TE KOOTI'S PARDON.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 348, 6 March 1889, Page 5

TE KOOTI'S PARDON.

The following is the report furnished to the Governor by the Native Minister in 1883 of the meeting with Te Kooti : — Te Awamutu, 13bh February, 1883. The following is a report of my yesterday's interview with Te Kooti : — Native Minister and party arrived at Manga-o-rongo on the 12th February, at half-past 11 a.m., Te Kooti and a number of his followers arriving shortly after. Manga Maniapoto greeted Te Kooti, and escorted him to where Mr Bryce was sitting. Te Kooti, shaking hands with Mr Bryce, said, "Mercy and truth have met together ; righteousness and peace have kissed each other ; truth bhall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven." After this, food was distributed ; it having been arranged that the interview between Mr Bryce and Te Kooti should not take place until Te Kooti and party had broken their fast. After partaking of food, the natives assembled in front ot the whare where Mr Bryce was sitting, Te Kooti sitting in advance of his peo6le. Mr Bryce rose and said, ' I greet all the Maoris assembled here, Uewi and the Ngatimaniapotos, and Te Kooti and his people. The greeting is ended. Now, I will speak about the business that brought me here. I have listened to Te Kooti's greeting, and I consider that it is good — it is a greeting of peace. I stand here to-day to express the feelings of the white people of New Zealand — I hope I may add of a great many of the Maoris. Now, I say this, that it is the desire of the white people that the remembrance of the evils of the past should be buried, but it has been suggested that it would not be well to pardon offences if crimes were to be renewed. I have heard much about Te Kooti. Some say his future conduct will be good ; other people say his intentions are evil for the future as in the past. Therefore, 1 have desired to see Te Kooti face to face, so that he may tell me himself what his future intentions are. 1 say, for my part, and the Government, that if the evil deeds are not to be repeated then the Government are prepared to forgive the past. Before you all, I ask Te Kooti to tell me, like o man, whether he intends to live peaceably for the future. If what he says is satisfactory, as I hope it will be, then one great trouble will be removed from before us. I have met Te Kooti frankly to-day ; let him deal frankly with me, I will now listen to what he has to say." Te Kooti: "My first word. I will not reply to the statements Avhich I aui accused of by others, I will say for myself, on the 24th of Match, 1878, M"r Sheehan came to me at Te Kopua and said, ' Live peaceably at Te Kuiti.' i said bo him, ' You did not make peace ; I have made it myself. I ceased the strife, and will never return to it.' In 1874 I ceased strife; I have not since returned to it. I came into the presence of Tawhiao, and will not withdraw myself from it. The statements you have heard that I made about the capture of Winiata are true. He was as one of us, and I might have been taken in the same way. That is why I said of the half castes that they were not to show their faces near me. Manga knows my intentions. I will never return to strife, never. I will not tread again the paths I formerly trod." Mr Bryce : '■ I am glad to hear from Te Kooti, if I understand him right, that he will not do evil in the future. Now he has referred to the case of Winiata. I am not afraid to refer to Winiata either. The hand of the law was over him, and he was arrested and punished for his crime. Nor do I say that Te Kooti had not reason to be frightened, as the law was over him also and is over him at the present moment. Lastoession an A ct was passed au thorising the Governor to grant an amnesty to those who had committed crimes aiising out of the war. It was left to the Government fco pardon all crimes or except some. Now, I say that the hand ot the law is over culprits ; but if that proclamation was issued the hand of the law would not be over them any longer. I do not refer to Winiata's crime, which did not arise out of the war, but to those which occurred during the war, or arose out of the war. When this proclamation i 3 issued it will be in no one's power to arrest or punish the culprits who are pardoned by it. The matter was left in the hands of the Government, and it was thought that it would be right to grant an amnesty for all offences. Then it was said, 'But what about Te Kooti ? He might cieate evil in the future.' I said, ' I do not know ; I will see Te Kooti and ascertain.' That is why I stood up to-day and asked him his intentions. Now, am I right in supposing that he will remain peaceable and not return to his old crimes ?" Te Kooti : " I have already said that 1 wiJl never return to my old crimes " Mr Bryce : "I am satisfied with your assurance, and I now call upon Kewi Maniapoto to say what he considers Te Kooti's future conduct will be." Manga Maniapoto: "I was one of the promoters of the King movement, and was against fighting, but was forced into it. I consider that I am in a measure to blame for these crimes, and have never felt at ease, although pardoned, while other offenders were still held guilty. lam sure you can rely upon Te Kooti's assurance for his future good behaviour, and hope that you will issue the proclamation without delay." Mr Bryce : "I accept your assurances. Now, this is the difference between what Mr Sheehan said and what I now say. There was then no law for an amnesty, but there is now. On my return to Kihikihi I will telegraph to Wellington and have the proclamation published in the " Gazette." It will be a general proclamation. It will not say that you can live at peace hero only, but everywhere. That proclamation will be issued in about a week or 10 clays. In the meantime my hand will interpose between you and the law. That finishes my business. And I am now prepared to shake hands." (Mr Bryce then walked over and shook hands with Te Kooti.) After a lapse of a few minutes Te Kooti rose and sang a waiata, and said, "As everything is now settled I will come and shake hands with you." He then advanced and shook hands with the party. Tho meeting then concluded, and Mr Bryce gob into his trap to leavo for Kihikihi. Te Kooti then advanced and said, "Goodbye. For the future I will look to you and myself. If you find mo molesting anybody, come and take me." The party then left for Kihikihi. John Brycis.