MORE ABOUT TE KOOTI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 556, 12 February 1878, Page 2

MORE ABOUT TE KOOTI.

(BY TEIiBGItAPH, PEE. PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, February 11.

A correspondent of the Star, who was was one of the crew of the Rifleman, in which Te Kooti escaped from the Chatham Islands, furbishes the following : "On the natives taking possession of the Rifleman, the crew on board were made prisoners, and Te Kooti, after the natives hid held a kerero amongst themselves, called to them (the crew) and told them that if they landed them (the natives) at or near Poverty Bay he would pay them well and not harm any, and they could take the vessel to Wellington when they thought proper. After leaving the Chathams a few clays H fcH » dead calm, and then the crew became aware of their pie--1 carious position. Te Kooti's father, with a few more natives, formed a conspiracy to kill the crew of the mate of the Rifleman, and the only chance w;is to keep well in Te Kooti's favour. On the fourth morning, being still becalmed, the disaffected natives agreed to murder the crew. It was not until things came to this crisis that Te KooH was told that his father intended to murder the crew, and that that was the reason of their having no wind. Te Kooti, without giving time for another word, called two natives. The orders he gave them were soon carried into execution, for Te Kooti's father, as he was represented to be by the natives on board, was cast into the deep. About two hours afterwards a breeze sprung up, and the vessel had a good pass.ige to Poverty Bay, where the natives.disembarked, Te'Kooti kept his word, snd left in peace, with this instruction, 'Return to Wellington with your vessel, ind tell the Government if they leave ma fuone 1 will never trouble them any more.