Te Kooti’s Visit.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 279, 6 November 1884, Page 2

Te Kooti’s Visit.

[Own Correspondent.] Wellington, November 6. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. J. 8. MacKenzie asked whether the Native Minister would afford any information as to the reported visit of Te Kooti to the East Coast. Mr. Ballance said both the late and the present Government had written to Te Kooti warning him not to visit the East Coast or Wairoa district. The present Government had further warned Te Kooti not to do anything calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, and pointed out that it was contrary to law to go about the country with an armed following, although, as a subject of the Queen, Te Kooti was entitled to protection. Mr. Ballance read a letter- received from Te Kooti, on the 24th October, stating that he had heard the Government disapproved of his intended visit to the East Coast. He said it was the people of Wairoa themselves who had expressed a wish to see him, and appointed a time for their seeing each other. They had invited him, relying upon the proclamation under the Amnesty Act, and he accepted the invitation. He said it was the people of Gisborne and further up the East Coast who still retained their animosity. He added he had communicated the message of Government to the Wairoa people, and would let Government know what they said in reply. He had accepted this token of their regard, believing the amnesty granted by the union of the two races and the Queen’s authority would prevent a recurrence of any evil practices.