IMPORTANT FROM WAIKATO.

Colonist, Volume XIII, Issue 1285, 18 January 1870, Page 5

IMPORTANT FROM WAIKATO.

DISAPPEARANCE OF TE KOOTI.

SUSPECTED DUPLICITY OF THE KING.

(From the Southern Cross, January 12.)

Telegbams of an important character were received in town yesterday, and were forwarded to Mr. M'Lean, who is at the Thames. We believe the purport of the intelligence received is that a messenger has warned the natives residing on the other side of the frontier, but in close proximity to it, to be on the alert, as Te Kooti has broken up his encampment, and has moved away, bent on some purpose only known to himself. The place where Te Kooti had previously been known to be encamped was in the neighborhood of Te Kuiti, and the story is that yesterday morning it was discovered that he had gone off with his followers bag and baggage during the night. Topia is said to be still at Taumarunui. Our own opinion is that he is hesitating about a further move in the direction of the Ngatimaniapoto, lest he should provoke their hostility. If Te Kooti has really disappeared in the mysterious manner which the King's messengers allege, there is no means of telling at present where he may have gone to, though - we think it probable that he would go across towards Patetere with the object of joining some kindred spirits of his, and afterwards making a dash upon one of the East Coast settlements, or breaking up into predatory bands.

There is, however, a dark suspicion in our mind, which is more than justified by the conduct of the King party, and it is this : Is it not possible that the King party are playing a double game—that they have connived at Te Kooti's " disappearance," and have either smuggled him and his followers out of the reach of Topia and the Queenitea, or are anxious to conceal the road by which Te Kooti has gone, which would amount to the same thing ? To us this seems all too probable. In the first place, if Te Kooti was at Te Ahuroa, only five or six miles from Te Kuiti, as reported, why did not the King party capture him; and in the next, why did they ever permit him to come there at all with such a force as he is known to have ? These are awkward questions.

A native named Wiremu Hara, of the Ngatikaroke tribe, arrived in town yesterday, and corroborates the report that Te Kooti had.removed his encampment.

The Wellington Independent of January 15th says:—

Conflicting accounts of Te Kooti's movements have we are informed, been received by the Government, and also of the action of the King party. By telegrams received yesterdny Te Kooti is variously stated to be on the way to attack Tauranga—to be located in the neighborhood of the Upper Thames district — to be under the wing of Tawhaio at Tokangamutu— and to be still in the Upper Wanganui River country, with Topia at his heels. The King is stated to be both assisting and opposing Topia, and while one account gives information that Tawhaio has sent a force to intercept Topia arid save Te Kooti from an attack, another speaks of the most complete accord botween the two leaders. The Thames diggers are reported to he arming against expected attack, and the Waikatos are said, to be preparing to act on the defensive agiunst a body of Europeans which they ara informed are being organised at the Thames to attack them. It is probable that Mr. M'Leanwill at once visit Waikato, and not only satisfy himself as to the real state of the native mind, but also allay the excitement which appears to have arisen from a mutual misunderstanding. We shall probably ascertain the exact position of affairs within the next few duys. The most reliable intelligence leads us to the belief that Topia and Topini are pressing hard upon Te Kooti, and that the excitement at Waikato is only a direct consequence of the excitement at the Upper Thames, resulting from a rumor of Te Kooti's proximity with a force of 300 to 400 men.

The same paper give's the fallowing telegram : —- Napier, Jan. 14;

Alexandra, 12th. —Upon Topia reaching Taumaranui, the King party offered to protect Kooti if he would phice himself'under their authority. Waikato moved in force to get between Topia and Kooti. Bofore Waikato got to their position, Kooti bolted to Patetere, Hakarai's country, passing about twentyeight miles south of Cambridge. Kooti sent word to the King that as he (Kooti) could not take evil to the King's place, he would take it in another direction. Patetere lies between Waikato, the Thames, and Tauranga. M'Lenn is taking measures at Auckland to attack Kooti. Ormond, by directing M'Donnell to follow him up from the Taupo side.