THE NATIVE MINISTER. TE KOOTI'S MOVEMENTS. Auckland, Feb. 18.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 344, 20 February 1889, Page 5

THE NATIVE MINISTER. TE KOOTI'S MOVEMENTS. Auckland, Feb. 18.

This morning at the Star Hotel the Hon. £. Mitchelson, Minister of Native Aflairs and Public Works, was ' interviewed by several persons on various personal matters. To-morrow at 10 a.m. Mr K. D. Bate, of Parnell, will wait upon Mr Mitchelson to explain the working of a new system of electiicity which he claims to have perfected, and which, it is understood, he wishes the Government to take up. Mr Bate will also bring under the notice of the Minister que&tions relating to patents, etc. liegarding the movements of Te Kooti. we aie informed by Mr Mitchelson that the native chief intends to proceed to his old home in the Poverty Bay district by way of Matata, on the Bay of Plenty at which settlement he has probably arrived by this. time. From there his line of travel will he most probably£tn a direct line across the south of Uriwera country, near Waikaremoana, to the kainc/as of his people at Turanganui. This route will take him and his followers, some distance trom European settlement at any rate from the residences of those who have threatened to taKe bis life lor his massacre of their relatives at Poverty Bay and Mohaka in 1869 and it is extremely improbable that any trouble or bloodshed will occur, unless indeed a party is sent out for the purpose of intercepting him. The numer ous threats made against Te Kooti on the part of both Europeans and Ngatiporou natives aie thought to be mere " bounce," for the purpose of intimidating: him from visiting his tribal relatives ab Turanganui. Nevertheless, all due*precautions have been taken to prevent a breach of the peace, and Te Kooti himself is as anxious as anyone — in fact, more so than anyone else — that no disturbance should occur.

An extraordinary case ot housebreaking is reported from Taranaki. At Inglewood, on Saturday last, Alexander. Lang, a leading settler, a member of the Town Board, School Committee, &c, was caught coming out of the windo\v of Marsh's store at midnight. He had taken from the Ftoi'G eighty Ptraw hats, value £10 ; twelve American oilcloths, clock, tobacco, and a variety of other articles wovth over £20. He was arrested yesterday, and brought to New Plymouth, where he will be charged with breaking and entering. Ho has a wife and large lamily, and is .in trood oircum&tances. , lie hud, appai;I ently, no motive for the crime. -