MR. FIRTH'S VISIT TO TE KOOTI.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1123, 1 February 1870, Page 3

MR. FIRTH'S VISIT TO TE KOOTI.

We (Southern Cross) gave, in a former issue, a few particulars of the visit of J. C Firth, Efcq., to Te Kooti, afc the invitation of the latter. A good deal i»f misapprehension lias existed as to the object of Mr. Firth's visit, owing to the want of full knowledge of the circumstances, bufc the following copy of the report which Mr. Firth bus sent to the Hon. D. M'Lean explains the matter clearly : — Matamata, January 20, 1870. To the Hon. Donald M'Lean, Native and Defence Minister, Auckland. Sib, — I have tho honor to report for your information certain circurnstnnces which have occurred at this place, since my arrival here ten or twelve months ago. In order thafc you may the better understaud my position amongst the adherents of the King, outside the confiscated line, ifc will be necessary for me to refer very briefly to one or two matters which havo exercised more or less influence amongst ' the natives living in the country. beyond ' the frontier about Matamata. William Thompson, dui'ing his lifetime, gave in his adhesion to the new order of things, inaugurated by the Native Lands Courts. His sagacious intellect recognised afc once the important services these new Courts { were able to confer upon his people. Unfortunately for the welfare of both races, he died in December, 1866 — before the people, over whom he exercised an almost unbounded influence, fully comprehended I the new state of affairs. Immediately on i his death all the Hauhau section of the Ngatihaua, and other kindred tribes, aban- . doned the new policy, and returned to the isolating exclusive policy, adhered to with so much pertinacity by Tawhiao and his followers at Tokangamutu. Immediately after Thompson's death, a system of warnI ings and threatenings towards me was ret sorted to, with the view of compelling me to abandon the agreements made bebween . Thompson and his adherents and myself. p My houses and stockyards have been ' burned, my cattle have been killed, armed J parties have traversed my lands, threafcen--1 ing my life and the lives of my servants, t When I asked why I was singled out in this manner, when there were other Euro- , peans holding runs outside the confiscation i line aswell as myself, they replied : "Your leases alone have been signed bj Thomp- ; son. You nre the only pakeha who was prominently connected with him, and if 1 we can drive you away we shall waste no words with tiie other pakehas ; we shall s say to them ' Go.' " I steadfastly and ,

