TE KOOTI'S PROPOSED VISIT TO GISBORNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7007, 2 May 1884, Page 5

TE KOOTI'S PROPOSED VISIT TO GISBORNE.

A MAORI PROTEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Gis'borne, Wednesday. The Herald publishes the following letter from Major Ropata :—" To the Editor of the Poverty Bay Herald,—Friend : I am much disturbed in thoughts by the reports spreading about that Te Kooti Wtitianga is coming to this (eastern) side of the island. Perhaps it has been settled between him and the Government in this fashion : 'We have made peace with you, Te Kooti. You are liberty to go to any part of the island you choose, including the East Coast.' Now listen to me. There is no clear spot amongst the darkness. On this coast our thoughts are in darkness, i.e., troubled. Still—both Maoris and pakehas—with regard to Te Kooti'b work, that any tribe, or portion of one, or pakehas, should be strong enough to invite this man amongst them. These people *rho have invited him (alluding to the Wairoa natives) were his soldiers and helped him. in his murderous work. They have left traces of their evil deeds behind them at Poverty Bay, Tolugo Bay, Mohaka, and other places. Then let these people, who have not suffered, who have not had relatives and friends murdered by this man and hi« minions, invite and cherish him. It would be tbe same as killing our own flesh and blood were we to allow him to come here. If anyone wants him here (in these parts) it must be his friends who were fighting with him in IS6S. It was the Ngatiahunguhu from the Wairoa who were his soldiers when he made the raid on this place, and led them on to kill his own relatives, with the Europeans. fThe writer here enumerates tho persons killed by Te Kooti's band in Poverty Bay.] Now with all this fresh in our memories are we to tolerate this man's presence, in our midst ? I should say not. Let Mr. Bryce be ever so friendly with him it is sot to be supposed that the relatives and friends of those enumerated above, could endure his presence in these parts. I would recommend the Government to advise their friend Te Kooti to keep at a safe distance from the Bast Coast, otherwise trouble may come of his presence here. From your friend, Kopata Wahawaha."