TE KOOTI' RIKIRANGI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 79

TE KOOTI' RIKIRANGI.

THE REAL STORY OF THE REBEL LEADER. By Colonel Poetee, C. 8., T.D. (Specially written for the Otago Daily Times.) (All rights reserved). XXIII.—THE LAST DATS: ARREST AND DEATH. Wo now come to the final scenes in the tragic career of the prophet, fanatic priest, military rebel leader, and “ tangata kohuru. ’ The prophecy of the old to'hunga Toeroa had been verified by Rikirangi, who had by his evil deeds become notorious, whose name, a synonym for all that was lawless and treacherous, had become known to all parts. The Native people of Turanga still firmly believed that he was powerless to resist the Fates or to so alter his predestined career that, in the words of the Maori, “no roto i te kino i ahu mai te pai ” (“ Out -of the .evil came the good ”). Although the relation of events in this story has run to an unanticipated length, incidents aggregating a far greater bulk have been omitted. In what I have written I have endeavoured to set down the facts without prejudice or bias, leaving my readers, whether European or Maori, to judge for themselves the complex character of the central figure in the narrative. In 1889 Te Kooti, having defied the mandates of the Prime Minister and the chief Rewi Maniapoto, who had endeavoured to restrain him from coming through to Turanga (Poverty Bay), military preparations were at once made to oppose apd arrest him. To prevent him and his followers from entering the Urewcra forests from the Opotiki side, rapid night and day marches were made through the Motu by a mounted flying column of about 100 Hussars of, the Poverty Bay volunteer forces and 30 mounted Ngati Boron under my command. The veteran Major Ropata was with us. That forced march will be ever remembered by those who took part in it. The co'umn, on reaching Papamoa, some twenty-eight miles from Opotiki, on the forest edge, was met. by the inspector of police, to whom the warrant was handed. Te Kooti was said to bo still at Waioeka Pa, five miles beyond Opotiki, and it was determined, tired as the troops were, to push on and make the arrest before dark. At Omarumutu an advanced party of the Ringa Tu people had arrived, expecting their leader soon to join them. The pa was unsuccessfully; searched for the leader. Wo arrived at Opotiki about 4 p.m., with plenty of daylight left to reach Waioeka. The resident magistrate was met, and a consultation took place, the civil authorities urging delay till next morning. One reason urged by the police inspector was that it would be too dark on reaching the pa, and, if surrounded by Te Kooti’s women, nothing could be done in the confusion. The military officers urged an immediate advance. Old Ropata expressed himself strongly against delaying over the night. If this was done, he said, there would bo' no trace or scent of Te Kooti next day. To go without the warrant was out of the question, therefore the best had to be made of an unsatisfactory position. The troops, including those just arrived from Auckland, were ordered into quarters to wait orders. The.R.M. then, at my request and dictation, sent the following letter on to Te Kooti: —“Porter and his troops have arrived from Gisborne. They expected to meet you in the forest, and, not having done so, came right through. Porter is the bearer of a word from the Government, which he wishes to communicate to you, and he will go on and see you at Waioeka to-morrow morning.” A reply came at night from Te Kooti saying: “I am going back to Waikato.” To mislead probable spies orders were issued to march next morning at 8.30. It was not till 10 30 p.m that special orders were given to march at 5 a.m., so as to anticipate any move by the Ringa Tu; and that this proved effective will be seen. THE PROPHET'S ARMY OF DISCIPLE^. The force moved at daylight. When halfWay between Opotiki bridge and Waioeka o\er 500 of Te Kooti’s followers were met by the Government force. Both forces halted, and I rode forward with Wi Pere to dom'and Te Kooti. They were very defiant, particularly some of the Waikato followers. They refused any information as to the leader’s whereabouts, saying only that he was not among them, and had not been seen since the night, before. Their arrest and detention until To Kooti was found was then ordered. The leader then indignantly said : “ Porter, this is a Maori way of doing things. We arc peaceable; we are not breaking the law.” The reply was: “Yes, and yours also is a Maori way. You are not wanted, but until Turuki is given up you will bo detained.” The whole force and the prisoners then returned to Opotiki, and mounted constables acquainted with the tracks wore sent out to scout for traces of Te Kooti and his followers, who had evidently escaped the previous night. When wo were through the bush on the previous day, old Major Ropata said to me: “ Porter, I have dreamed that to-morrow Te Kooti will bo in your hand ” —closing his to emphasise the remark. “I am out of it.” When the force returned to Opotiki I put the question: “Ropata, what about your dream?” To this the old warrior replied calmly: “ The day is not yet out. Kci ton ringa” (“In your hand”). A prophecy that events soon verified. At 11 a.m. information was obtained from a Maori woman that a large party had crossed the hills from Waioeka the night' before in the direction of Waiotahi. This report was soon confirmed by a mounted constable, and I felt assured that it was To Kooti and his party.

