AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1075, 17 August 1869, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

ALEXANDRA. — DEPAttTCfijG OF ; "TB ■.: ■»■:•. ■:.:• KOQTI, : '■: '••* r.y* ■ . (From tlie correspondent of 'tire Southern CrofS,") . Alexandra, Atigusfc iti. Nihvs arrived here this afternoon that To kooti has actually led the Waikato district, having started for Taupo on Thursday last, escorted by . 300 of the .King natives. If this is correct it is a thousand pities that our troops hate been removed from that place, as they, might have given him a thrashing. I have not heard for certain his destination, but it is generally supposed to be Tauranga. I see you have still your doubts about this being the original Te Kooti. Mr. Hettit, who had the honour of entertaining him for two days, and had a deal of conversation with him, entertains no doubt whatever on the subject. . He says that, from the minute and circumstantial manner in which Te Kooti described the whole manner of his escape from the Chatham Islands, the pursuit of Biggs, and various occurrences up to the moment he Was conversing with him in his own house, he is quite certain he is the original Te Kooti and no other. Te Kooti described to him his visit to Opepe on his road to the Waikato. He says it was himself who was then present and shook hands with the officer. He said he had no intention of killing any of the Europeans .there, but, seeing one of the men seize his rifle to fire at him, he had no other alternative than to kill them or be killed. Had the man not done this, he says he meant only to expostulate with them for trying to fight with him, when he only required a peaceable road to Waikato. Most of your readers are no doubt well acquainted with the personal appearance of the friendly chief Wiremu te Wheoro, of Lower Waikato. Te Kooti greatly resembles him, having a slight stoop in the shoulders. He is very subtile and sarcastic in conversation, 'but when a little excited appears a very* Jolly companion amongst his men. One of Hettit's sons,' who partook rather much of the cup that cheers and does inebriate, had a disagreement with Te Kooti, seized him by the hair of the head, and, using his hand as a saw at Te Kooti's neck, told him he would cut his head off, and make it a present to Tawhiao before long if' he did not mind. Several of Kooti's men got very excited at this, and 'wished to shoot him, but Kooti would not heap- of it, telling them it was his own fault for giving him the drink-i-that it was the grog alone that was talking. 'The statement that Kooti took away Mr. Hettit's daughter, is simply false. ■-.-''■-

(From the correspondent of the "N. Z. Herald." August 10. About eighty men of the armed constabulary, under the command of Captain Pitt, reached here last Sunday en route to Te Awamutu. During last week a great number of reports have been in circulation as to the movements of Te Kooti and - followers. I give your readers a few items for what they are worth. One day last week we heard that Keihana, Te Whakahoehoe, Kati, and Honi Wetiri, with 400 men, had gone to order Te Kooti out of the district. On Thursday last Te Kooti, with 207 men, was in the pa they built at Wharerata, and that part of his force had returned to Taupo. llewi was then in Te Kooti's pa, about seven miles from TokangamutuJ Weteri and Iteihana, of Mokau, and people were living within three miles of Te Kooti's pa. Waikatos said to be anxious for Te Kooti's return to Taupo by the way he came, bufc that worthy says he prefers visiting Taranaki. Te Kooti has seven wives, is a middle aged man, tall, without tatoo or beard. [■ Tito Kowaru's brother has been at ' To* kangamutu for the last fortnight. ' He is a young man, middle height, no tatoo. Tito Kowaru, with a force of 800 men, is reported to be at Mokau." The latest'report reached here from the King's country on Friday last is to the effect that Te Kooti, with 600 men, had suddenly disappeared, and his exact route was not known. However, another person, well acquainted with the movements of Waikatos and Te Kooti, states that Te Kooti had cleared out for Taupo the way he came, all his people having deserted him. - The Thames gold fields continue to yield large returns. The following paragraphs ar e [from the Evening Star:— The result of the crushing of All Nations specimens was retorted yesterday, and yielded the handsome return of 3600z. of retorted gold. This was obtained from 9470z. of amalgam, the result of a crushing of 8001 b. of stone at the Kuranui Company's one-stamper, and was yesterday deposited in ihe Union Bank of Australia, Grahamstown. The amalgam must have been very carefully handled, for this is certainly the cleanest parcel of gold yet produced at the Thtmes. It is of a very rich bright oolor, and will scarcely lose per cent, in melting. It certainly reflects credit on the maijager for the careful manner in which the amalgam has been handled and retorted. A retorting took place .at the Prince : Alfiad battery yesterday for the Golden Crayn company, the amalgam being from the tiates, which yielded 133 ounces of gold. Thejsecond letorfc for the week took place this morning, and resulted in. 168 ounces, makug a total for the week already of 301 ounces of gold.