TE KOOTI.

Manawatu Herald, 26 February 1889, Page 2

TE KOOTI.

On the East Coast great excite ment is being felt, by the declared intention of the ex-rebel Te Kooti to visit again the scenes of his former massacres. Only a few days ago we reported that Te Kooti had held an interview with the Native Minister i at Auckland, who had urged him to defer his visit to Gisborne, on account of the feeling of the Europeans and Natives towards him, but unfortunately without success, Te Kooti j dec'aring that he wa« going "in the ' interests of peace," and if he should | be killed he had told his followers I that they were " not to avenge him." j I wenty years ago this notorious : chief laid waste the whole of the Ess?. Coast and killed the unoffending inhabitants who remained on their land, and marched through the Island a conquering hero. After an enormous expenditure the Govern- ! ment succeeded in quelling the re- ' bellion, and a few years ago granted i a pardon to this murderer. As usual, in dealing with the Maoris, their statements of good behaviour hay* been accented without security, and in Te Kooti's instance, though it was never made a condition, it was understood that he should never go j near the scene of his former crimes. j Owing to this oversight the present trouble has arisen. From loma

spirit of mischief prompting him, this ex-rebel declares he must visit Gisbofuo, and he intends to go, whether the Government will let him or no. Some of cni* contemporaries tire urging tiie 1 inhabitants of the district j which this Mauri iiiteiids to visit, to j take" nd notice of him', in fttct to ig* j ndre his appearance, but though I twenty fears have; passed and gone., j it is not pr'dttek « ittrit iHorsei who have suffered 'the loss of "aettr 1 feitttives, murdered in cold blood by the mrSC' tion of this miscreant, should feel undisturbed by the visit of the p® I '- 1 petrator, whose only object appears to be to ascertain how the victims of his treachery feel now. Havi ig suffered by a too strong feeling of security, it is uot surprising to find they do not intend again to be caught napping, The settlers outnumber their proposed visitors, but then if they remain inactive they would present a^ number c f unarmed defenceless victims to a compact body armed, of what were their remorseless enemies t\\ onty yeai*s ago. It is no wonder they have taken steps to save themselves, and they would be as guilty as the Government, who have incurred a serious responsibility by lack of a firm refusal at the very first, if they had not done so. Te Kooti is not traveling by rail in a second class carriage to visit some long lost friend, but he is journeying in a sort of semi-public state, with two hundred men and fifty women, and puts on very exalted airs when visited bj' Europeans. The Maoris, like other uncivilised tribes, carry on war by a series of surprises, and the Maoris who were on our side in the fighting days, have no more faith in Te Kooti's visit than the settlers, and are determined to prevent him carrying out his object. The whole of the excitement is the fault of the Government, and shows the very weak position they hold in the country A Minister requests a criminal, who but a few years ago would have been hung if they could have caught him, not to do do something, which is offhandedly refused. The Government then say, oh, go if you must, but we will have no nonsense, as we cannot stop you, we will bully the settlers on the other Coast. Directly the always well behaved settlers and friendly natives object, they are threatened with being hung if Te Kooti should come to harm, and they are also direcetd to take no steps to secure themselves. The settlers fortunately had a stiffer back* bone than the Government expected, and on the Premier visiting the district he found that they were in stern earnest, and so twisted his Government round again, that Te Kooti the, ex-rebel, is to be stopped, by arms if necessary. The probababilities of another native war is quite on the cards, and if it does not develop into that, men's lives will most like y be sacrificed, because the Government were afraid to hurt the feelings of { one whose hands are red with blood, I in preference to considering the feeli ings of those who suffered in the I most poignant way, from the weakI ness of a Government over twenty ! years ago.

I < We are glad to learn that the peaches ; seem to be recovering their old strength and luxurioueness, as Mrs B. McLean has had some tine specimens in her shop window, ! and Mr Thynne has obtained a few off i trees which a year or two ago looked worthi less. We received from Mr Vautier a very | line specimen of a plum, yellow p colour, j which measured 2J inches in length. We I shall be glad to report on other samples. We remind our readers that on Saturday next the sale at Aberdeen House will take place, Messrs Thynne Linton & Go. having received imperative instructions from the Deputy Official Assignee in the estate to sell without reserve. The goods to be disposed of are of a first class character, all quite new, and comprise, Drapery, Clothing, Books, Crockery and Groceries, so that every one will have a choice. We shall expect to see a very large muster, as an opportunity like this is very seldom to be met with. There should be no want of punctuality as the Auctioneers inform us they intend to sell all in the afternoon, so the lots will go to those who can bid quickest and loudest. We may have more particulars to give, in our next issue the day before the sale. Messrs Russell and Co. made a proper start last Saturday with their flax dressing, and Messrs Jack Bros. (Mr Stewart, manager), started yesterday. Mr Honore has commenced the erection of the blacksmith's shop for Mr Barber, on the section adjoining the shop of Mr Gibson. They all come back. The last to return, as yet, is Mr A. Musgrove, who is a welcome addition, as he is a first class carpenter. The inhabitants of Shannon have shown a large amount of push, in getting a site and funds for a school. In today's issue we publish an advertisement calling for tenders for the erection of a building for the school. A few years ago the site of this township was extremely difnoult of access, now it is sufficiently poqulated to need this work. The settlement on this coast proceedeth with extreme rapidity. Those wretched dogs have been at the sheep again. Last week Mr C. Robinson reported that a greyhound was attacking the flock at Herrington,' and Mr Gower reports that last Saturday two greyhounds and one liver colored setter were among his ewes and lambs on the Education reserve that he is leasing up the Avenue. Two or three people saw the dogs, but though, the following day, Mr Gower's sons were on the j look out, they unfortunately did not put in I an appearance, otherwise they would have j met with the fate they deserved. Two : lambs were found dead. Over the leader will be seen an advertisement noting that the agency of Crosbie'a stripper3and maohinery, has been transferred from Mr Lind to Mr McMillan. The j strippers are very highly spoken of, and are used by Mr Rutherford, and by Mr Lind. The proprietor of Manchester House will, no doubt, be glad to supplement »ny further information disirtd,

