THE MAORI KING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 180, 30 July 1903, Page 4

THE MAORI KING.

SWEARING IN OF MAHUTA.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

The last act of a long "drama" wa3 completed on the floor of the Legislative Council this afternoon, when Mahuta Potatau., .: Tawhiao : Te .Wherowhero, known as King Mahuta, was sworn in

as a member of the Legislative Coufiwf; Mahuta entered the Chamber in a hesitating, diffident way, being introduced by the , Hon. Henare Tomoana, ;Pr. Hawke's Bay,, and the Hon. A. -Kjft Attorney-General, who represented fe e Executive in the Council. The usual oath was administered through aii Ute terpreter. Mahuta's tones being so W, that his voice was practically The most audible portion of the ceremony, so far as Mahuia was coneeniebeing the resounding smack with which he kissed the Bible on concluding the oath. After signing the ■ roll tae Council,-Mahuta, being a member cv the Executive, was conducted to a seat nex" the Hon. A. Pitt, and the Council then proceeded to ordinary business. In the House; the Premier* amid laughter, said that there had been sonic doubt in the minds of members the settlement of the King Country diificulty, and to relieve the tension on .he subject he had to notify them that 3p huta had taken his sear, in the Legislative Council. This would, be said, Jβ of interest to the member for Bruce (# r J. Allen),, who prophesied that .Mahuts would never sit in the Council ■ .