THE NATIVE REBELLION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 188, 7 August 1869, Page 5

THE NATIVE REBELLION.

LATEST FROM WAIKATO. To Zooti’s Proceedings. Tawliiao’s proclamation ordering liim to leave. TE KOOTI AT MOKATJ. [From the Southern Cross, July 29th] Tun latest intelligence respecting tlic movements of the arch-rebel Tc Kooti is contained in a telegram received by us last evening from the Waikato, and which was to the effect that To Kooti had gone on to Mokau with 300 men. seizure on coxtrarand Anns. With respect to the recent seizure of arms, Ac., at Kgaruawahia, we have received the following letter from our own correspondent : “Hamilton, July 27th, “ On Sunday evening it was reported that three natives had been taken at Kgaruawahia having a large quantity of ammunition, supposed to bo cn route for To Kooti. On Monday the greatest excitement prevailed belli here and at Kgaruawahia, as to what should be done to the natives. INI r. Searanckc being at Alexandra, several suggested a short shrift and a long rope as their desert, which, I am informed, would have actually been their fate but for the timely interference of Captain Hay. The natives belong to the King party, and consist of three men and a woman. In their possession were found four doublebarrelled guns, ten boxes percussion caps, and twenty-four pounds of gunpowder ; or, sufficient for seven thousand six hundred and eighty charges. They state they purchased alb. powder at or near Otahuhu for £2 10s. ; and one gun for £ll, at Onehunga; also, two double-barrel guns for £5 each, and ten boxes of caps for ss. each, and 101 b. powder; at llcmuera, a doublebarrel gun for £lO, and 01b. powder. They have given the description of the parties from whom they purchased, but their statement is not relied on. Great hopes are entertained that the wretches who supplied them will bo found out, and meet the fate in reality that was intended for the natives at Kgarauwahia. They also state that they were living in Auckland and its neighborhood for the past month. “ Great credit is due to the puntman, Sylvester Maguire, the capture being effected through his information, Mr. Searanckc arrived last evening from Alexandra. The natives will be brought up to-day for examination, and the result anxiously looked for. “ Te Kooti is still in the neighborhood awaiting instructions from his god as to the future course he will pursue. “Instructions have been issued to the militia to search all the swags of suspicious Maoris, several having lately passed through this place, heavily loaded, on a visit to his Maori Majesty.” July 28th. The Maori prisoners have been remanded to Auckland until the 3rd. We believe it has been found necessary to remand the prisoners, inasmuch as no person is authorised to examine them except an officer appointed by the Government for that purpose. The natives will, wo presume, be publicly examined in Auckland. MILITARY RIOT AT THE GATE PA. Tauranga, 26th J uly 7 . Natives assert positively that Te Kooti is now at Oropi, a village about twelve miles distant from Te Papa, This statement is not believed by the natives here; nevertheless all necessary precautions are taken, and all the available cavalry are out nightly on picquet duly. These, with non-commissioned officers, number about fifteen, and they have no sinecure duty.

They :ire certainly a most useful arm of the service, and every one feels that on their viligance and activity the safety prohahly of the settlemenf depends, and they are certainly deserving of honorable mention for the cheerfulness and alacrity with which their duties are performed. On the night or rather the morning following, Friday, 2tth July, which was pay-day, a very serious riot took place amongst the detachment of milita garrisoning the Gate Pa Redoubt. The primary cause appears to have been intoxication ; but altercations arising on the subject of nationalities, Finglish and Irish, a genera! melee ensued ; men drew their si ie-arms, some fixed bayonets, and there is little doubt that murder would have been committed but for the strenuous and praiseworthy endeavours of a few who were fortunately sober, und courageously snatched the weapons out of the hands of the combatants, at great risk to themselves. As far as I can learn, the following individuals distinguished themselves bv active exertions to prevent what would otherwise have proved a sanguinary strife; —Privates Earl, Nicholson, George, Reeves, Whitaker, Phillips, Robinson, Edmonds, Lee, and Byrne. The officer in command Lieut. Ilallowes, was unable to control the insurrection, which, about one o’clock in the morning, had reached a very formidable height, and had it not been for the courageous few who, stationed within the redoubt, seized and disarmed the mutineers as they entered, fatal results might have occurred. The transaction was reported to Colonel Harrington the following day, and he rode at once and discharged the whole detachment, officer and all. On Sunday night the cavalry did garrison duty in their place, having been withdrawn from the picquets for that purpose. On Sunday, 25th July, a parade was held in the 'Monmouth Redoubt, when Colonel Harrington commented on the proceedings of Friday night, saying that with the exception of the few who exerted themselves to quell the disturbance, he would strike the whole detachment off pay, and they should never be restored to the roll as long as he commanded the district.

