The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1870. IMPORTANT FROM THE WAIKATO.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 17, 20 January 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1870. IMPORTANT FROM THE WAIKATO.

TE KOOTI OFFERS TO SURRENDER. THE GOVERNMENT'S ANSWER. (From the Morning Advertiser, Jan. 18.) Hamilton, Monday, 3 o'clock. Te Kooti has been posted between Matamata and Cambridge. Mr. J. Firth has been at Matamata for some days. Te Kooti has offered, through Mr. Firth, to surrender to Government on condition of receiving protection. Mr. Firth has telegraphed as much to Auckland. It has been known for some days past that Te Kooti was in the neighborhood of Matamata, Mr. Firth's run, where Mr. Firth has been since the latter end of last week, and serious apprehensions have been more than once entertained lest any evil might befal that gentleman through his propinquity to the miscreant. Iu addition to the telegrams which we give above, from our own correspondent, we yesterday saw a telegram from a Waikato Maori to one of his own race in Auckland, which stated that Te Kooti was " about " Matama. From private information we also learned that Te Kooti had opened up negociations with Mr. Firth, and indeed one message went so far as to assert that a meeting had taken place between them. Whether a meeting did take place or not, we are aware that Mr. Firth telegraphed yesterday afternoon to the authorities here, to the effect that he had received such an offer from Te Kooti as is mentioned in the telegram of our own correspondent. The authorities, we believe, sent back as an answer that they would accept no surrender from Te Kooti which was not entirely unconditional, in fact that he should surrender at discretion. Various surmises are rife as to the cause of this sudden action on the part of Te Kooti. Some are still dubious as to its being more than a mere ruse on his part, while others think that it must have arisen from some change in the attitude of the King party towards him, which would tend to leave him at the meicy of our forces. Mr. Firth, who is in the neighborhood of Patatere on his station, received a message on Sunday from Te Kooti, requesting that he would meet him, for the purpose of discussing the present position of affairs/ The place of meeting named was William Thompson's monument at Matamata. Mr. Firth sent an answer aeceding to Te Kooti's request. It will be seen by this that the rebel chief is now in the neighborhood of Patatere. We are indebted to the Hon. Dr. Pollen for information that on the day before yesterday Te Kooti sent to Mr. Firth, at Matamata, asking Mr. Firth to meet him. Mr. Firth appointed a meetiDg at Thompson's Monument, Matamata.