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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 295, 14 December 1868, Page 2

It is stated thpt Te Kooti, the-blood-thirsty leader of the rebels on the East Coast, was not originally a Hauhau, but, on the contrary, during the war in Auckland in 1865 fought on the European side, and it is asserted that he was entirely innocent of the charge for which he was transported. The Poverty Bay correepondent of the Southern Cross says: — Te Kooti's younger brother was with the Haubaus in the pa of Pukeamionga. Te Kooti did his part at Waeringaahika against the Haubaus until the pa surrendered ; then seeing that Pukermianga would be the next place attacked by the troops, and urged on by fraternal, regard, he resolved io go and fetch hie brother out-from among the rebels. He went accordingly in company with Putere, who has all along been -a dtsunch ally of the Government, got his - brother out of the pa, and returned to his ■own place. Months afterwards, and when all was again peace, some enemy of Te . Kooti laid an information against him, asserting that his object in going to the Hauhau pa was not to get his brother, but .to carry ammunition to the rebels. The tnan was at once arrested, kept prisoner for a time in the redoubt at Jhtobangakarerea, whSnce, without any examination or investigation into the merits of the charge made against him, he was summarily packed on board the Government steamer and deported to Wharekauri (Chathams). ■Tie paddle-steamer Osprey, built for the Messrs Redwood, of Marlborough, "by the Messrs Seager, of Wellington, was launched pa. Wednesday last at that port, haying been sent off the stocks steam up, aud all ready for a start. She is an iron boat, 45. feet iD length, with 10 feet of .beam, and drawing l.fopt 3 inches forward : and- 2 feet abaft. Her engines and every-thing-eonnected with her have been nianufecfcured v by the Messrs Seager. She took y|^|jai trip round the bay, when she steamed easier 8 knots, the engines' working ;^^iiy''^nd^'eli..;_ She is intended to trade onthe^an'au; river, towing the Falcon U}» an4dow,h,^and will be taken over by : Captain Crackneil ;in a few days. ' '-."