The situation of affairs on that eventful day would have afforded a fine opportunity for Te Kooti, if he had known, for he could have easily settled the dispute by adding a third element, and could have made easy converts to Hauhauism by means of the tomahawk. After that, the outside portion of the settlement would have been almost at his mercy, for the picquets would have had to retire, and every dwelling beyond the town might have been burnt. Colonel Harrington returned on Friday by the St. Kilda from Wellington via Napier. We have one day’s later news from Auckland to the 24th ult., via Wanganui, and wo take the following from the Southern Ci oss of that-date : Tip to our latest advices yesterday no attack had yet becu 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. To Kooti demurred to this, and a discussion took place, which continued for some time. To 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 wo received yesterday afternoon that Te Kooti’s presumptous demand upon the Waikato 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 Waikates, if not of the Ngatimaniapoto, for Hcttit, according to Maori custom, may he regarded as a Kgatimaniapoto 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 necessary 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 Rewi, his sons are married to Xgatimaniapoto women of rank, and he is on terms of intimate friendship with Tawhiao, Tamiti 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 I 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 guatd the Waikato boundary. The Kingites are being reinforced, and are gaining confidence. All the Hauhaus of Taupo have joined Te Kooti, 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. From 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. IA.TEST FROM AUCKLAND. [From the Evening Post's Correspondent.] The Auckland Herald's Waikato telegrams state that four Hauhaus, laden with arras and ammunition, purchased at Auckland, had been arrested at ISTgaruawahia, en route for Tokangamutu. A clue has been obtained to the parties who supplied them. Te Kooti seems to have quarrelled with Tawhiao, and has left Waikato, but with the intention of returning with augmented forces. The latest news is that Kooti had gone to Taupo. The Waikato settlers are somewhat reassured. Rich gold struck at Coromandel ; a rush has set in. Another rich leader struck in the Long Drive. Fire in Baker-street; Mr. James Cameron, overseer Auckland Herald , burnt to death. ■— With reference to Te Kooti we received the following telegram yesterday from our correspondent at Alexandra : “Hamilton, July 27th, 9 a.m. “Te Kooti left Te Kuiti on Sunday. He will recruit at Kareo, Mangawanga, and Mokau, in order to endeavor to raise a foi'ce of 600 men. If successful he will return, depose the King, enforce his religion, and attack Waikato. When Te Kooti left, the King’s forces fired a derisive volley. Te Kooti burned the King’s house. Eewi accompanied him. One hundred Ngatimaniapotos followed yesterday to bring Eewi beck. Eewi is reported to be mad.” It has been suggested to us that Eewi has merely accompanied Te Kooti in order to see him safe out of the Waikato, but we confess we attach little importance to such a view of the matter. It would seem from Eewi’s conduct throughout that he is desirous of stirring up strife between Te Kooti and the Waikato King party. THE URIWERA DESERT TE KOOTI. Auckland, 27th July. Telegrams received from the Waikatos yesterday state that Te Kooti was still at Te Kuiti, where he expected to receive some special direction from his Hauhau atua as to his line of conduct. The llreweras who had accompanied Te Kooti to Tokangamutu had gone over to Tawhiao, and the Waikato were pressing for the immediate departure of Te Kooti, and those who still adhered to him. J aupapa Waihou is still said to beTe Kooti’s destination. —Southern Cross.