TE KOOTI CAMPAIGN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 4

TE KOOTI CAMPAIGN.

The memorable expedition against Te Kooti came up for consideration yesterday in Committeeof Supply and causeda very inteiesting: and animated debate. When the defence Aotc was being dealt with, membeis continually referred to the campaign, but the Minister in charge (Hon. Mr Fergus) promised all iniormation when the vote lor volunteers was arrived at. When thus item (£28,912) ca/ne up the Delence Minister said that tho total cost of the To Kooti campaign was £2,610, and it a\ as all defrayed out of last year's volunteer vote, against which it was charged in the unauthoii«ed expenditure account. Dr. Newman warmly pressed for more information on the subject, and characterised the whole Te Kooti epibode as being scarcely creditable to the colony and chose concerned in it. He asked for details of the expenditure of £2,610 in stopping one old Maori from going to Gisborne. The rromicr said the colony \vas> undoubtedly near to bloodshed at the time. 1 This was the deliberate opinion of men who knew the Maoris thoroughly. In his last interview witn Te Koott in Auckland, he informed him that as a Biibisb subject and pardoned man he must keep the peace. He did not lorbicl To Kooti to go to Gisborne because he had no authority to do so, but told him that it ho vent alone and without parade or followers he would nob be interfered with, but it he threatened the peace he would be arrested. Te Kooti remained in Auckland for a few days to consider the matter. When he (the Piemier) went to Gisborne he found the Europeans banding themselves together to re&isb Te Kooti, and the friendly Maoris thoroughly atiaid ol his advent, and some of them even threatening to shoot him. Major Bopata taid the Maoris wcie in earnest, and advised that Te Kooti should not be allowed to come. Tho Hauhan natives had ianatical faibh in Te Kooti, and believed that the Government could not stop him from going, and if he had come and had any success his old influence would have been restored, but he forbade them to arm, and undertook to do whatever was necessary to maintain tho peace. He insisted upon tho abandonment oi the Vigilance Committee, and then, after consulting his colleagues, decided to take measmes to stop Te Kooti, who had by thid time come on to Opotiki. On steps being taken, Te Kooti chose to get drunk and several miles towards the Wailcato, but it was to a place which commanded two roads to Gisborne instead of one, in fact it was an attempt to outgeneral him (the Premier). To Kooti promised to go back to the Waikato, but lie was evidently trilling, and as Wi Pero reported that ho was a man whoso word could not be depended upon, and as responsible officers stated that the packages his followers carried might contain aims, information was sworn for an unlawful assembly, upon which tho chief was arrested and imprisoned. If Te Kooti had been allowed to go to Gisborne the result would undoubtedly have been disastrous. (Cheers.) Mr W. Fraser thought that tho Premier's action at Gisborne was beyond question, but tho mischief had been done in feting him at Auckland. The Premier said the difficulty then was that the man had committed no offence. The Hon. Mr Ballance held that the mistake arose in the Government not putting down its foot at the outset, for ToKooti had always shown himself to be very tractable. If the Premier knew when in Auckland, as he said, that war would follow the going of Te KooLi to Gisborne, he would have been justified in taking action to preserve peace. The telegram of the Minister of Justice to Gisborne settlers warning thorn not to interfere with Te Kooti's liberty doubbloss encouraged that worthy to go to the district.

■ The Premier said that if he had known when in Auckland that Te Koobi intended to take a largo number of followers he' would have stopped him, but he thought that after what he had said Te Kooti would not attempt to go. Mr Ballanco blamed the Nativo Minister for not knowing the temper of the natives. Mr Carroll supported the action of Go vernment. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 10.35 p.m. The debate will be rcsumod when the estimates again come up for consideration.