A VISIT TO TE KOOTI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3686, 27 November 1873, Page 5

A VISIT TO TE KOOTI.

The'lTew"Zealand. Herald.has an adnirable correjßporid^ent at Alexandra—generally sup-, posed to: be Mrs. Morgan—whose jvisit from; LTawkiao was the subject' of much wide com-; ment a few month'sago. WhetberMrsM6rgan be or be: not ;the correspondent, :th'e* letters 1 are aftyays interesting, and the I intelligence' has/always proved; true. '' The latest letter'is; 'date'd'lith November, and c'oiit&in's some vii-" usually inferesting^items.' 'Alexandx'a'had been vi&iWd by'great numbers of rank . arid; station' among the Haiihaus,; all' yery curious' about 'King's visit;. '"But a,s; the ] Kin"g '•rdid r?4ot;k'nowhis dbjeet, or' if' lieTdid,' oirirfcted to1 tell'anvone," theyjcould not gain lhuch'by their enquiries^ 1 Tfies6 visitors spent 'alii their ;inon.ey' 6ri 'drink, which has taken a"deadly"liuld;lipon tlieiri" and they' 'will sacrifice anything to obtain it. ' There cannot be a doubt in'the miud of "any correctly; vinfovined :p"ei^'ojv'tfiktf;th'e^work'.ab-' eoniplished by ' 'Mackay lias'been' almost herculean, not merely by riding abouf, as his | detractors say—rinost of whom, are in,the,i)ay of the Defence dep'artuient, and have been for yeai%s, butfor WhiitriobodyOutside the ." Maori ring" exactly kuows^-who are simply jealous ■ of his achiuveuients, and knowthat in a short time :i their occupation will! be gone if his policy is .carried oat. The dadger is that high up in the ,craft -will cut it short . before his work is ; done. The correspondent, with a friend, had been' ambng'•"the'■:kli's'tant 'settlements of "" the wildest.Tlauliatis?" arid was EJitrpfised at the, extent of; their cultivation and the quality of the soil; They came frequently on a guard or butpost," who, knowing them, gave them, a pass-word, and" allqwed them, after close questioningV to proceed. They metTe Kooti' arid his followers at a" settlement they visited. -Their used-up horses Avex-e' the reply they made:when asked why they had come, but it was received witi^ suspicion. ''It is astonishing," says the correspondent, "how I demoralised th'jy have become. At the first blush, they believe nobody, but watch and, wait; arid fear. Trustfulness has vanished —it belongs to the pasc—and tiiey literally believe nothing which cannot be touched or tasted." Food was served in European style, with clean damask cloth, knives and forks, and earthenware of the cleanest. Te Kooti came in while they were eating. The writer had not seen him for years, but was, recognised at once. Te Kooti was dressed in good style—blue cloth military coat, handsomely braided and buttoned, trousers, Wellington boots, high top, soft felt hat—all in character, and very goodY ' The demon rum has taken him captive ; and " I soon observed he is no more the T«- Kooti of former' times. Physically, he is a Avreck, and will be no more trouble either for offensive or defensive warfare. His name and fame have gained for him a deference arid authority throughout Maoridoin, seldom accorded to TaWhiao. His intellect is like burnished steel, clear and bright. All questions of policy are reforred to him, and his advice is regularly carried out. He commenced by rtferriug to Tawhiao's visit, and then wort on to tell me his own great trouble. For two years past he has been making application to the Government, asking for a°trial in England, where he thinks that he would have justice and a fair trial. In his own iand the Pakeha is so incensed against him that he would riot be heard. He says that he never murdered—that the murdering was done by his comrades against his advice, and without his kuowledge, tmtjhat all warfare was tuidrr Ins direction. ' Fightng,' saidTeKooii, 'is bad both for Maori and

Pakelia, and I never mean to fight again. If _y ; 6ri;>'doubt t ni6j hefej is ;my/refvolver^which; "you "can send to M'Lean, and say "This is Te Kooti's s revolver,., who- .wants to be, at liberty to settle near-the Pakeha, where lie' can get eels and rum.;" ' •■■• I told-him that 1 was. not a servant of the (Toverrinient^ but as our host was he had bettei: give it to;him, likewise his message. .This information greatly j surprised' himj and he most imperiously demanded to know if it were true. Our host .denied it, but I know it to be true, for he has been in the... service of the Government . as. a spy,- or in official parlance as a "detective," several years. It was now getting late, and I proposed to go, as Te Kooti bad supplied us with horses; but no, he would not consent, and. insisted on our remaining till the next day, and we must occupy his whare. When we retired ifor the,night he brought me his revolver, . saying, . 'If any body.comes here, shoot him. ,-, Don.'t. be ;iike -Mackayy bnt. shoot.'. ; Every thing was... clean and comfortable—sheets,' -blankets, and furniture : ih' 1 proper European fashion. I was iii no humour for sleep: Thethings I had heard respecting people, in officej and the doings of '.the Native -Department'; generally — Natives in' pay, whose ■ history'and doings I had known for years ; persons .in': rank and pay who would have been looked , upon :as martyrs had it: been otherwise... but who, if half I had heard were true/ ought to have been tried by Cpurt; Martial and shot. One case among many was told me—all equally, disgraceful—.-; ithat .of a'gallant officer, vvho had full coni- ; maud of; 500' men, Maori and European, ..being;cliased into the sea by Te Kooti and : his band, who only numbered 80 all;told,, without a 'shot; being fired. ; Fortunately.; there was, ajsteamer at hand, which rescued .them from,.their terrible position, i This ■officer!.is-highly, pensioned. My.reverie was isuddenly dispelled by noises outside, where ;I^distinctly'heard ;Te Kooti descanting ,on the. if oily of war, .He'said guns'were bad.. They shot Maoriaiid'Pakeha alike. They; .will as soon kill &.rdnyatird.siß& slave. Put t'away'.the guns/ Plaiit corn, cat,ch.the,:fisli, and: drinlc rum. These are better than. fighting. My word to you, is» don? t fight: : ; The;noise,'Lconchidesthis interesting corres--poudent,*' '■ suddenly ceasedy and Dfell-asleep. We rose: early inthe morning V but; not too ■.goonj,for : ;TelEooti:was'wwl;mg-'ta:''^iy;e''us.a" hearty farewell." •/ :'■'..•'■'.;';''-/'/.''.'';*■. •',' \, f.''' •','. '..'