STATEMENT BY THE NATIVE MINISTER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 346, 27 February 1889, Page 5

STATEMENT BY THE NATIVE MINISTER.

The Hon. E. Mitcheleon, Nabivo Minister, received no information of importance to-day with regard to Te Kooti's movements. To Koobi is still at the native settlement of Omaramutu, near OpotiU, and after a stay of a couple of days there intends resuming his progress bo Turanganui. Ho reiterates his former declaration that his purpose in visiting the scenes of his youth are distinctly peaceable, and with the objecb of meeting old ti'ibalrelatives and friends, whohave for long been earnestly pressing him to visit them before he dies. He has nob the slightest intention of muking any hostilo demonstration or of doing anything which would cause old feuds to be renewed. The threats of £? ergression are entirely on the part of the Poverty Bay settlers and his former enemies, the Ngatiporou, and secure in the knowledge that in visiting the East Coast he is acting perfectly within his right as a loyal British subject, ho has no intention of burning back, and will nob return until he has fulfilled his former promises to see his people once again. The s.s. Wairarapa, with the armed constabulary contingent on board, should reach Ciisborno early to-morrow morning, and it remains to be seen in what manner the presence of an armed Government force in the district will affect the hostile threats uttered by both Europeans and Ngatiporou, and whether Te Kooti will after all be compelled to retrace his steps to the Waikato.