NATIVE INTELLIGENCE :THE PURSUIT OF TE KOOTI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4356, 1 August 1871, Page 3

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE :THE PURSUIT OF TE KOOTI.

The Haiokc's Bay Herald says — " Shortly after T.he receipt of the news from Makariui, publiBhed in a former issue, with reference to the capture of certain friendly natives by Te Kooti at Waikaremoana, a native woman named Abigail, one of those said to have been taken by Te Kooti, came to the Wairoa. She denied entirely the truth of the information that Makarini had sent, and declared that Te Kooti bad never been at the Lake at all. We understand, however, that instructions were sent to the officer in command iv Wairoa, to the effect that he should start immediately to the Lake with a small force, and take such steps as might appear to him requisite, notwithstanding the woman's account of the matter. Inspector dimming, accordingly, with 20 Constabulary and 30 natives, left Wairoa on the 16th for Lake Waikaremoana. Just before they left, another native from the Lake came to Wairoa, who had himself been forced to assist in crossing Te Kooti from one side of the Lake to the other. This was done about the 10th of the month. Bis party was then said to have numbered in all, with men, women, and children, something under 40. He gave out that he was going to Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, which assertion was probably made only as a cloak to his true intentions. There is not much chance of Major Cumming seeing anything of him. He will almost certainly have made off before the expedition reaches the Lake. Te ELooti's appearance there was, no doubt, caused by Ropata'a hot pursuit of him in his former retreat." ' In a subsequent issue the same journal reports : — "A. few days ago we stated that Te Kooti had appeared at Waikaremoana, and had left again, it not being known where he had gone to ; also, that Inspector Cumming had instructions to occupy the Waiuaremoana district. This, we have since learned, he has done. We are also informed that, simultaneously with Inspector Cumming's occupation of Waik.arem.oaaa, instructions were sent to Captains Preece and Mair to march with their native contingent to Ruatahuna, where it was believed Te Kooti would be most likely to make for. Captain Preece's force has been delayed by the bad weather, which was unusually severe, even in Taupo. He only succeeded on Monday in crossing the Ilangitaki river, which he had marched a long way to head, and even then had to bridge. Information has been received from Ituatahuua that Te Kooti is there, and it is reported that he intends to give himself up, although this latter item of information is very much open to doubt. We shall hear probably in a few days the result of the moves Captain Preece's force is now making. "