THE GOVERNMENT AND TE KOOTI.
(FBB UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION). WELLINGTON, Thia Day. The following is the Hon. Mr Bryce’s telegram to the Government re his interview with Te Kooti :— Te Awamutu, Feb. 13, 9.42 a.m. To the Hon. Major Atkinson : The following is a report of my yesterday’s interview with Te Kooti:—
The Hon, Native Minister and party arrived at Mangorongo on Monday, Feb, 12, at half-past 11 a.m., Te Kooti and a number of his followers arriving shortly after. Manga Manlapoto greeted Te Kooti, and escorted him to where Mr Bryce was sitting. Te Kooti shaking hands with Mr Bryce, said : Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other ; truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven/' After this food was distributed, it having been arranged that the Interview between Mr Bryce and Te Knot! should not take place until Te Kooti and party had broken their fast. After partaking of food the Natives assembled in front of thoir whares, where Mr Bryce was sitting, Te Kooti sitting in advance of his people. The Hon Mr Bryce said : I greet all the Maoris assembled here—Rewi and the Ngatimaniapotos, and Te Kooti and his people ; the greeting is ended. Now I will speak about the business that brought me here. 1 have listened to Te Kooti’s greeting, and consider that it is good—it is a greeting of >eace. I stand here to-day to express the eeling of the white people of New Zealand. I hope I may also add of a great many of the Maoris as well. Now I say this that it is the desire of the white people that the souls of the evils of the past should be buried, but it has been suggested that it would not be well to pardon offences if crimes were to be renewed. I have heard much about Te Kooti. Some say his future conduct will be good, other people say his intentions are evil for the future, as in the past, therefore I have desired to see Te Kooti face to face, so that he may tell me himself what his future intentions are. I say for my part and the Government that if the evil deeds are not to be repeated, then the Government and the country are prepared to forgive the past before you all. I ask Te Kooti to tell me like a man whether he intends to live peaceful for the future. If what he says is satisfacfactory, as I hope it will be then that one great trouble will be removed from before us. L have met Te Kooti frankly to-day : let him deal frankly with me. I will now listen to what he has to say. Te Kooti: My first word is that I will not reply to the statement which I am accused of by others. I will say for myself that on the 24th of March, 1878, Mr Sheehan came to me at Te Kopua. I live peacefully at Te Kalti. I said tonim, yon did not make peace; I have made it myself. I ceased the strife, andl will never return to it. In 1874, I ceased the strife, and I have not since returned it. I came into presence to Tawhnio, and will not withdraw myself from it. The statements you have heard that I make about the capture of Winiata are true; he was as one of us, and I might have been taken in the same way. That is what I said of the half-castes that they were not to show their faces near me. Manga knows my intentions. I will never return to strife. I will not tread the paths I formerly trod. Mr Bryce said: lam glad to hear from Te Kooti, if I understand him right, that he will not do evil in the future. He has referred to the case of Winiata. I am not afraid to refer to Winiata either. The hand of the law Was over him, and he was arrested and punished for his crime ; nor do I say that Te Kooti had not reason to be frightened, as the law was over him also, and is over him at the present moment. Last session as act was passed authorising the Governor to grant an amnesty to those who had osmmitted crimes arising out of the war. It was left to the Government to pardon all crimes, or to except some; now I say that the hand of tha law is over culprits, but if that proclamation was issued the hand of the law would not be over them any longer. Ido not refer to Winiata’s crime, which did not arise out of the war, but to those which occurred during the war, or arose out of the war, When the proclamation is issued, it will be in no one’s power to arrest or punish the culprits who are pardoned by it. The matter was left in the hands of the Government, and it was thought It would be right to grant an amnesty for all offences. Then it was said. What about Te Kooti 1 He might create evil in the future. I said I do not know ; I will see To Kooti, and ascertain that early. I stood to-day and asked him his intentions. Now am I right in supposing that he will remain peaceful and not return to his old crimes.
Te Kooti said : I have already said that I will never return to my old crimes. Mr Bryce replied: lam satisfied with your assurances, and I now call upon Rewi Manipete to say what he considers Te Kooti’s future conduct will be. Manga Maniapete said; I was one of the promoters of the King movement and was against fighting but was forced into it, I consider that I am in no measure to blame for the crimes, and have never felt at ease, although pardoned, while other offenders were still held guilty. lam sure you can rely upon Te Kooti’s assurance for his future good behaviour, and hope that you will issue the proclamation without delay. Mr Bryce said : I accept your (assurances now, this is the difference between what Mr Sheehan said and what I now say, there was then no law for an annesty, but there is now. On my return to Kihikihi, I will telegraph to Wellington and have the proclamation published in the “Gazette. It will be a general proclamation. It would not say that you can live at peace here only, but every where, that proclamation will be issued in about a week or ten days. In the meantime my hand will interpose you and the law that furnishes my business, and I am now prepared to shake hands (Mr Bryce then walked over and shook hands with Te Kooti) after a lapse of a few minutes Te Kooti rose and sang a “ Waiata ” and said m everything is now settled I will come and shake hands with you, he then advanced and shook hands with the party, the meeting then concluded, and Mr Bryce got into his trap to leave for Kihikihi. Te Kooti again advanced and said good bye, for the future I will look to you and myself. If yon find me molesting anybody, come and take me. The party then left for Kihikihi.
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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1275, 14 February 1883, Page 2
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1,237THE GOVERNMENT AND TE KOOTI. Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1275, 14 February 1883, Page 2
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