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DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALASIAN BIOGRAPHY.
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British Economic Association, President of Section F at the meeting of the Australasian Association held in Hobart in Jan. 1892. Mr. Teece married in Sydney on Feb. 12th, 1876, Miss Helena Palmer.

Te Kooti, Rikirangi, is a Maori chief, whose rise into notoriety dates from the year 1865, when the last ashes of the Hau Hau fanaticism were being trodden out on the eastern shores of the North Island of New Zealand. A certain Major Fraser in the November of that year was engaged in a fight with Hau Haus at Waerengaahika, and among his troops (composed in large part of friendly Maoris) was Te Kooti (pronounced Te Kawti), whom, whether justly or unjustly has never been rightly ascertained, he suspected of treachery and communication with the enemy. It is certain that Te Kooti had a relative in the opposing Hau Hau force, and it is agreed that he was a quarrelsome dangerous man; but the question of his disloyalty remains open still. At any rate he was arrested by Major Fraser, and deported to the Chatham Islands, a small group about two hundred miles east of Port Lyttelton. Here, as the desultory war went on, other prisoners were confined, until the numbers were considerable. Te Kooti was detained for two years, at the end of which time the prisoners became restive, alleging that the Government had promised them their liberty after that interval—an allegation which, however, was denied. The discontent increased, and at last culminated in the escape of the prisoners, who on July 4th, 1868, seized a vessel called the Rifleman, and under the command of Te Kooti sailed for the North Island, and landed at Whareongaonga, six miles below Poverty Bay. Besides women and children, there were a hundred and sixty-three men, who had armed themselves with rifles and ammunition from the Chathams. Against these Captain Biggs proceeded with a small force of Europeans and Maoris; but Te Kooti refused to surrender, and Biggs was forced to retreat. The Government immediately despatched a force under Colonel Whitmore to arrest the fugitives; and Te Kooti, leaving the coast, made for the Maumaukai ridges, whence a small force which opposed his passage was obliged to retreat. It was stated by Te Kooti afterwards that, had the Government suffered him and his to depart it peace to their homes, nothing would have happened, and all would have been well; that he came with no warlike intentions, but merely to regain his liberty, of which he had been unjustly robbed. The Government, however, were of opinion that Te Kooti was dangerous, especially as most, if not all of his men were Hau Haus, and they were at the time engaged in a guerilla warfare with Titokowaru, a Hau Hau chief. Colonel Whitmore therefore tracked the fugitive through the ridges, where the heavy bush impeded progress, and a path had to be cut with great difficulty, and at last came up with him at Puketapu, where an indecisive engagement was fought. Te Kooti was a thorough tactician, as his marvellous career showed afterwards; and this was the first occasion the English had to notice his power. Colonel Whitmore gave up the pursuit, and in a month Te Kooti was a hundred miles inland among the fastnesses of an unknown country. For a short time nothing more was heard of the rebel, and the Government had its hands more than full with Titokowaru; but on Nov. 10th Te Kooti issued from his mountain retreat and came down upon the settlement of Poverty Bay, massacring man, woman, and child. In all thirty-two whites perished, and the tales of the massacre sent a thrill of horror through the colony and gave rise to a wild cry for vengeance. Immediately a body of volunteers was assembled, and was joined by the friendly Ngatiporous and Ngatikahungunus; the former, who formed the largest number of the avengers (for Maoris had perished in even greater proportion than whites), were headed by the famous Bopata (now Major Bopata), the bitterest foe the chief Hau Haus ever had and a staunch friend to the colonists. Bopata forced the Hau Haus to evacuate the Makaretu pa which they were occupying, and they took refuge in Ngatapa, an unassailable natural fortress surrounded by precipices. Here Ropata's men in. alarm deserted him, and the Ngatikahungunus took umbrage and went home. Ropata, however, and a Mr. Reece with sixteen men gallantly scaled the precipices and effected a lodgment under the pa.

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