NEWS INDEED!

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 373, 1 June 1889, Page 5

NEWS INDEED!

The following 'extract from an English paper ("Modern Society," of March 9th) shows what an amount of ignorance on New Zealand matters prevails even in journalistic circles in England. The statements contained in the extract will be news to New Zoalandersj especially those referring to Te Kooti's "most noble and humane principles " and his • ' distinguished and devoted service under her Majesty's flag." Here is what the well-informed English journal says : — "The long-ex-pected insurrection of the Maori chieftain Te Kooti has at length begun, and we muab expect to hear some veiy dreadful news from Auckland for the next few days. No more abominably ill- treated and abused man thanpoorTeKootiexists.andullthistrouble, this expenditure, and this shedding of blood is the result of the cruel way in which that most noble-hearted eavage has been treated by the pettifogging and unscrupulous colonial underlings who have made the name of Englishman detested by the Maoris. Te Kooti served for years with the greatest distinction and devotion under Her Majesty's flag, and gave numberless proofs of most distinguished and most noble and humane principles. The co-operation of such a man was, of course, invaluable, and to take only the base and sordid business view of the matter, nothing should have been spared to have kept thil glorious and high-spirited warrior, who is like one of the heroes of antiquity, friendly to the British interests ; but we have done juat the contrary, we have broken faith with him and his people ; his splendid services have been loft unrewarded, ard he himself has been wantonly and villainously robbed of all his possessions, and then goaded, insulted, and persecuted into open rebellion. Yet when a price was put upon his head some time back by our people nob a traitor Has found to give him up and receive the price of blood"! One of Te Kooti's proud boasts is that he never told a lie, or injured a woman or child. How many of our colonial officials could say the same ? Abundant proofs exist in London of the abominably cruel way in which Te Kooti has been treated, and an authentic record of his splendid past services to the Imperial Crown could be easily procured at once. We speak now with the greatest earnestness and sincerity, hoping that some one of our numerous readers will examine into this matter thoroughly, while there is vet time."