TE KOOTI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1861, 5 March 1889, Page 4

TE KOOTI.

Opotiki, March 2. Te Kooti Te Teruke Kikerango was tried to-day before Mr R. S. Bush, R.M., on the following information, laid by Inspector Goodall That lie unlawfully did certain offensive acls in the presence of the party complaining, publicly and to the common annoyance of her Majesty’s subjects, together withdivors other persons to the number of 250 or more, on 22nd .February, 1889, at Opotiki. and elsewhere in the count} of Whakatane, and in the provincial district of Auckland and colony aforesaid, by unlawfully assembling to disturb the public peace in the provincial district aforesaid and colony of New Zealand, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided. Inspector Goodall gave evidence as to Te Kooli leaving Waikato and proceeding to Wbokaiane with a large number of followers. Te Kooti had a bad reputation and as ho was addicted to drink this was additional cause of alarm. He had been asked to return to Waikato, but refused. The Inspector was asked by To Kooti— What crime do you know me to commit I “ I consider it a crime,” said tbo Inspector “ to have a hrge number of men together by which others are intimidated."

J. F. Oouuolly, an old Opotiki resident, supported the Inspector's statement as to the number of followers which Te Kooti bad and as to the fear prevailing in the district.

Te Kooti, who is apparently in ill health, looked weak and broken down, giving one the impression of a man whose prestige and power haye departed. He addressed the Court, and said—“ Whan I came the first time I did nothing offensive to anyone. I did not harm or steal anything. On my second visit my conduct was the same ; and on this occasion women and children are my companions. When Major Porter and Wi Pare came yesterday I agreed to return to Waikato. When 1 left Opotiki and arrived at Waiot.ha I found my followers, including women and children, were detained in Opotiki, and afterwards they came nod fetched me to prison. J consider it very wrong to detain the women and children. Perhaps these people were detained lost I might kill somebody. I have ceased to do that, and shall never do such a thiog again. This is all I wish to say.”

His Worship found defendant guilty, and bound nim over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £SOO and two sureties in £SOO each.

The decision was received with s murmur of dissatisfaction by the crowd outside.

During his incarceration Te Kooti's three wives were allowed to remain with him, and will probably accompany him to Auckland, for which city he is likely to leave by the Chelmsford this evening. Te Kooti’s adherents are undoubtedly crestfallen, and look as if they were resigned to the turn affairs have taken. They will probably soon go to their homes. Atjcklanb, March 3.

The steamer Chelmsford arrived from Opotiki at (5.30 p.m. on Saturday, bringing To Kooti under a police escort with the Auckland Naval contingent. When the vesssl was off tbo North Head Te Kooti was placed on board the steam launch Planet, and landed at Wyuyard Pier. He entered a cub and was convoyed to Mount Eden Gaol. A largo crowd, which had assembled at Queen Street wharf, were much disappointed when it was found that T« Kooti was uot on board the Chelmsford.

Preparations are being made to have Te Kooti’s conviction brought under review of the Eupn-rao Court and quashed. The proceedings it is alleged were irregular.

The grounds of Mr Napier’s appeal against To Kooti’s sentence is that no act of the prisoner comes under section 8 of the Justices of (he Peace Act; also that the information charged Te Kooti with a misdemeanour, and that Mr Bush had no power to deni with it, hut should have committed the prisoner to the Supreme Court,

Tifi KOOil’S VERSION OF THE POVERTY BAY MASSACRE. Mr James Mackay, the well-known Native land agent, supplies the New Zealand Herald with the following account of the events leading to the Poverty Bay massacre -us related by Te Kooti himself :

