OPOTIKr. ~NATIVE VERSION OF RECENT EVENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3939, 7 April 1870, Page 3

O POTIK r. ~ NATIVE VERSION OF RECENT EVENTS.

We gave yesterday a portion of the translation of a letter reoeivecl from an influential native chief in the Opotiki district. We continue our extract: —■ Captain Walker .went .with hisu party by another road, and they found a young man named Witirea hiding in the fern. When this boy heard the voices of the Arawas and the pakehas, he came out into the road, and he had a narrow escape of being shot. But a palieha private saved liim. He wa3 asked by Captain Walker where Te Kooti was, and the Hauhau boy replied, "The Hauhaus are at Waimana, but Te Kooti is at Oniaramutu." Immediately the pakeha returned with the militia, when they heard firing, and saw the Arawas being pursued by Te Kooti. The pakehas would give no aid, but arrived at the mouth of the river and went away. The Arawas said, "Let us succour these Arawas, or Hetaraka Maihi will be caught;" hut the Europeans gave them bad words and went away, arriving at Opotiki, where they found Topia Turoa ferrying his army across the river at Pakihi. Topia asked what the firing meant, and he was told that it was only some firing of the Ar .was. Afterwards Topia found out how he had been led astray by fearful men. On the 20th l'lfc. Major Kemp and Major Topia went to Waioeka in pursuit of Te Kooti. They went by a circuitous route in order to catch him. On the 22nd ult. also Major Ropata went, also taking his course up the Waioeka river, in order to enclose Te Kooti. Major Kemp came down the Waioeka riverEnough of this. If the Arawas and the Europeans had acted promptly, that young man, Hetaraka Maihi, would not have been killed, and the Hauhaus would have been caught, every one of them. Te Kooti and his half-caste wife were both in the house, Thei'e were only four men who tried to catch Te Kooti, and he had 50 men. As it is, some of the officers have shown themselves incapable of leading their men, and their commission« should be cancelled. When I lead an ope I myself go in front. If I had been at Ohiwa, Hetaiaka Maihi would not have been killed. But have I received payment? Yes, and the command of the Arawas is given to me. Te Kooti has also fallen by me. We (the Arawas) have had many engagements with him, and we have worsted him in every engagement, right down to the affair of February 3rd, 1870, at Paengaroa. I am very sorry that I was called away when this last fighting took place, but I could not foresee the calamity that was to occur to my firstborn. The fault was in taking away my men from Ohiwa. If I had been there I would have been strong in leading my young men into the house. lam vei-y much discomforted as I sit here. It was God who gave me my firstborn, and He has taken him away and left me disconsolate. I cannot understand the meaning of His rod : I murmur against Mr. , and 1 murmur against others at Ohiwa, against King Tawhiao and Te Kooti. If this was only a Maori war I should be urged very much now that it should cease, and that peace should be made with Te Kooti and other murderers, that my child should, be left as a peace-making for their slain. Yes, I should be strong that it should cease. Look favourably upon this communication from me, and may the Almighty select the words of this letter. The persons who were killed of Te Kooti's party by the Arawas at Omararautu were Kereopa, Kaiwhatu, and Te Waru, an officer of Te Kooti. If the operations had been properly conducted Te Kooti would have been taken, and this fighting would have been ended,

Maratola Cocoa,— For Breakfast.— The ■ Globe say*, "Variona importer* and manu- . fnotarws have attempted to attain a repute* ' tion far their prepared Cocoas, but we doubt whether any thorough moosw had be«n achieved until Messrs. Taylor Brother* discovered the extraordinary qufthtiei of ; 1 Maravillft' Cocoa. Adapting their perfect ] •ystem of preparation to this finest of all 3 species of the Theobroma, they have pro* \ dttced an article which supersedes every J other Cocoa in the market. Entire solubility, | a delicate aroma, and a rare concentration of ] the purest elements of nutrition, distinguish ' the Maravilla Cocoa above all others. For homreopaths and invalids we could not recommend a more agreeable or valuable , beverage." Sold in packets only by all Grocers, of whom also may be had Taylor '■ Brothers' Original Homoeopathic Cocoa and Soluble Chocolate. Steam Mills, Brick J Lane, London. — £Adv.]