TE KOOTI’S PARDON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1276, 15 February 1883, Page 2

TE KOOTI’S PARDON.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln your issue of yesterday, an individual evidently not possessed of manly British Courage, signing himself “Queen Sabe," takes up the cudgels in defence of that notorious outlawed murderer Te Kooti. It is quite evident by the.strain in which his letter is written, that he did not witness the noted and blood-thirsty massacre of November 9th, 1868, or if so, he possibly must be one of those who shewed the white feather on that eventful morning. It is quite evident " Queen Babe" has not been effected, such as the Wvllie’s, Walsh, Espie, Farr, Ferguson, Goldsmith, Young Wilson, Hirini Hiriona, Ra Macky, Tutura'e family, with other Eur peans and Natives. If so, would he have written such sentiments, or if he witnessed the slaughter of women and children at the instigation of a dark-dyed villain such as Te Kooti, would he step forward to defend hie cause. Where was he when Mre Wilson lay dead with nine bayonet wounds in her body, or when Dodd and Peppard lay dead beside their gate,, or when the Biggs family were murdrred ; the memorial to be seen at the Poverty Bay Cemetery is sufficient evidence to show what Te Kooti and hie followers deserve. The noted Nana Saliab, of Cawnpore, is equally as much entitled to receive pardon as Te Kooti. “ Queen Sabe" muit evidently be trying to butter his own bread with Maori land, or by one of the noted scoundrel's followers who, be frail argument, tries to exonerate his cause, setting no price on the blood of innocently slaughtered settlers whose bones now lay in dust at the Poverty Bay Cemetery. The pardoning of Te Kooii will, I consider, be a stein on the reputation of the British flag, and most especially the present New Zealand Government, and, I am of opinion, that If ever Te Kooti visits Proverty Bay, he will be treated as a scoundrel of his description deserves.—Yours, etc., Old Settler.