TE KOOTI.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 5

TE KOOTI.

Te Kooti'a reported visit to King Tawhiao derives some illustration from the following remarks by the Southern Cross of the 2nd iost :— The professions of Tawhiao and his immediate followers certainly point to pacific intentions ; bat, even supposing theso pro* fessions to be sincere, what guarantee nave we that the King is sufficiently powerful to make Te Kooti and auoh fanatical desperadoes conform to his wishes ? The presence of To Kooti, Tito Kowaru, and their followers at Tokangamutu, would form a rallying point for Roihana, Tikaokao, Koroopa, and other Hanhau leaders ; and it is quite possible, if not probable, that Tawhiao would bo powerless to restrain thorn. Moreover, tho ordinary ruleß for calculating probabilities and balanoing motives are utterly at fault when applied to people under the influence of Mauhauiam, and there is no knowing what suoh people aa Te Kooti and hia infatuatod followere may do on tho impubso of the moment. Whatevor may be the tendency of tho presont actions of tho King party, tho authorities appear to be alive to the importance of taking precautions to prevent • surprise, should it turn out that the professions of the King party aro a mere ruse to put us off our guard, or should tho otbor contingency happen chat we havo roforred to. The redoubt at Rangiriri has boon ro-garri-lonod by a party of Te Wheoro's pooplo, and, in oomplianoo with jropresontations from Waikato, 70 additional mon of tho Armed Constabulary havo been placed on pay. Nointelligenoo has yet been rocoivod of tho result of Jttewi's mission to Tapapa, which, our readors will remomber, wo stated on good authority to be for the purpose of bringing about a general mooting of tho Ngatiraukawas, Arawas, and other tribes at tho Whautu to diiouM p«ao* propositions. "Tho authority from whom wo derive this information goes on to state that tho meeting of To Kooti at Tokangamutu, and tbo proposed meeting at tho Whautu, m welt as the rooont mooting at Hangatiki, and theism* of Tawhiao'a

celebrated supposed peaceful, but somewhat enigmatical, proclamation;* are. part of a comprehensive scheme for producing a general peace throughout the island.