Forty Hussars under Captain Winter and the 30 Ngati-Porou under Captain Tuhafca •were detailed to pursue. To Kooti. The HueBars I took with me by the beach track,

and the Ngati-Porou were sent by the inland track to cut off a retreat. A constable was sent with the Ngati-Porou. The Native officer discussed the position characteristically. “If ho tries to escape,” he said, “I can only chase him with the mouth of the gun. I am too old now to run.” This officer had fought all through the years with us, and had accounted for many foes. A LETTER FROM TE KOOTI. As wo neared Waiotahi we met two mes.segers from Te Kooti bringing this letter, in Maori: — “ Waiotahi, February 28, 1889. “ To Porter; “ To Ropata. ... , , “ Friends, greeting. This is a word of mine to you two. Go back. I am startled at this evil work of yours. Let all my people come to me at once, “Te Turuki. From the tone of the letter I judged that extra precaution seemed r ecessary. The messengers were detained by me (Ropata had remained at Opotiki). Within about a quarter of a mile from the village the troops wnb' Sialted. and one of Te Kooti’s messengers (a brother of Te. Warn) was sent on to tell his chief of our vicinity and of our mission to arrest him, and that to avoid the necessity of forcible seizure I was willing to meet him regarding voluntary surrender. The messenger returned to say that we could meet if I left my guns behind (meaning troops). I left Captain Winter and the troops to wait orders, and I rode forward with the inspector, Mr M. J. Gannon (interpreter), Wi Pere, and the late Mr W. Robinson, reporter of the New Zealand Herald. With Mr Robinson I arranged a signal, on receiving which ho was to ride back for the troops if a dangerous contingency aroso, FACE TO FACE. As we approched the Native village, we saw Te Kooto. He was sitting in state under an awning surrounded by about 150 of his people. The events which immediately followed were accurately described by Mr Gannon in an account which he wrote of the meeting and the arrest, and from this account I will now quote : “Major Porter dismounted and went towards Te Kooti, who exclaimed ‘Porter!’ After a slight pause and with eyes downcast he said, ‘Me ringa, me kpre?’ (‘shall we shake hands or not?’) meaning, ‘is the interview to be regarded as peaceable or otherwise?’ Major Porter replied, ’E pai ana, karoe he tikanga,” conveying thereby the meaning ‘just as you please; it does not signify.’ Te Kooti took Major Porter by the hand and said, ‘Porter! Porter!’ The Major then sat down on a new mat near Te Kooti. A pause ensued. “Te Kooti stretched out his hand, and placing it on the revolver the Major carried suspended round him, exclaimed, ‘Porter, you have firearms. I have none. If you want to shoot me, do so !’ “The. Major replied that he had not come there to commit murder. Ho came to talk and tell Te Kooti what ,the orders of the Government were. The instructions were that Te Kooti should be placed immediately under arrest and in the hands of the Government; that it was necessary that this should be done, because by his action he had created profund alarm and the peace and tranquillity of the country were disturbed by him; that ho was to proceed forthwith to Auckland, and that he must go by sea. “To this To Kooti, who now assumed a more serene aspect and had apparently laid himself out to debate the situation, replied that he was on his way to Waikato overland. He said he did not wish to oppose any longer the behests of the Government. And now ensued a lengthy discussion. Again and again. Te Kooti urged that he should bn allowed to go overland to Waikato, and as often as he so urged ho was met by the firm reply that the demands of the Government were unalterable and must be complied with. THE MAN WITH THE REVOLVER. “During a pause in the discussion one of Te Kooti’s followers, who had a revolver in his hand, and who seemed to be labouring under great excitement at the persistent refusal of all Te Kooti’s demands, spoke with much vehemence. lie said the words used were mild, but who, he asked, could tell what would happen to Te Kooti once he was away from them? Were not armed soldiers close by? The speaker, with much force and gesture, declaimed ‘He rangi whakaheke toto tenei’ (This is a day of blood-shedding’). Whoso blood, he added, was to be shed first? This speaker particularly dwelt upon the fact that the Government had forgiven Te Kooti his sins, and ho asked what new crime had he since committed? “ As argument after argument urged by Te Kooti in support of his going overland to Waikato was calmly but forcibly mot with the point blank statement that such a couiso was impossible—that the imperative order was that he should return to Opotiki and go to Auckland by sea —it was perceptible that a strong mental struggle was going on within To Kooti. He listened attentively to every word l said, and now and then raised his eyes and smiled, apparently —.but only apparently—acquiescing in everything that was being said. For a moment he betrayed his feelings slightly. It was when one of the speakers pointed out that it was hopeless for him to expect to revisit . Poverty Bay, that it was hopeless for him to entertain the dream of being allowed to go overland l to Waikato. There was a peculiar nervous twitching about Te Kooti’s mouth at these words. He raised his right hand, and, placing it against his lips as if to suppress his feelings, on© could almost observe the blood tracing its course through his long, thin fingers. " There still, however, appeared no indication on the part of Te Kooti to come to Opotiki. “ Major Porter now asked what was his final decision, to which he replied, very calmly, ‘Porter, I am going'to Wakato tomorrow.’ THE ARREST. “ The major then sad, ‘ M.y words to you are ended.’ Then, pointing his hand in the direction of the Inspector of Police, he informed Te Kooti that ho had the warrant, the authority of the Queen, for his capture, and that the matter was now in the inspector’s hands. Hereupon the inspector produced the warrant from his pocket, and Mr Gannon interpreted it to To Kooti. “ On the warrant being read, ho ro- . marked, ‘E nai ana’ (it is well), and gave instructions to have his horse brought. One of his wives Hern—sitting next to him, began to make a hubbub, which he cut short by saying forcibly, ‘ Porangi koo ' (arc you mad?) lie addressed a few words in a quiet tone to his people, apparently to remove the anxiety they had expressed with regard to what might happen to him. Ho

