The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-20 00:00:00

AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND.

_ .
The Taranaki Herald, just arrived, gives full details of
the proceedings in Waikato, which have been highly
important since the beginning of the year. News WO
received in Auckland on the 11th of January that Te
Kooti was advancing towards Arakau. Warnings of O'
similar kind came from several quarters, and preparations
for his reception were immediately made. The news
that Te Kooti is within ten miles of a European
settlement is sufficient to create a panic, but
it was thought on this occasion he could net
avoid capture and destruction. Mr. Firth, a prominent,
settler in the neighbourhood, received, on the 15th of
January, a lettei from Te Kooti, stating that he had
heard of the terror his presence inspired, and desired to
allay the fears of the settlers and the Queen's natives. lie
wished to see Mr. Firth, and appointed as the meeting'
place a monument which Mr. Firth had erected on 111..°
grounds to the memory of William Thompson, the 'Wm'
kato Kingmaker, with whom he formerly made peace. The
Government declined to sanction this proceeding in any
may, but the meeting took place and after it Mr. Firto
sent a telegram to the authorities that Te Kooti had
offered to surrender on condition of receiving protection.
The answer was that no surrender could be accepted that
was not entirely unconditional Mr. Firth's account of
the interview represents the redoubtable chief as anxious
for peace. " I am weary of fighting," he said, " and
desire to live quietly. If lam let alone I will never fight
more, and will not hurt man, woman or child."
In answer to the reproaches of Mr. Firth.
he said the deeds he had done were not con'
sidered murders by the Maories, and that even for
them the Government was to blame. His
_personal appear-
ance is thus described by his visitor. "He was attended
by two half-caste youths, fully armed, Te Kooti himself
being unarmed. His height is about Mt. gin. ; he
is about 35 years of age, stoutly built, brow-
shouldered, and strong-limbed. His features are,
not repulsive ; a rather large development °'
jaw and chin conveys the idea of a man of strong and
resolute will: He has no tattoo ; hair black and glossy;
wears a black moustache and, short black beard. -tile
dress consisted of woollen cords, top boots, and grey
shirt ; over the latter he wore a loose vest with geld
chain, and greenstone ornament. I noticed that he had lot
the middle finger of the left hand. During the
conversation his followers had formed in half a circle
at his back. They were all well armed—some with
short Enfields, some with breech-loaders, and one or twe
.with double-barrelled fowling pieces—all apparently 5-11'
excellent order. A well-dressed woman, about 25 yew
old, of a handsome but melancholy cast of countenance,
sat at Te Kooti's feet during the interview. I learn'
afterwards that this woman was his wife." 1)1,.'
Pollen having undertaken to guarantee Te Kooti 0
Nfe conduct to Auckland should he be willing to sur-
render, the Maori chief sent the following answer
"To Dr. Pollen,—l have seen your letter. My WOr.
to you. Mr. Firth to cease fighting. Afterwards your
letter reached me. I will stop fighting—stop entirely'
But as for me, I will not go to Auckland. Let me remain ab
peace, The killing shall cease. But if you follow rue
up, let it be so. Sir, cease your punishing of me.
" This is all—From
" TE KOOTI.
Finding that the Government refused his conditions Te
Kooti entrenched himself in the bush at Paparata.
has since been a skirmish between him and the force under
Major Kemp, but nothing decisive has occurred, and the
latest news received by this mail leaves the settlers fairlY
puzzled by Te Kooti's disappearance, the uncertainty as fair
his whereabouts exciting great uneasiness. On his former
,
line of march he killed all the horses and cattle he did n°4
require, and the bodies of these animals lie thickly scat-
tered along the road he traversed. There

The Bishop of Madras is coming to England by the
first mail in May, by order of his medical advisers. The
Right Rev. Frederick Gell, D.D., son of the Rev. PhirlP,
Gell, of Derby, was born 1821, and was consecrated'
Bishop of Madras in 1861.

The Duke of Edinburgh is expected to arrive at
the Mauritius on the 15th of May. The Mauritiase
will give him a grand reception ; £BOO in horse-flesh
alone is being spent at the Cape for his use at the
Mauritius.

The windows of the house of Mr. Parsons,.
Robinstown, near Drogheda, were smashed last nig,,',l"
while he and his wife were sitting up with a sick chili'
No arrests have been made, and none of the peasantry
will give any information to the police.

The Monarch steamer, Captain Blacklock, 1Y
left Lowestoft for the North Sea on telegraphic servic;
Captain Blacklock has recently received an appointin,ol"
of £l,OOO per annum in connection with the Atlantic fie,
graph.
It is understood that the medical officers engaged
,
in carrying out the Contagious Diseases Acts in the
ham district have of late found a marked improvement ill
the health of the class of women affected by the provisi°llll
of the Acts.

The _Duke of Montpensier has left Madrid far
Seville, haling visited the Regent, and received a visit in
return, besides attending service in several of the churcheot
and leaving behind him a handsome contribution for the
Madrid nonr.
The unknown gentleman who recently left at
Messrs. Hoares' bank a Bank of England note, va1,,,1
£l,OOO, with a request that it might be placed to the creut4
of the London Fever Hospital, under the initia
" C. R. W.," has left a similar amount at Messrs. 134-w--
dale and Co.'s bank for the same institution.
Mr. Gladstone has conferred the rectory of Af-icl-
dleton, Lancashire, vacant by the preferment of Archdo:
con Durnford, D.D. to the bishopric 'of Chichester, uP,r
the Rev. Dr. Hannah, Warden of Trinity College, tir,,e
nalmond, N.B. The wardenship .01 Trinity College Iv'.
been declared vacant.

The Science and Art Department of the South
Kensington Museum has placed at the disposal a e
Silk Supply Association a room for the purpose of rearift
silkworms, during the months of May and June. Ih
association being possessed of some rare "grain," expecti
thus to be able to demonstrate for the information °
hericiculturists the simplepracticability of silk production.
The Secretary of the Church Association state°
in reference to the case against the Rev. John Purchr
of Brighton, that the appeal to the Privy Council will 4
proceeded with upon the points decided adversely.t°
promoter, and consequently such points are, pending "
appeal, not binding in

"2.- •-• *-