qnietly resisted every effort to drive r,io J within Iho confiscation lino. I havo ?> ibmilted to innumerable injuries on tho part of ihe n.-uivos ; j. iwivj uncomplainingly borne the unjust misrepresentations of a portion of the newspaper press of the colony. 1 have been alternately held up by these writers to the scorn and hatred of my countrymen. My life has been threatened again and again by the natives. My reputation has been continually assailed by anonymous writers. The work I have had to do has been of that nature that I could not afford to lose my time or mj temper because anonymous writers chose to attack me. I felt that I had been placed in a position which was none of my seeking ; that I was not so much cultivating a farm, or laying the foundation of an estate, as that I was engaged in the nobler work of helping to secure the peace of tho country. I have endeavoured, by firmness, justice, and patience, to shew the natives that the European settlers meant well by them ; I have endeavoured to turn them from the sullen isolation and wild fanaticism in which I found them in 1865. I have never shrunk from a difficulty, nor have I ever gone out of my way to avoid a danger. When my cattle were seized by Hau Haus, I declined Government assistance to recover them. When the natives closed up the Thames against my canoes, with the intention of starving me out, and compelling me to abandon any position, I quietly made a road across the Maungakawa mountains, at a heavy expense, without the assistance, aud indeed, I may say, without the knowledge, of Government ; and yet, if operations are ever undertaken against Te Kooti, that road will be found to be the only dray road into the great inland plains lying between the Patefcero ranges and the Waikato river. Sir, I offer no apology for this preface. Against every calumny I have hitherto maintained an immovable silence. Ifc is now due to myself to make this explanatio»Tbecause I shall most probably be attacked aod insulted as before. This prefatory explanation is also due to you, whose great and intimate knowledge of native affairs is universally admitted, bufc whose long absence from this province has made you to some extent unacquainted with the new state of affairs which has arisen since the termination of the war. 1. On the 12fch instant, a Ngatihaua native informed me that Te Kooti had suddenly appeared in the Patefcere ranges, near Matamata, .with 800 men. He advised me to leave Matamata immediately. I did not pay much attention to his report. Later in the day other natives gave me confirmatory informatfdn. Next day I sent a messenger to Okauia, a native villago in the ranges about eight miles from my house. This messenger returned with the information that Te Kooti had that morning visited Okauia. Ou heariug this, all the natives at Matamata and the neighbourhood decided to leave for the Maungakawa mountains, and strongly urged me to leave with my people and stock without delay. 2. It was quite evident to me that, if I abandoned -Mafcamata, the whole of that part of the country from the river Waiho at the base of the Patetere range, across the Maungakawa mountains, to the confiscation lino close to Cambridge, would fall into the hands of. Te Kooti, from which I knew, it would be no easy matter to dislodge him. I therefore told the assembled natives that there had been too much running away in this country on the first sound of danger, and that I intended to remain at Matamata for the present. They said, " You will certainly bo killed by Te Koofci." I replied, "lam in God's hands." Next day every Maori went away to a place of safety, with the dxception of four men and two women, who, seeing I was determined to remain, without any solicitation on my part decided to remain with me. Before sundown on Friday, the 14th, every horse, cow, and every particle of moveable property belonging to Maoris had been removed from Matamata. On that day I sent you the following telegram : — "Te Kooti is in the ranges at Okauia, eight miles from here ; he has 100 men j with him, and intends attacking Tauranga. Ngatinaua alarmed. Have sent away their women and children. Three of the bravest men remain here with me ; rest gone to Maungakawa. If danger becomes more imminent I shall send away my sons. I intend remaining here one week, My services are at your disposal ; if you have any instructions, reply. " Matamata, January 14, 1870." To which you returned the following reply : — " I am much obliged for your information and attention. I shall be glad to hear further from you." 3. Next day I sent my sons to Cambridge. On Sunday two Maoris arrived from Te Kooti, with a request to me not to be afraid, but to remain on the land, as he did not wish to fight. The two natives took a similar message to the Muoris who had already fled from the district. During thafc afternoon a message arrived from Te Kooti, who informed mo that be desired to meet me. I felt that a critical moment had come. I saw at once that, if I manifested any sign of flinching after his message of thafc morning, he would most probably advance afc once. upon Matamata, and take possession of all that part of the country. For myself and my servants I had not much fear. In April, 1869, I addressed a letter (copy annexed) to the principal chiefs in the Patetere ranges, who are regularly receiving a considerable rent from me, warning them against permitting Te Kooti, should he visit them, to perpetrate any atrocity upon their land.-*- I felt that these chiefs knew they had too much to lose by Te Kooti killing me. I saw that by meeting him I might be able to communicate information more or less valuable to the Government ; aud I therefore decided to meeb him. I sent afc once to Cambridge for Mr. It. E. Campbell to act as interpreter, and telegraphed to you to the following effect (I quote from memory) : — "Te Kooti desires to meet me. This interview may afford an opportunity for the establishment of peace. If you desire me to say anything to him, let mo know what ifc is, and I will go down and say it to him on behalf of the Government." 4. Next day (Monday) I sent away To Kooti's messenger, with the following re ply : — • " I will meet you unarmed, at Wi Taniehana's monument. Fix the time yourself." About noon, some of my people observed a long line of clusb on the road from Ohinoroa. Immediately afterwards, a messenger galloped tip, and informed me that Te Kooti with forty attendants, would meet me afc 1 o'clock, at Thompson's monument, afc Turangamoana. Mr Campbell having just come in from Cambridge, and no reply to my telegram having arrived from town, I rode off to meet Te Koofci, accompanied by Mr. Campbell, and Kereama Tauwhare and Hori Neri, two Ngatihaua natives. 5. I arrived on the ground at 1 o'clock. As I approached tho monument, a Maori advanced to meet me, raising his hat and saluting mo as he approached. I dismounted on learning thafc Te Kooti stood before me. He was attended by two halfcaste youths, fully armed; To Ko.otihimself -being unarmed. His height is -about sft. 9in. ; he is about 35 years of age, '

