MAN WHO CHASED TE KOOTI.

Wairarapa Age, 9 August 1921, Page 3

MAN WHO CHASED TE KOOTI.

SERGEANT A. M. MOORE. The death of Sergeant Alfred Morton Moore removes one of the veterans who as a member of the Armed Constabulary took part in the fighting against To Kooti and Titokowaru during the Hauhau outbreak (says the Auckland 11 Star"). Sergeant Moore arrived at Wellington in 1866 in the ship Electric. He worked for some time on a run at Waiotapu, Rangitikei district, and joined the No. 1 Mounted Armed Constabulary in IS6B, in which he reached the rank of sergeant. Later he wartransferred to the Police Force and retired on superannuation some years ago. Sergeant Moore took part in the fight with Titokowaru and Te Kooti on the West Coast, and went after them when the Hau Hau rebellion v. as transferred to the East Coast. He was with the party of hunters after the wily Te Kooti, in the wilds of the Urewcra Country, also at Taupo and finally in the Waikato. In 1870 Colonel Fraser sent a convoy from Tuuranga to meet the Armed Constabulary party on their way down from the Waikato. They caught up with Te Kooti’s raiders, and had a sharp skirmish in the bush, and finally came out about 50 miles from Tauranga, having failed to join with the convoy. Some friendly natives were killed, others of the party wounded, and Te Kooti’s party also suffered a number of casualties. The surprise of Te Kcoti must have been sudden for the Constabulary ate the food left ready cooked by the enemy in their ovens. After the big fight at Te Papa, To Kooti made into the bush leading to Tauranga, but afterwards tried to get back to the Urewera Country. With him was the notorious Kerchopa, who murdered the Lutheran missionary. Rev Volkner, first tearing out his eyes and swallowing them. There was a reward of £lOOO offered for the head of that M?.ori, who was ultimately captured by Major Ropata and the Ngatiporous, taken to Napier, and hanged. Sergeant Moore was also present at the fight at Te Ngutu o te Manu, near Hawera, where Major Von Tempsky was killed. Fortunately Titokowaru did not follow up the European fcrce, or the result would have been more serious. Sergeant Moore stated that Major Von Tempsky was shot from a hollow rata, where a Maori marksman was concealed. The pa had strong pallisading, and was surrounded with rifle pits level with the surface.