told them not to bo ‘ pouri ’ (dark) at his absence from amongst them. : “Everything now assumed quite a smooth aspect, and all opposition or difficulty to a quiet arrest was removed. It was now definitely fixed that Te Kooti was to ride into Opotiki with Major Sorter, Wi Pore, Mr Gannon, and the inspector. All preparations for starting were made, the party moving off to their horses. The Ngati-Porou now appeared upon the scene in the roar of the pa and at a distance of about two hundred yards. They marched down in line and halted to the left of the pa in single file about fifty yards off. As a start was just about to be made for Opotiki, To Kooti requested the major to move the ‘guns’ ahead, referring to the Ngati-Porou, who remained halted close by. r lhe major called out in Maori to them to move on and join the forces under Captain Winter. It had already been fully explained-to the inspector that Te Kooti was coming quietly, and that there was no occasion for force to be employed. “ The inspector, however, seemed somewhat heated throughout the discussion, and on seeing the Ngati-Porou move off became greatly alarmed. Mr Gannon assured the inspector that everything had been arranged amicably and that Te Kooti was ready to accompany them to Opotiki. r I ho inspector seemed to me in such a state of mind as not to heed what was said to him. He rushed forward in a highly excited manner to call the Ngati-Porou back. He then called out in loud and excited tones that he was being deserted, that he was in authority there, and that the forces would obey his command, not Major Porter’s. Both the major and Mr Gannon remonstrated with him, and demanded what he meant by saying he was deserted. They said to him. ‘ Are we not running as much risk as you are?’ AN ANXIOUS MOMENT. “ While the scene in which the inspector took a prominent part was being enacted a complete change came over the followers of Te Kooti. They, too, for a moment or so became alarmed, not knowing how to account for the sudden and apparently extraordinary change in the programme; everything a few minutes before apparently had been amicably arranged. They thought, until the position was promptly explained, that To Kooti, notwithstanding what had taken place while negotiations were going on, was to bo dragged away. There is a shadow of a doubt, and no one who fully comprehends the position will gainsay the fact, that had two or three others who were present taken up the same excited stand as the inspector did, a very melee would have occurred. The position manifestly was one that in the best interest of the colonj' demanded a knowledge of the Native race, tact, and self-possession—three essentials, unfortunately, which were singularly absent in the case of the inspector. Major Porter reminded that gentleman of the spectacle that ho, as head of the police, was making of himself before the public, and observed; ‘ Well, inspector, it is the first time I’ve met you in service, and I sincerelv hone it will be the last ’ —a sentiment echoed by more than the major.” IN THE HANDS OF THE LAW.

