DEATH OF TE KOOTI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9178, 19 April 1893, Page 5

DEATH OF TE KOOTI.

A telegram from our own correspondent at Opatiki abates that "a native has just arrived from Ohiwa bringing word that To Kooti died last night." To Kooti was a native of the East Coast tribes, and alliod to both Ngatihangunui and Ngatiporou. Though not a chieftain by rank or birth, ho obtained great prestige among the natives through his deeds in fighting againsb tho colonial troops during tho East Coast campaign of 1868-71. At the time of his death ho was about 70 years of age. In 1866 ho was arrested at Poverty Bay, on a chargo of supplying the rebel natives with arms and ammunition, and sent with other native prisoners of war to the Chatham Islands. To Kooti hatched a scheme to escape, and got away, after scouring the guard, and killing one man, in the schooner Rifleman, in 1868, and landed at Wharoongaonga, near Poverty Bay. Ho forced the captain and crow to navigate the vessel to tho East Coast. On the escaped prisoners landing they were followed up by tho colonial forces, who had various skirmishes with them. On the 9th November, 1868, Te Kooti and his band surprised tho Poverty Bay settlement, and massacred a number of Europoans, men, women, and children, also a number of friendly natives. To Kooti was after that terrible episode outlawed, ami for several years hunted by the colonial forces and the Ngabiporous. under Major Te Ropata, till his followers were nearly all killed, and ho had had many hairbreadth escapes from being captured. In 1871 he went to the King Country, and put himself under the protection of Tawhiao, where, in 1882, he was formally pardoned by the Hon. John Bryco, then Native Minister, who gave him a piece of land near Orakau. Other native offenders wore amnestied at the same time. At that time he told Mr. Bryce that he would never lift his hand againsb bho Government again in anger, and he kept his word, assisting tho (Government at the time when Mahuki imprisoned Messrs. Hurst house and Newman, and no doubt saved the lives of these mon. To Kooti visited Auckland during the time the Hon. E. Mitchelson was Native Minister, and was an object of great curiosity when going about in tho streets.