the telegraph to Kooti in the Maori tongue, and replied toby Te Kooti in the same way, who, though telegraphing his reply to Mr Firth, addressed it direct to the Re sident Minister, Dr. Pollen, of course declining those terms, which were " unconditional surrender." We are tempted to add a few words of comment on so extraordinary a state of affairs, under which a rebel in arms and on whose head £IOOO is placed, can have the telegraph at his disposal, &c.; but we feel that the circumstances speak for themsehes, and comment is unnecessary.