The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16,1886. THE WESTERN MAORI ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1408, 16 November 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16,1886. THE WESTERN MAORI ELECTION.

It is very pleasing to find that Wahanui, the great Ngatiraaniapoto chief, is a candidate for the seat for the Western Maori electoral district, vacant through the death of the late Mr Puke te Ao, Physically and mentally he is a splendid specimen of the Maori race, his dignified and courteous bearing at once marks him as one of nature’s noblemen, and his eloquence as a speaker is that of the true orator, who, like the poet, is born not made. None who saw him a session or two ago, stating the case for his people at the bar of the House, but must have felt that Wahanui was the fittest man whom the Natives could send to represent them in the House, and we look upon his coming forward as a candidate as an augury of good, the importance of which cannot be over-estimated. For Wahanui represents the most powerful interest among the Maori people, and his coming forward for a seat in the Pailiament of the colony is a proof that the Maori race are convinced that they have no destiny apart from that of their European fellow colonists, and that they are willing to accept our institutions, and to work out the advancement of themselves and their interests by constitutional methods. Wahanui is a well-educated man, though not able to speak English, having been educated in the Three Kings Institution in the early days before the war. It is stated that his candidature is not regarded with favor by the Waikatos, the special adherents of Tawhiao, but that these are not likely to bring forward another candidaie, and Henare Kaihu and Mr George Brown (half-caste), who had been announced, having retired in his favor, there seems to be every reason to believe that Wahanui will be returned unopposed. He will undoubtedly be a great acquisition to the Mauri bench in the House.