WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1869. LATEST PROM WAIKATO.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 187, 4 August 1869, Page 1

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1869. LATEST PROM WAIKATO.

Te Kooti’s Proceedings. Tawhiao’s proclamation ordering Mm to leave. We have one day’s later news from Auckland to the 24th ult., via Wanganui, and we take the following from the Southern Ci oss of that date : Up to our latest advices yesterday no attack had yet been made by Te Kooti on the Waikato. A telegram received yesterday morning states that he still remained at Te Kuiti, but that his demeanor was much quieter. No doubt the atitude of the King party has let him down somewhat. The telegram describes the Waikatos as having had considerable accessions to their numbers during the past day or two, and as being all arrived and prepared to put Te Kooti down should he proceed to carry his threats into execution.

On Thursday Tawhiao issued a proclamation, cautioning Te Kooti against committing any act of violence, and commanding him to return without delay by the way he came. Te Kooti demurred to this, and a discussion took place, which continued for some time. Te Kooti requested that he might be allowed to return by the way of Wharepapa, avowing his intention to attack the Tauranga friendlies, against whom he is more embittered than against Europeans. It would appear that a telegram which we received yesterday afternoon that Te Kooti’s presumptions demand upon theWaikato King party, with his bouncible attitude, and his robbery of Hettit’s store at Otorohanga, has precisely the effect we predicted it would —it has drawn down upon himself the confirmed hostility of the Waikatos, if not of the Ngatimaniapoto, for Hettit, according to Maori custom, may be regarded as a Ngatimaniapoto himself, and therefore, having a claim on the whole tribe for protection. To give the Maoris their due, it must be admitted that no people are more ready to defend each other as members of one tribe, their former wars having rendered mutual defence and combination absolutely necssary for self-preservation. In our own times we have seen the scattered portions of a tribe breaking up their temporary homes at a moment’s notice, and flocking from hundreds of miles, to defend the head-quarters or birthplace of their people. In addition, to

this, Hettit’s wife is a near relative of Eewi, his sons are married to Ngatimaniapoto women of rank, and he is on terms of intimate friendship with Tawhiao, Taraiti Ngapora, and all the principal chiefs of the King party. If Te Kooti wanted to bring down upon himself the angry hostility of both Ngatimaniapoto and Waikato to boot, he could not do it more effectually and speedily than by injuring Hettit’s person or property. We received the following telegram from our own correspondent at Alexandra, yesterday afternoon: Alexandra, July 23. Mr. Hettit was here yesterday, and confirms the intelligence which 1 sent you on Wednesday of the robbery of his store by Te Kooti. Te Kooti has been ordered by the King to leave, and if he refuses he will probably be shot. The Kingites themselves have determined to guaid the Waikato boundary. The Kingites are being reinforced, and are gaining confidence. All the Hauhaus of Taupo have joined Te Koote, who is going to Opepe. We have also heard from a reliable source that the Waikato King party have offered to escort Te Kooti safely across the boundary of the King’s territory into Taupo, there, to work his own sweet will. Erom the present aspect of affairs, there is reason to believe that Te Kooti, if he do not promptly clear out of Tawhio’s territory, will find himself in a perfect hornet’s nest.