Tho fears of the Maoris having been allayed, a calmer tone prevailed, and Te Kooti was escorted to Opotiki without any trouble. At his request he was allowed to ride between Wi Perc and myself and Mr Gannon, followed by about 100 of his people Arrived at the township, the now dispirited prisoner was lodged in gaol and brought before the R.M., who bound him over in heavy sureties, to bo paid in gold at Auckland. At 5.30 in the evening ho was~ taken on board the steamer Chelmsford, which also carried the Auckland Navals and Permanent Artiilery, and on arrival at Auckland ho was quietly landed at tho VVynyard pier, to avoid the inquisitive crowd on the main wharf.

Before the departure of the troops from Opotiki the following telegram was read on parade:— ‘‘To Major Porter, —Please accept the best thanks of the Government and my own personal thanks for your successful arrest of Te Kooti, and convey the same to officers and men under your command. I regret I am unable to thank you in person.—H. A. Atkinson, Premier.” At Auckland Te Kooti was tried before the magistrate and lined, and he and his immediate followers were returned in what was virtually exile to the Bay of Plenty. The Government set apart a block of land for him on the coast at Ohiwa, and the understanding was that he was not to go out of bounds without Government authority. His followers from Waikato and other tribes were summarily dispersed to their several territories. Te Kooti and I never met again. His followers said that some months before the actual arrest he foretold his downfall in these words: “When Porter and I meet face to face my end will bo near —Ka mate ahau.” DEATH IN EXILE..

In exile, like a de_foated Napoleon, shorn of his greatness, his ambitions shattered, his religious prestige lessoned, Te Kooti became 'much subdued, tempering the last days of his life with a milder spirit. Still, however, he preached the religion he had so cleverly founded, to disseminate with such disastrous results. His age at the time of his arrest, in 1889, was 59 years, but he looked older.

In April, 1893, at his village on the shores of Ohiwa Harbour, in the Bay of Plenty, the old rebel passed away, attended only by his most devoted personal followers. The last psalm ■was chanted, and his spirit crossed over the Wai-ora-a-Tane, the “River of Man’s Salvation,” into the everlasting shades of To Reinga, there to be dealt with by the Supreme Judge of man’s deeds. The worn and attenuated mortal shell of this wild spirit, even in death, was not suffered to rest, like those of his countrymen, in a known place of tribal sepulture. When lying in state at Ohiwa, as was customary in the ceremonial tangihanga (the mourning wake), the last night before the intended commitment of the body to the earth, it was carried off in the darkness by some unknown band, presumably a party of the most fanatical of Tc Kooti’s worshippers. When the morning came the assembled people could find no trace of their prophet’s remains. The place of interment ut> to the present time remains a profound mystery. The members of the Church of the Ringa Tu, to-day known as the Wairua Tapu, are oven now awaiting the divine inspiration of one among themselves to disclose the sacred spot, whether mountain cave or forest grave, where Ho the tapu’d hones of Turuki To Kooti Rikirangi. (The End.)