DEFEAT OF THE KOOTI AND THE FRIENDLIES.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1216, 3 September 1869, Page 3

DEFEAT OF THE KOOTI AND THE FRIENDLIES.

The Auckland Weekly News, of 28th August, has the following:—

On Tuesday last intelligence was received in Auckland, from a thoroughly reliable authority, of important information having been-received through native sources. A native had come into one of the frontier stations and reported that Te Kooti had attacked a friendly native settlement situate near the head of the Wanganui River, and that the assailed party had made a determined resistance, repulsing Te Kooti's forces, and iuflicting upon them a loss of thirty killed.

The report states that Te Kooti retreated after this repulse, and ascribed his defeat to the anger of his atua (Hauhau god), which, he alleged, he had drawn upon himself by attempting to deceive the Waikatos.

Like other mere native rumors, this requires confirmation, but no doubt more reliable information will show that it is not without some foundation in fact.

The New Zealand Eerald of 26th August, gives a different version, Te Kooti's own story to the King, it would appear, and one likely to be exaggerated as to the damage he himself inflicted:—

. " Information was received from Te Kooti by the King at Tokangamutu on Thursday last that he, Te Kooti, who was then near Taupo, had fallen upon the friendly natives and defeated them, killing full one hundred. Te Kooti did not state what was his own loss, but it is supposed to have been between twenty and thirty.

" Though said to be near Taupo, he may at any moment be again at Tokangcmutu, since he was not, when at the lake, more than two and a-half days journey from Alexandra."

The Southern Cross, in its summary of 30th August, appears to accept the first rumor as correct.; and adds, "In native matters things have "assumed for the nonce, a tolerably tranquil aspect." Te Kooti's whereabouts is at present unknown ; as usual, he is. reported to be in several places at once.