RELEASE OF ONE OF TE KOOTI’S GANG.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1059, 8 April 1882, Page 4

RELEASE OF ONE OF TE KOOTI’S GANG.

As some surprise may be created by the intelligence that one of Te Kooti’s Poverty Bay gang of murderers has had the remainder of his sentence remitted, I may as well explain the circumstances under which the Government deemed it right to advise His Excellency to take this course. Te Maka Ritai was convicted in 1872 of murdering a friendly native, who was acting as messenger for the English forces. There was no doubt as to the facts. The messenger happened unconsciously to stray close to Te Kooti’s encampment, and, on Te Kooti’s order, Te Maka Ritai advanced, seized the messenger, led him to the eemetery, and there deliberately shot him. The prisoner freely admitted that he had done so, butsipmly stated that it was in obedience to Te Kooti’s orders, which he dared not for his life disobey. He had no doubt whatever that Te Kooti would have shot him instantly had he hesitated. Te Kooti had threatened him, and Te Maka had ample reason to know he would be as good as his word. Besides the dread of direct violence he was no doubt influenced by that superstitious awe which Te Kooti’s followers, like those ef Tohu, entertained for their chief s supposed supernatural powers ; so Te Maka Ritai implicitly obeyed, and murdered the Maori messenger. He pleaded guilty at hie trial, and was sentenced to death as a necessary warning to his race, but the sentence was immediately commuted to imprisonment for life. It was, however, intended by the Government that if his conduct in prison was good he should be released when he had served ten years, as there was no doubt he had acted under duress to some extent, and was in bodily fear of Te Kooti. A year or two ago application was made to the Government for his release, but Ministers held firm to their decision that he must serve his ten years out. The decade ended this month, and as his conduct in gaol is reported to have been uniformly good, Ministers have advised the Governor to remit the remainder of the sentence. His Excellency has acceded to this recommendation, and Te Maka Ritai w ill be released at once. —Wellington Corresp. JT. Z. Herald.