TO KOOTI’S CAPTURE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 43, 13 June 1938, Page 1

TO KOOTI’S CAPTURE

ARREST AT OH!WA ARTILLERY MAN’S STORY A member of the Auckland Naval Artillery, which in 1883 aided the Government in bringing to bay near Ohiwji the notorious .Maori rebel, To Kodli, .Mr G. W. .Mayes. Frankton, related the story of the chief's capture to a Waikato Times, representative. \ -Mi ainl .Mrs -Mayes not- Jong. ago celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding. Jn 1883 the artillery was sent to Opotiki to assist the police in the capture of Te. Kooti. said Mr..Mayes. The rebel whs in hiding there alter being at liberty oil’ and on for io years,', which time had elapsed since his daring escape from the Chatham Islands. He and his Han Han followers had.carried on a guerilla warfare with the white troops, disappearing from ..seemingly impossible positions and defying the most highly trained of Now Zealand officers. To Kooti had made a murderous onslaught on the settlers of the- Poverty Bay district early in his famous career, tried to depose the Maori King, and in the end, when lie was practically exhausted through old age and tin* Jack of military requirements, he was captured and later pardoned. Took Refuse in an Orchard. “We left Auckland for Opotiki one morning and upon reaching Ohiwa were forced to walk 16 miles along the beach as wo were afraid the beat would not successfully cross the bar/' said Mr Mayes in describing; the setting out of the expedition in search of Te Kooti. “At the • end of the march we pitched camp and at 4 o'clock next morning fell in and inarmed cut towards the Urewcra ..Country.

“Upon reaching the edge of the bush we discovered! that- the chief had returned to CJhiwa.-The next morning we again turned out at 4 o’clock and were served with an extra 40 rounds of ammunition. Wo returned to Ohiwa and there arrested Te Kooti while he was taking refuge-in an orchard. The chief was taken to Opotiki for trial and was remanded to Auckland, where he was • pardoned on the eondi-

tion that he settled: down and farmed the 000 acres of laiid presented to him by the -Government.” Although this episode took place some years after the Maori wars, -Mr Mayes was in New Zealand when the hostilities were still raging. He was born in Geelong, .near Melbourne, and came to- New Zealand with, his parents 73 years ago, his father being one of the Fourth Waikatos who wore despatched'«to Hamilton-ill 1864. Mr Mayes, who was a child at that .time, had no recollection of the early years of the militia’s activities.