TE KOOTI.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 21 May 1872, Page 2

TE KOOTI.

On Friday morning two Ngatiraukawa maories arrived in Cambridge from le Whitu, «nd stated that Te ivooti had passed through their settlement the previous day on his way to Tokangamutu. The information was immediately telegraphed to Colonel Lyon and to D. McLean, Native Minister.. Nothing more was thought of the matter in Cambridge till Friday night, when an old man, named Culvert, who had been absent since the morning, stated that he had seen; le Kooti at the Hirmera bush, about eight miles from Cambridge. He stated that lie- knew Te Kooti orfthe Coast some years ago, and that this was the same man also, that he was splendidly mounted. This, taken, in connection with the statement made by the maories, was quite- sufficient to throw the authorised force into a state of excitement ;. and be lore : daybreak on Saturday, a party of mounted constabulary galloped oil to see if they could I come across the arch rebel. On their vray they called at Mr. Buckland's station and found that Culvert had never been: within four miles of the place where lie stated he had seen Te Ivooti. lhe Rinuera bush is about four miles on the other side- ofr Mr. Buckland's station, and Culvert only having gone as far as the station,, the- story must have been a pure fabrication,, consequently the constabulary had nothing left but to> return to Cambridge, much to- their?-chagrin and annovau.ee. These* unfounded, statements are calculated to do a great deal of harmi in the way of fresh settlement. From, information, that we have received! there is-no. doubt that Te Kooti has arrived in the Waikato district, the Urewera coant.-y having evidently become too hot for him. He is stated to have reached "Whavepapa, a maori settlement, several miles to- the South of Orakau. He has only got about five or six j followers and is powerless for mischief. It | is a pity that C4overnment cannot lay I their hands upon liim, but if a force were ! sent) after him he would be miles away before j it started l in pursuit,, as h& has. most exact i information concerning everything- that goes j ( )U in the various- settlements. An old maori I chief named Parakara, belonging to the Ngatiraukawa tribe, died last night. A. number of natives have come into attend tangi, which will be held a.s soon aa the natives haveobtained from the Government, or from- some other source, a supply of r">m and food, to celebrate the funeral obsequies in proper maori fashion. —Communicated.