* -' - stout JybuiU, broad-shouldered, nnd strong]iml;Oii. His features are not repulsive ; a I'ulhor Jjirgu devfiopuiiMifc of juw and ! ciiiu conveys tho idea of a man of strong and resolute will. 'He has no tatoo ; hair black and glossy ; wears a black moustache and short black beard. His dress consisted of woollen cords, top boots, and grey shirt ; over the latter he wore a^loose vest, with gold chain, and greenstone ornament. I noticed thnfc he had lost the middle finger of the left hand. Without further ceremony, on dismounting, I said to him : " Te Kooti, your messenger informed me that you desired to meet me. I have come. My ears are open. What is the word you hove to say to me ? Eemember I am a settler, without authority from the Government to offer you any terms. I am tho canoe, bat I neither direct nor steer." Te Kooti then replied ; " I have met you, the friend of William Thompson, the man who had a great regard for the people. I want to say to you that I will respect his last words spoken to you. I will not molest you or any thing belonging to you, or any of your people on this land. I wish also to say to you that I am weary of fighting and desire to live quietly at Tapapa. If I am let; alone I, will never fight more, and will not hurfc man, woman, or child." I then pointed out to him that he had committed many crimes ; that he had killed women and children, both pakeha and Maori, without mercy y and that, in the eyes of us Europeans, he was a murderer — tangata: kohuru. Te Kooti replied — " The deeds I have done may be considered by you Europeans to be murders, but not by the Maoris, and even for them [i.e. the killing of women and children] the Government is to blame. When I escaped from captivity, and landed at Turanga, my only wish was to be allowed to go inland and settle quietly. But they would not. They followed me up and we fought. I killed women and children at Poverty Bay, both pakeha and Maori. That gave me a name. Then I went to Taupo, wishing still to remain quiet. But the European and Maori followed me up, and we again fought. Then I went to TokangamuLu. I said to the Government of the Maori and to the Government of the European, " Let there be no more fighting— let it cease ;" but they did not listen ; they still followed to molest mo. Now I have come here, nob to fight, but to live quietly with Hakaraia at Tapapa. But if the Europeans and the Maoris attack me from every side — if they jump upon me — I shall turn upon them. I wifl rise up and fight, and kill all, as before." I said, " This is my word to you—surrender to the Government." He said, " I will remain at peace." I advised him to say to the Government, " Spare my life, and the lives of followers, and I will give our bodies and our arms into your hands." He said, " I will not surrender." He continued, " Have you any word from tbe Government ?" I replied, "No ; my messenger has not returned : the road is long." He said : "If they will let me alone, I will live quietly* if not, I will fight." I said: " If you fight, fight like a man with man, and not with helpless women and children," He replied : "I have heard your words." Dui'ing this conversation his followers had formed in a half circle at his back. They were all well anned — some with short Enfields, some with bveeeli-loaders, and one or two double-barrelled fowlingpieces — all apparently in excellent order. A well-dressed woman, about 25 years old, of a handsome bufc melancholy cast of countenance, sat at Te Kooti's feet during the interview. I learnt afterwards that this woman was his wife. I said, in conclusion : " I have heard your words. Remember my words. Igo now to my kainga." The interview then ended, and I rode homewards. 7. On my return to Matamata, Dr. Pollen's reply to my telegram had arrived. It rau as follows : "If Te Kooti will surrender unconditionally, I will guarantee his safe conduct to Auckland as a prisoner." I despatched this message to Te Kooti. Next day he sent the following reply, which I telegraphed at once in Maori to Dr. Pollen :—- --"To Dr. Pollen. — I have seen your letter. My word to you. I have already promised Mr. Firth to cease fighting. Afterwards your lotter reached me. I will stop fighting — stop entirely. But as for me, I will not go to Auckland. Let me remain at peace. The killing shall cease. But if you follow me up, let it be so. Sir, cease your punishing of me. " This is all.— From Te Kooti." I cannot conclude this report without bringing under your notice the brave conduct and ready assistance afforded me by Mr. R. E. Campbell iv the capacity of interpreter. lam also under great obligations to the Ngiitihaua natives, Kereaina Tauwhare and Hoi'i Neri, for the steady support and valuable assistance they have give me. — I have, &c, J. C. FIKTH. Copy of letter referred to above : — ■ " To the chiefs of the lands of Turangoamoana. "Friends — Salutations to yon all. The time has come for me to speak weighty words to you. Hearken, tho greatest chief of this island, Wi Tamchana, is dead. He was your father. In former times lie said to you, ' Do not lease the land to the pakeha.' After that, he saw that those words did not bring good but evil to the laud and to you. I spoke to him. Then his eyes were opened. Then he found that the pakeha Courts for finding out to whom the land belonged were good. These Courts were open to all. Wi Tamehana spoke to the Court at Hamilton. He then said, ' Why should tho land remain idle? Let Hohuiu have thd laud for an annual payment.' Wi Tainuhana( William Thompson) and I had buried the tomahawk at Puketutu. He made peace in Waiho. After that he died. His last works were better than his former works. He said to me, "Be patient with my people." Since his death you have done, or permitted to be done, many evil things to me. Have I not been patient and just towards you P I have paid to you large sums of mouey as rent for Turangoamoana. Your foolish actions have prevented my having any benefit from those payments for tho land, but i havo pub on William Thompson's mantle of patience which he gave me. I have had great patience. I haA r o said, These men have done me wrong, bufc they are children, and do childish things. They will soon become men, and cast childish things away. lam still wailing. "My friends, this is another word. Do you hear ifc ? Evil deeds are being done in this island. Ministers, and women and children, have been killed by bad men. God will surely punish them for doing these evil deeds. You permit murderers and bad men to dwoll amongst you. Tavvhiao is said to be angry with tiiese bad men. Be you very careful that the footsteps of a murderer do not defile Turangaoraoami. I have sent ray women and children away from Tunmgaoinoana, so that they may not be killed' there, so that no 1 act of war bo done there. My men ser-

. rants and .uy liords of calilii slill rcninin ; ok that land. JSow i Uvxv »m my wonls to . yuv. lii'inombi'i' llit-m mil. Tho lands ; Oi j. uriingaomoauaaro written in (In- books ■ oi' the law to be your lands, it' uo evil deed be done, these lands will remain yours for ever. But hearken : if men are . killed there, if cattle are killed there, those i lauds may pass out of your hands. If the waters of Waiho (Thames) run red with blood, your lands will go to sea. Now, ; hearken. I leave my men and my cattle in your keeping ; keep them safely and in peace, for I shall require them again at your hands. — From your friend, 1 "J. C. Fibth."