THE EAST COAST.

Southland Times, Issue 1144, 19 April 1869, Page 2

THE EAST COAST.

PURSUIT OF TE KOOTI. A correspondent of the ' Southern Cross' writes from Tauranga on March 25, as follows : — My last letter informed you that Major Mair, with about 70 Europeans and 120 natives, was at Whakatane watching Te Kooti, who had fixed himself about half a mile away. Meanwhile Captain Simpson, who was attached to the Ngatipikiao, had left Tauranga with that hapu and their chief Pokehatojom Major Mair on the Ngatipikiao reaching Matata (the new township of Richmond). Communication was opened with Whakatane, and in accordance with instructions received from Major Mair, they, instead of going on to Whakatane marched to Kokohiiriu and took up a position, the other forces meanwhile marching on the same point from Whakatane. Captain Simpson's seouts reported Kokohinau full of men in the morning. These were discovered to be the force under Major Maif. The expedition then (16th instant) marched to Waimaungeao and on to Otipa. Here thoy found an old woman, who reported that Te Kooti had left the day before, and gone towards Taweroa. They followed, and on nearing the pa saw about 70 men leave on horseback and go towards Motumako. (They discovered afterwards that these men had gone to induce the Ngatimanawa to come in and join Te Kooti.) On approaching the pa (Taweroa), which they did from rising ground, they found it to be occupied, and a prisoner having escaped joined Major Mair, and informed him that Te Kooti was there with about 100 men. The place was then surrounded or intended to be surrounded, but one side being left open, Te Kooti managed to escape, and in the morning when the pa was rushed by the Ngatipikiao under Captain Simpson and Pokiha, it was found entirely deserted, one unfortunate prisoner, Te Tohea, an Arawa, being left dead and frightfully tomahawked by Te Kooti. The seventy horsemen returning were fired upon, but no material damage was done. Te Kooti went on to Ahikereru, where he is supposed to be with 170 men, and very short of ammunition. On the 10th a Jcomiti was held, and Pokiha demanded more pay for his men, and the rank and pay of captains for the rangatiras of the different hapus. Major Mair agreed to give another shilling a day (making 55.) to the men, but said the other demand must be left to the Government. The Ngatipikiao, Ngatirangitihi, and the Ngatiuenakukopako agreed to go on. The Ngaitai and Whakatohea declined, and the Ngatipukeko and Ngatiewa remained neutral. Previous to this a woman who had been with the 70 men at Mokufcamako had agreed to go to Te Kooti and tell him some ammunition was buried in that pa, and endeavour to lead him into an ambush, but owing to the disaffection of the natives the expedition was broken up. During Major Mair's march Captain St Q-eorge had come to Tauranga, and proposed leading a party to the rear of Te Kooti, and preventing his escape. The Tauranga Cavalry were at once ordered to co-operate and march from Te Papa for that purpose, but on reaching Maketu heard the pursuit was abandoned, and of course returned. Te Kooti is therefore still at large, and serious doubts are entertained as to the intentions of Kereopa and Hakarala, who are known to have a covetous eye for Turanga. We are, however, daily expecting and hoping for reinforcements from Auckland. - Another correspondent of the " Gross" states that the forces employed in pursuit af Te Kooti were composed of the foilowiing: — Whakatohea, 30; Ngaetai, 40 ! ; William King, 40 ; Mariamii, 15 ; N.^atipukeko, 30 ; Ngatiwhakane, 20 ; Ngaetiragitihi, 15; Tuhorangi, 10,;.. Ngatipakiao, 140 Arawa, hapu not defined, 60 ; Ngatipakipoto and Ngatimanawa, 50 ; Europeans, 80 ;— 530 in all. oipOTisci. The cutter Woodstock, which arrived last evening from Opotiki brings confirmatory intelligence of tho return of the expeditionary force sent out in search of Te Kooti, and that the Arawas had returned to their vaious settlements. A j public meeting has been held at Opobiki, i at which resolutions were passed' con-i demnatory of the conduct of the expedition to capture To Kobti.— j 'Southern' Cross,' March 30. '_„'; ' . watkato. ... "We learn from a gentleman '^ho ha.4 only recently returned to Auckland from, Matamata that everything is quiet in that district, and that a meeting of natives is to be held this week, to consider

the basis ot peace propositions; .Ane intelligence that Kereopa has goiie to "1 join Te Kooti is confirmed, and also "that the Ngatiraukawa threaten to ' shoot | Kereopa should he attempt to pass £-, through their district. — " Southern ' Cross/' . . -> y j' S y •\VAtHOA. - Intelligence from this district has reached Napier that the bodies of two „ natives murdered ip. the neighborhood, of Felix Q-oulet's house had been . found, and the horse of a third. It has; bee^ ascertained that this pdfty df HaUhaiis ~ J had penetrated, withdut dnjjr dde knowing the fact, to within twS " miles of the European settlement £>f , Turiroa, the settlers of which are "in . a state of great insecurity. It appears that, consequent on the information ' given by Felix G-oulet, a party of 52 under Kohea and Hapimena proceeded up the Wairoa to Q-oulet's phue. At the whare of Sergeant Keating (an outlying scout, we imagine) they came upon tracks of the enemy ; and in a neighboring scrub they found an extensive camping ground. On reaching the scene of the murders they found the body of Rihimonia, lying in the water stripped of its clothing, and a little above; his horse} also shot and in the water. The canoe was found bottom up, the bales of wool on the beach. On reaching Felix's house they found that nearly everything had been carried off. Eeturning down stream they found the body of Te. A.mri Takirau, with several bullet wounds; but otherwise untouched, fioth bodies were buried. Fires were seen in the distance, at Waihi and Tukurangi.