“THE PARLIAMENT OF US TWO.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5353, 24 May 1878, Page 5

“THE PARLIAMENT OF US TWO.”

• IO mK EDITOR OF THE HEW ZEALAND TIMES. ! Sin, —I have read the letter of Te Kooti to the Government,'which seems plainly to refer to a former letter, for he says, “ Friend Sheehan, should yon (Sir George Grey and ■yourself) have received my letter, which points out cause of transgression, if you see in it any fault, please inform me in order that I may -know.” ; Now, if I remember rightly, To Kooti has repeatedly tried to throw the onus of the “cause of transgression” on the Govern'.ment, the 1 effects (or results) he also attributed to the Government. The cause being his •transportation to the Chatham Islands, and his not being allowed to settle peaceably (?) down with his fellow escapees on the Hast Coast, which, ■ producing the massacres and bloodshed that ' followed,-were the' effects resulting from the cause, thus taking his stand as the aggrieved party. He then goes oh to say “For you ■ are light” (or lamp)'now, and you utter words •of light, of goddneas, and of love to man. You ' all teach that troubles may not arrive during your days. My word is, your management is very good ;is exceeding good. No man has tangbt in that manner before; No trouble will now befall us, : Salutations to you ■ both, - and to your Council, Sufficient from your sinful slave Te Kooti te Turuki.” On reading this letter carefully over, one is led to wonder what can bo the meaning of this sudden effusion of submission and apparently bl love and good feeling towards the Native Minister and the Premier. Perhaps I can throw a little light on the subject, for I have -been informed on. good authority that - before the arrival of Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan at Hikurangi, Owing to what passed between Tawhiao and Te ! Kooti, the latter with a number of his followers left Tawhiao’s camp rather abruptly, and that in consequence a strict watch was kept over the safety of the two Ministers during their stay; also that Te Kooti and his party were inclined to be anta-

gonistic. What has passed since then I know not, but it appears likely that “ the Parliament of ns two ’’ had something to do in the matter, and hence these two letters of To Kooti. • Hence also the rumor that has reached mo (also on good authprity) that To Kooti was to : be pardoned by the Government, and his past offences were to be condoned. I think that I am right in this matter; and awaiting further news on the subject, ! am, &c,, , i Paksha-Maow. Ruapehu, May 20.