ELECTION OF A KING OF NEW
ZEALAND. We copy the following from the IJaiokex Bui/ Hordld of tho IGth inst. :—
The arrival from the Waikato, of itfouna Nui and his attendants, has brought us nn interesting piece of ■intelligence from the interior - —no less than that the king movement, so long ■in progress, and so pointedly referred to the othter day by the General Assembly in its address to the Queen, has terminated in the election of a veritable Maori monarch.
'It appears that a very largo meeting had been held in the district of Lower Waik.ito, which was attended by delegates from most of the tribes in this Isluiitl, as well -as by a large number of missionaries and other white men. Potatiiti (te Wherowhero) was elected King' of. New Zealand, that is, over the Maories and'so much of'lhe'lsnd as'y.-it remains in-lheir lmn'ds. His Majesty is to exercise his functions in strict unity :md amity with those of vh : Queen of England, whose equal he is supposed to be'! The chief objects at presont-contemplated seem to be to cultivate a goud understanding with the English, and by every possible-means to advance the Maori in the scale of social improvement and civilization. Hi'COgnising the importance of the 4th estate' as a-means to this end, they have already subscribed and sent to Auckland the amount necessary to purchase a printing press. Opinions were so divided as to land-selling, that no a'tteinpt. Was made to establish anything like an organised opposition, and it was decided that everybody wiis'to do as : lie pleased with his own. Any'trihe .fighting for their just rights against an attempt"at op' pressiou, as in the case of Ihaia and Wircma King! at Taranaki, is to be supported by the confederation, under the'direction of the king. Murder, robbery, and other heinous crimes and offences are to be put down and punished with a high hand; and a simple code of laws is to be established, in the compilation of which it is said they have been premised the assistance of Government. A sum of £1800 was subscribed and paid up on the spot to meet present and urgent demands on the Royal Exchequer. iSText mail from Auckland will doubtless bring us further particulars—which we shall look forward to with interest—of this strange episode in the history of New Zealand.
ELECTION OF A KING OF NEW
Wellington Independent, Volume X, Issue 1310, 28 July 1858, Page 3
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