Every stockowner is now becoming his own batcher. For the last two weeks Mr Davies of Wirokino has been giving notice of his intention to apply for a slaughtering license, and today Mr Barber of the Himitangi notifies he intends to apply to the Manawatu County Council for one, and Mr \V. Himpson of the Oroua Bridge, likewise. An opposition bpat to the " Ivy " is advertised. Mr Thain of Wanganui offers a steam launch for sale, in every way suited for the Manawatu river. The following members were elected for the Horowhenua Licensing district: — MoßflVfl Small, Bennett, Simcox, Andrews ftndKebbell. . I The Falmerston Races take place on "'•■■' lay. The Government have arranged f ***• ' ;< »l train to leave Foxton at nine for a speo.^ .., orrive t p almerston at o clock which will v. • . _„+ i___« 10.30. The return tram mU ,»* Palmerston till 6 o'clook, thus giw g , tors ample time to enjoy the sport. A very heavy earthquake was experienced at Kaikoura last Thursday, and a second earthquake, distinct but comparatively light, was felt at 6.27 p.m. the following day. The direction of both waft from west to east. In a subleader on the 25th January we drew the attention of stock owners to the market that Melbourne appeared to offer for their surplus fat stock and we are pleased to learn from the Manawatu Times that last Friday night a special train left Longburn for Wellington with 140 head of cattle to be forwarded on to Melbourne by the s.B. Taupo, whioh is expected to arrive at her destination on Thursday next. The shippers are Messrs Pascal Bros., B. Stevens, J. McLennan, D. Fraser, and C. Johnston. The beef is all of splendid quality, and includes Mr Stevens' prize twin fat bullocks which secured first prizes at the last two shows of the A. and P. Association. The success attending this venture will be watched with interest, and if payable prices are realised, another outlet will be afforded for an article which Manawatu can produce to perfection. I Yesterday morning Mr Henry McNeil j passed away. All who knew the deceased j will regret to hear this sad news, as he was j a genuine man and always took much in- ! terest in the progress of this district. He was one of the members of the first County Council, during the stormy sittings that used to mark those early meetings, but through all, he managed to retain the friendship of all sides. He was the contractor for the Wanganui Bridge, and came to this district to erect the bridge at the Gorge, after which he took up his permanent residence with us. We tender our heartfelt sympathy to the widow. The funeral takes place tomorrow, a circumstance which we regret, as the want of a train service will prevent a number attending from here, who would much have liked to offer this last token of respect. Mr Gower yesterday telegraphed to the Manager for the Fisk Jubilee Singers asking if they intended visiting Foxton. Late in the day he received a reply that they could not just now, but might in about six ' weeks time, and asked him to let them know the size of the hall, and the popula-' tion round about. There is but little doubt that if they came here they would have grand houses. We should recommend their fixing the concert for a Saturday night, and giving? a sacred performance on the Sunday following. By this arrangement they would be able to leave by Monday morning's train in time to perform at any other township on the line. We direct the attention of our readers to the altered advertisements of Messrs McMillan and Osborne. Our next issßue will show an important change in Mr Honore's advertisement. In our Stock and Produce column will be seen a notice of draught horses, young mare and geese for sale. Several rather important onset con> nected with breaches of the Fisheries Conservation Act have t een before the Resident Magistrate at Oamaru during the past three dajß. In one case one of the defendants was fined £1 for taking flounders under nine inches, and in another a fine of £5 was imposed for ft gaffi-ig " trouf. The Magistrate, bowever, decided in a case where the weight of evidence was ia favour of the contention that the trout were gaffed in the ocean near the mouth of the Waitaki River, that the Act was inoperative, inasmuch as when the fi*b left the river tl:ey were outride the scope oftbeAct made for their protection, and that do penalty could be imposed for taking tiout outside a river. The fisb so down to the sea, and in returning keep close into tbe shore, and are easily made the prey of persons with gaffs. A writer who has explored New Giinea describes the nutioeg region. Upon a fine piece of table land he came across three houses erected in tbe very heart of tbe forest. These were used by 'lie natives for d.ying tbe nutmegsThe country was everywhere magnifi cent, and the aroma of tbe spice- laden air delicious. Nutmeg and other equally valuable trees were everywhere growing in great profusion, Tbe fruit of the nutmeg in appearance resembles a pear, and wben ripe opens and displays the nut covered with a beautiful red coating of mace. Tho nuts are then picked and taken to the homes, where they are husked and placed on shelves. They are then partly roasted over a slow fire until all tbe moisture is extracted, after wbieb they are cooled and sent to marki-t.