EIGHTY MEN TO GO. Auokland, Feb. 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 347, 2 March 1889, Page 3

EIGHTY MEN TO GO. Auokland, Feb. 26.

The Government are now fully alive to r.he senous aspect of affairs, while the necessity for the immediate arrest of Te Kooti is fully recognised. It is believed that should there be any resistance mattei-s will take a very serious turn. It was definitely decided th>s morning- to send an armed foieo of seventy or eighty men from Auckland under Captain Morrison of the Permanent Force, to arrest To Kooti. Some twenty of the Permanent Artillery, and " nine of the police under Sergeant Kiely, were placed under orders and were instructed to be leady to leave by the Chelmsfoid at two o'clock this afternoon. At the same time, LieutenantColonel Shepheid was instructed to obtain the services of forty or fifty naval volunteers, irrespective of corps. The men were readily found, and at noon fche whole force of seventy or eighty men were ready to start.

PLiAN OF OPERATIONS. \ It isexpected that the Chelmsfoid will reach Opotiki early to-morrow morning, and the troops will at once move forward towards Waioeka, where they are expected to an he at noon. Their instruction? are to arrest Te Kooti peaceably if possible, but if not with force. The expectation of the Government is that unless resistance is offered Te Kooti will be a prisoner and on his way to Auck land to-morrow afternoon; Tf lesistance is offered, it it impossible to say what may be the outcome of the affair. It is not yet certain whether bhe'Hon' E. Mitchelson will proceed to-Opotiki.

PREPARING TO MARCH. Colonel Shepherd found no difficulty in obtaining the number of men required. lie was literally besieged with applications, and derided to take the men in pioportion to the seniority of the corps. At 2 o'clock, there were htty men on muster at the Drill-shed, of whom it was undei stood 30 were from the senior corps, the Auckland Xavals, 20 from the Ponsonby Nasals, and 10 from the Waitemata Navals. Three members of the A Battery were also sent as signal men, and Lieutenant James, of the O Battciy, a» quarter-master. Lieutenant Commanding Parker was in charge of the Navals, and there were associated with him Lieutenant Miller, commanding Ponsonby Xavals, and Lieutenants Smith, 'Whitely, Gerrard, and Dacre. Crowds of men ot men Mho were anxious to go were shut oufc. Only three revolvers could be found in the -armoury for use.

THE POLIO,. Ib is understood that the arrest of Te Kooti is to be effected by the police, a detachment of nine of whom marched to the Chelm&foid at 1.30 p.m., accompanied by Sergeant Pratt. The party was in charge of Seigeant Kiely, and consisted of Constables Lamb, McCoy, Howell, Giey, Conghlan, Martyn, Bowles, Addison and Caygill. The men simply armed with revolvers, and each cai ried a swag.

THE PERMANENT ARTILLERY. The detachment of the Peimanent Artillery numbering twenty or thirty men, under Captain Morrison, inarched to the Chelmsford i-oon after two o'clock. The men weie fully equipped, and appeared to be well prepared for service. , A very large crowd assembled on the wh&rf to wibne&s the departure of the steamer, which was ciowded with men. She was preparing to cast off at three o'clock.