OPERATIONS AGAINST TE KOOTI.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 653, 3 May 1870, Page 2

OPERATIONS AGAINST TE KOOTI.

The Southern Cross of the 22nd ult. publishes the following letter from its correspondent at Opoiiki ■ — Opotika, A_pril 13. '

After being the scene of great excitement, Opotiki has again relapsed into its normal state of quiet. As you already know, we have bad here the combined forces of Majors Kemp and .Robert, numbering, with the prisoners, over 1300 natives. With our experience of the demeanour of other tribes when in a township, some alarm was felt as to the safety of crops, horses, pigs, &c. The fears were ill-grounded. No body of men could have behaved better. Not a single complaint has been made by any settler, and the township was as quiet in the evenings as if not a stranger were present. 1 doubt much if a body of Europeans coming into quarters after a fortnight's hard marching would have behaved half so well; for it was hard marching, on the Ngatiporou side especially. From Turanganui it took them thirteen days to reach Maungapoatu, some of the men carrying as much as ninety pounds of biscuit. They passed close by Ngatapa, finding some skeletons on the track. For three days they were in the bush without seeing the sun, and they were one day and a half climbing over the Maungapoatu mountain. There was no track, and great was the astonishment of the Urevvera at finding themselves assailed from so unexpected a quarter. Major Kopata's plan was not to fire a shot as the whares were scattered all about, but to surround each separate kaiuga, and take all prisoners. How his plan was frustrated by the unhappy mistake of a truce is well known. On the march up to Mariotahi, Te Kooti's out-picket was placed at a narrow entrance between two rocks. They fired. Ngatiporou did not halt for a moment, but rushed on, driviug them back and coming upon the reserve, which, led by Te Kooti in person, was coming to the help of the picket. Meanwhile, Major Kemp was on the upper river having had a heavy march round from Otara, during which, such wis the discipline kept, that for three days not a match was struck. The refugees from Mariotahi fell bliudly into his hands ; but owing to their not being personally known, Kereopa and Karauamu managed to escape. Hakaraia was recognised and shot at once. Altogether the net bag made was nineteen killed and thirty-one of Te Kooti's men made prisoners. The remainder—some 250 —consisted of old men, women, and ehildreu, aud of the recaptured Whakatoheas. The preliminary examination, of the prisoners took place here, under the Disturbed Districts Act, before Colonel St. John and Mr Commissioner Clarke, when the whole were committed to Wellington for trial. The chief evidences were an old chief who was taken prisoner by Te Kooti at Tauranga, and whose younger brother was killed by him ; and the mother of one of Te Kooti's wives. In the course of the evidence much curious matter came out showing a good deal of complicity on the part of the friendly natives. Among the prisoners is one of the murderers of the llev. Mr Volkner, and Tauaroa, who is well known to have killed Campbell in Taurauga. It is ascertained that of his own immediate followers Te Kooti has not above twenty left, Everywhere he lost. At Tatabota, twenty of Te Wham's men were killed, and at every engagement in Taupo his numbers decreased, till at last he was fairly chased out of the Patetere country, having him3elf wonderful escapes." In the last action at Eotorua, Te Wharu, wounded, disappeared into the bush, and has not since been seen. Te Kooti pluckily staid with the rear guard; but wherever they made a stand some two or three would fall.

Eventually he reached the Urewera, with about a third of the numbers he had set out with. The Urcweras have all left here for Y/aitnana and Eautahuna, and it is doubtful whether they would be welcomed amongst them again. A good many of the Mariotahi Woakatoheas are cither killed or taken prisoners, and all their women and children in our hands ; so that nest of Hau-haus is fairly broken up. In short, this campaign has proved a great success, and tho utmost credit "is duo to

both Kepa and Ropata. The lattor's inarch is the finest which has ever been made in Now Zealand ; and the activity and the alacrity displayed form a marked contrast with former native expeditions. The Government may congratulate themselves on seeing the policy of employing native troops to bring about such satisfactory results. The garrison of Opotiki is done away with; instead of it, a small scouting party of six men, half European and half native, is to be continually on the move to give timely notice of any desperate attempt, which might be made by Te Kooti with a view to obtaining ammunition and guns, of which he is very short. So hard pressed was he at Rotorua that he had to throw away his own carbine, and bolt with nothing on but shirt and trousers. His full-dress suit is in the possession of the Whanganuis; it consists of a black cloth coat heavily braided and frogged with silver, silver-laced trousers, waistcoat, and cap. The coat is accounted for, having been given hy an officer to one of the Whakatarie natives, and probably having fallen into Te Kooti's possession when the pa was taken ; but there is no clue to tell where the rest of the articles came from. By all accounts he seems to be personally a brave man, but much given to waipiro (drink). On one occasion, at Taupo, he came across some of our men, and nearly fell into their hands from being so drunk that he could not sit in the saddle—he had to be supported on each side. His place of refuge can only be guessed at, but he has not many spots to flee to; his prestige is gone, and his means of obtaining supplies cut oil", so that it is very probable there will not be much more trouble to be apprehended from him. The expedition has been remarkably lucky in the weather. We have never had such a continuance of fine weather ; the consequence being that the wells are all dry, and the only water to be got is half mud. However, the crops are all right; and most of the potatoes, of which there i are hundreds of tons, are very fine.