TE KOOTI TURNED FRIENDLY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 53, 17 May 1873, Page 2

TE KOOTI TURNED FRIENDLY.

MORE MURDERS PROJECTED. SIXTY REBELS IN ARMS. LIVE STOCK MARKETS. (FROM THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND. May 9. Mb. Mackay is still at Te'Wira. Twelve armed sentinels guard him day and night. His wound is healing. He has received no answer from Tawhiao yet. Mr. Mackay has arrived at Alexandra on his way to Auckland. He was accompanied by twenty natives as a body guard. May 10. Mr. Alfred Buckland reports that dairy cows were fairly represented. Store cattle were in fewer numbers than usual—prices slightly increased. Fat cattle were in usual supply, and of average quality. 124 head were sold to the trade at prices higher by 3s per lOOlbs.; best quality brought from 26s to 28s per lOOlbs. Store sheep of good quality were more plentiful than usual. There was a good enquiry for fat sheep; there were fewer than usual in the market; prices ruled the same as last week. Pigs were abundant; for those of good quality late prices were sustained.

Furukutu is said to have expressed his deter mination to kill three Pakehas.

Manuhiri has desired that Ruru, who assaulted and wounded Mr. Mackay, should be killed. He is to be- tried by Maoris at Te Kuiti.

All tlhe Tauranga tribes are indignant at Sullivan’s nfurder.

Te Kooti attended the native meeting held yesterday to consider what answer should be given to Mr. Mackay’s demand for the murderers. Te Kooti volunteered to act as one of Mr. Mackay’s guard at Te Wira, and said that if the Waikatos fought he should remain quiet with the Ngatimaniapoto. Rewi has promised a definite answer to Mr. Mackay within ten days. Sullivan’s head is said to have been buried at Wharepapa, by order of a messenger from the King. Purukutu, the murderer, is reported to have 60 men with him on the hills.

May 12. A telegram received from Waikato yesterday, too late for re-transmission, says: — “There has been great excitement all last night and to-day. , From the southward, about Cambridge and Pukekura, shots were heard last night. Twelve Coustabulory and volunteers under Mr. Mackay and Major Clare, and twelve other volunteers under Captain Runciman, mustered at midnight and scoured the country ten miles out in the direction in which the firing was heard. The first named party returned at 8 a.m., the second at 11 a.m., to-day.” The following is Mr. Mackay’s report : — “ When we had been out one hour we heard two shots fired, and traced out the sleeping or resting place of three Maoris (quite fresh) near Messrs. Parker and Walker’s station. ’ A boy who had been out in search of cattle reported having been chased by a native. This was aboiit nine o’clock in the morning.” Mr. Mackay.believes that the firing is intended to be repeated for a few nights to put the . Europeans off their guard. * Colonel Lyon arrived at midnight, and accompanied the sccnits. A mounted reinforcement has just arrived.

Later. The following report has been received from Mr. Mackay : —“ The night has passed quietly. I believe the three natives, the tracks of whom were seen yesterday, retreated to the ranges, having been disturbed by the cavalry patrols on Saturday night and Sunday morning. lam of opinion that they came to see whether we were on the alert or unguarded. I see no reason at present to anticipate any further annoyance from them.” A man named Peter Bluers has been murdered on the island of Kawau, it is believed, by his mate, who was in company with him felling trees' in the bush. This man returned from his work, and said that Bluers had gone mad. A search was made, and Bluers body was found in the creek, with his hands and feet tied.

A runanga house has been opened at Tauranga.