NATIVE NEWS,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 524, 24 January 1870, Page 3

NATIVE NEWS,

The following is from the Wellington Independent of Jan. 20 :— Our December summary left our old ally Kemp, and our new supporter, Topia, with 900 men, collected on the Wanganui river, about to attack Te Kooti, who was then but a short distance from them, and whose capture appeared inevitable. Heavy rains however set in just as the force was prepared to start, and when the weather cleared, the flooded creeks and rivers prevented advance for several days longer. Te Kooti, it is supI posed, made use of this time to steal a march upon his pursuers, who have been further delayed by the want of food, and an uncertainty as to Te Kooti's movements in the , rugged unoccupied country which both parties have been traversing. It was only for a few days after the start that any | reliable information could be obtained of the movements either of friends or foes, and rumours of the most alarming and contradictory character have kept the Government and the settlers in the northern part of the Island in a state of agitation for the last two weeks. It was reported with great circumstantiality, and with an air of truth that the King party had received Te Kooti at Tokangamutu, sheltered him, and had expressed an intention of opposing by force Topia's attempt to capture the rebel. Reports were also conveyed to the Thames and Tauranga that Te Kooti, with reinforcements which swelled his numbers to 400 men, was marching in the I direction of thoße places. Defensive arrangements were made at the diggings, which, beiog reported in the Waikato, raised the suspicions of the King party that an attack on them was in contemplation, and they mustered and armed for a struggle. This action of the natives was again misre presented and misinterpreted at Auckland, and the greatest uncertainty and alarm prevailed, which has now been only partially dissipated by learning that Te Kooti has avoided the Waikato country and appeared a few days ago within ten miles of Tauranga, having lef t Topia and Kemp some four or five i days' march in his rear. The outsettlers of the Tauranga district, alarmed at Te Kooti's proximity, bave fallen back upon the chief settlement, and H.M.S. Challenger, which happened to be at Auckland when the news was received, steamed to Wellington to convey the intelligence. It is, however, believed tbat Tauranga is in no immediate danger, as H.MS. Blanche and Rosario are ordered to remain in that port, while the settlement is threatened, and a body of 300 volunteers from the Thames goldfields, are ready and anxious to move if occasion requires, and it is hoped that Te Kooti may remain in that neighborhood sufficiently long for tbe advance of Topia's force, and for the arrival of some of the Armed Constabulary from the posts at Taupo. We are allowed to state that by H.M.S. Challenger the Hon. the Colonial Secretary has received intelligence of the most satisfactory character. So far from the King party being anxious to shelter or receive Te Kooti, the Hon. the Defence and Native Minuter speaks of his offer to assist Tawhiao in defending himself against Te Kooti, having had a most beneficial effect on the King party. 300 men, volunteers from the Thames diggings, are ready to be moved against Te Kooti if their cervices are required, and the Commodore bas ordered both the Rosario aud Blanche to remain at Tauranga while that settlement is threatened by Te Kooti. Telegrams received yesterday from Mr Ormond are also reassuring. M'Donnell, with his force, was to effect a junction yesterday with Topia and Kemp. They would bar Te Kooti's escape to the Uriwera country, and gradually close upon him. Mr Ormond does not believe, however, in the report of Zi c Kooti's proximity to Tauranga, but is of opinion tbat he is still at Tapawa, inthe Patatere country. A large section of the Uriwera Natives are repeating their offers to make terms of peace with the Government, and it is believed that if Te Kooti can be kept out of tbat part of the country there will be no great difficulty in securing the allegiance of its inhabitants. The Southern Cross of Jan. 14 says: — We have stated ourselves that, in our opinion, appearances were against the King party. We all along doubted that they would ever think for a moment of capturing Te Kooti for us, and we do not believe they will do so now. That they will pre yea t his causing trouble in Waikato, we believe, if possible, even by force of arms; but we think it will be only at the very last extremity that they will entertain the idea of handing him over to be dealt with by our law. If we ever expected such a thing, except, as we bave remarked, in the most extreme circumstances, we have misjudged Maori character, and failed to comprehend the present temper of tbe King natives. Our remarks are coincided in by the editor of the Thames Advertiser, who thus writes in yesterday's issue of that journal:—" Although Tawhiao and his advisers have not seen fit, or have not felt themselves strong enough— not sufficiently supported by Maori public opinion — to attempt to capture Te Kooti, and band him over to the law, yet they have so distinctly expressed disapprobation of his conduct that it is most unlikely that he will be able to raise any large force. It must be remembered that there is a great deal of difference between refusing Te Kooti aid and shelter, and making active attempts, to deliver him over to the Europeans,^ and that, as there are a great many natives living under the King's, rule who do not see in Te Kooti suoh a monster as we do, the King declines so to stretch his authority.'' : In our last we stated that Te Kooti had gone into the Patetere Valley, and that he

could thence either go towards Tauranga, Opotiki, Whakatane, or any other of the East Coast settlements, or into the Ohinemuri country, or into the Waikato. Some people, however, whose opinion is of value, do not believe that Te Kooti will go into the Opotiki or Whakatane country, as be hae nothing to gain by it. They incline rather to the belief that he will go into the Ohinemuri or the Waikato. We do not believe, however, that the last is at all probable; indeed, tbe King natives would probably endeavour to prevent his doing so.