“ I, JIB you know, bslong to Turnnganni (Gisborne). I was engaged in trade tliero, and frequently went coasting voyages. Captain Reid was in business there, and was very jealous of me for taking Native business away from him. At, the time of the outbreak of hostilities on the East Coast f joined the Europeans, I fought on their aide at Wairenga-a-hika. I was beside Ctptain Bobs when he was shot through the bridge 0 f the nose. I shot two Maoris that day. Captain Boss is is now living at Paterangi, Waikato, and when you return there, if you doubt iny word, you ask him about it. Shortly after this fight, Captain Reid and some others trumped up a case against me for boraastea'ing. 1 was brought np before the Magistrates, and after inquiry the charge was dismissed, Then they said 1 was a hruliau and a epy for them. Captain Reid used his influence, and I was made a military prisoner and sent to Napier. T (hare saw St Donald McLean, and appealed to him, but he would not listen to me, and paid, ‘Send him away with the >est to Wharehauri (Chatham Islands), I went there vary j;onri (angry), as I was unjustly treated after fighting for the European'. Reid instigated it all to prevent my hurting his trade with the Natives ; he was also jealous of me. After a lima I determined to escape from the Chatham*. Captain Thomas, the aoldieia, and inhabitants wera very kind to ns, except n sergeant, who was in the habit of kicking us and swearing at ns; but my unjust deportation rankled in my mind,and wo wished to return to oor wives children, and people, I then planned mu’ ■•• scape. I gave strict orders that no European was to be hurt ; they were merely to be tied up as quietly os possible The obnoxious sergeant resisted, and a Maoei killed him, hut this was not loir] me at tha time. Wo took the vessel and started for Turanganui (Poverty Biy), but ihsre was no wind, and we were three days in sight of land. I had hoard that some wrong had been done, and was in groat fear lest a Government steamer might come from Wellington and capture us. I said (o the people, ‘There is a fiona (Jonah) on board,' a saying I had heard sailors use. Then it was admitted I that a relation of mine had killed the 1

sergeant. I then said, ‘ Throw him overboard. This was done, and shortly after we got a fair wind. The sailors were treacherous, and I found out they were steering for Wellington instead of Poverty Bay. I knew how to steer, and understood the compass from ray previous experience in coasting vessels, I told them to go the light course, or they would be thrown overboard. When we made the New Zealand coast we were not far from Poverty Bay. As I did not wish to land among the Europeans, we want ashore at Vvliareongaonga. We had brought with us all the arms «nJ ammunition we could find at the Ohalhams. We, however, had no intention of fighting the pakohas ; wo desired to go straight through the country to the Maori King at To Kuiti, and do as he might direct us. Major Biggs heard of our arrival, acd sent a message to us to surrender to him. This we declined to do. Then Te Purukamu (Westrupp) chased us. I then went away and sent word to Biggs that on a certain day I would go to Turaoganui and fight. Biggs did not believe this. Why did he not look out and be prepared for mo f Many natives of the Nriwora and other tribes joined me. I then made the attack at night. The women and children were killed. They were treated exactly the same os one Maori tribe fights another in war. No one can restrain Maods under such circumstances. I die not personally kid anyone, but, of course, I being the general am blamed for it. “You most admit that I fought well against the large forces of pakohas and Maoris who chased me about the country. Captains Preece antKMair were your best men, and gave me much trouble. T«w« (Captain Mair) nearly had me on one occasion. I wos in a small raupo wlure, and two of Male's Maori contingent rushed it ; they turned to take some clothing, and did not see m«. I burst through the side of the house. Captain Mair was coming up. I jumpsd down into the bed of a slream. Mair fired at me hurriedly, and the bullet went over my shoulder. I afierwards got safe to To Kuiti,. where I would have come quietly io the first instance but for the action of Biggs and Westrupp. “ I do not wish to do any fighting, and will have nothing to do with the Waikato tribes. Ido not believe in 1 heir manner of fighting—that is, in attempting to murder you—or in Purukutii’s murder “of the pakeba. I believe in fighting, jf necessary, but not in their munne r> j dare say you disbelieve a great 0 f what I have now told you. have listened very patiently to me, an( j if y OU moke enquiry you will find tb' Lt t my statement is correct. lam sorry I took y o ur hat yesterday. I leaye tb.ts as an atone-' raent for doing so." Ho got up und put a small greenstone eardrop on the mat at the entrance of the tent, and walked away.