TE KOOTI'S VISIT TO POVERTY BAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2069, 21 February 1889, Page 2

TE KOOTI'S VISIT TO POVERTY BAY

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Gibboknb, February 20 The exoltement m regard toTe Kooti's contemplated visit Ib more Intense and families from the country are oomlng to town for protection. The ohlofe of the Tauranget and ftgatlporou trlbeß have sent a telegram to the Native Mlolator strongly condemning Te Kooti's visit and stating that If ho Is not Btopped at Opotikl they will immediately rise and stop him. Tho Ngatlporouß are the Btmngeat tribe on this ooaafc and could placo 700 or 800 men In the fiold. They are vehrmontly opposed to Te Kootl, against whom they fought. Wellington, February 20. Government has requested Mr Bush, R.M. at Tauranga, to use his best efforts to persuade. Te Kootl not to risit the Poverty Bay distrlot.

Tbe Minister of Justice has received the following telegram this afternoon, signed W K. Chambers, Chairman of, the Vigilance Committee formed at Gisborne:—" Committee is of opinion from the nature of the replies received from the Minister of Justice that Government do not realise the real danger. It la the wish of every one m the district to keep the peace. At same time every European settler and a large seotlon of the natives, Inoludlng the whole of the Ngatiporon, consider Te Kiotl's presence, pardoned or unpardoned, an Insult and a standing monaoa to the peace of the district, and would eventually estrange the two races on the East Coast, between whioh at present the very beat possible feeling exists. It is not alone thb followers be would bring with him, but he would be joined by a large band of fanatics here, who are Increasing every day,, who are makiog great preparations to receive him, and who are already taunting the natives who fought against Te Kootl before aa to wh»t tbey will do when Te Koott comes. Notwlthetindlng the G>vernment aasuranoe ih»t there Is no fear of Te Kooti's breaking tbe law, we claim to know muoh better than the Government m what the danger oonslsto. We are so confident that mischief will ensue If be visits this district, that we are determined to prevent htm. Government, If they wish for information as to breach of peace, If Te Kooti comes, should obtain it here, and not from outside sourooa and appoint some one to waru Te Kootl back, and, If he persists In oomlng, exercise its ondoubted legal power to arrest him. An Information could be laid for unlawful assemblage, vide "Fi'z James Stephens Digest, " article 70, page 40 " To this tbe Minister replied rultorn'.iag the opinion of Government that the danger to be apprehended waa not bo muoh from Te Kootl aa from those making the agitation ugaln&t him, . and bepg'ng the Vigilance Committee to u?e their endeavors to allay tho exoiteraeut. Tho Minister again states that G->ven>m >nt hnvo no power to interfere with T< Kootl, and that the law quotation does noi apply to his case, and adds that Government Bru kept well informed of the state of affairs by their agents on the spot.

The Government have received a number of telegrams from leading men In Poverty Biy presalng for arms and ammu nltion to be sent up and ball cartridge Issued to the Volunteers. They have deollued to t>ke any such steps, and Informed the senders they look to them to aid m repressing exo'temeat and not to enooara&e It. Gisborne, Februtry 21. Mr Chambers, Chairman of the Vigilance Committep, la reported In a looal paper to have Bald : " Goveromeat had 48 hoora to consider the muter, and If thi y had not made up their minds In 21 hours the Committee abould take decisive ateps They should act aa if there were not a Government, or the whole district would be brought into disrepute. The I defence of their women and children would bo left entirely m ihelr own hands; They'sbotjld la*, Te &ootl audersta'^d that neither now nor at any future time should ho be allowed to enter the distrlot. If that were not done the alarm would continue so long as the man lived,

The following extracts from telegrams dated Gisbcrne, 20 h lnat, show why there' 1b euoh intense ezoltement among the Bettlera: —

At a meeting of tbe Vigilance Committee Mijor Weetrupp stated that the Government had not hlther'o reoeived a full explanation of the grounds why Te Kootl should not come. The rebel's lnfl'ienoo was gaining every day. Fonrfiftha of the Natives about Giaborno wore Hiu Hans. There would only be fifty or eighty men that would not join the rebel when the limecame. TheNativiß looked upon him ai more than man — a God«~and would do whatever he told them, They would join hla train from faur G)varnment did not know this. The Natives pbeyiog the c rnmands of Te Koo i <*11l not sell their land, tnd settlement la thus Irjared. It was probable To Kooti's route would be through the Ud^era coantry. where the people were all strong adherents of his, and It w»b quite prolable be might have anna and stores thero sufficient to supply a largo foro j . It wts stated that the Natives about Karaka were acting m an overbearing manner to Europeans m the district, and a feeling of »ntagom!sra prevailed.

The following telegram has been forwarded to Napier to. the Premier :■**•" It would Batjsfy the district If you oan possibly come here, and assure yourself that the people are m an alarmed and excited state, desirous of keeplug the peace between the two rsoes, but the Europ ans and friendly Natives are dator* mined to keep Te Kootiffrom oomlng Into the district, if neoesuary by force. In proof of the existing feeling, the settlers have left their homes and are m town with their wives and families."

A 'meeting of Justices of the Peaoe, to make representation, will be held tomorrow ; also a mjetlng of citizens, to decide what stepß anal} be taken, The Committee reqae&t all persons ownlug fire arms and ammunition to furnish a return of same to effloers appointed to receive the inf< rraatlon. In various plaoes throughout the country. Major Ropata and the Ngatlponrl tribe have been communicated with, and theee, with the Mohika aod Ngaati tribes, will be asked to hold themselves In readiness. A letter from Ngaatt, near Opotokl, states that on receipt of Information that Te Ko )ti was coming all the Npaati immediately took op their arms to fight against his oomlng, and the party who intend to obstruct him are at Opotokl. WlPere has Induced them to abandon their intention of going to Wbak.»ia.oe to stop Te Rootl and return him to his kainga, Enough Ngaatls are waiting on watch for his arrival.