WANGANUI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 436, 7 January 1857, Page 8

WANGANUI.

Meti Kingi and Iharaira, two Wanganui chiefs, returned on the 13th from Taupo, where ... they attended a grand council of nearly all the most influential chiefs of this island ; this is the third which has been held during the last four years, and it appears likely to prove by far the most important of all which have taken place since New Zealand has been a British colony. The place of meeting was Pukawa, the residence of Iwikau Te Heuheu. Te Whero "Whero, the principal chief of Waikato, who was to have been there, lost his life by a fall from his horse in going to it. The first subject of discussion was the land: it was unanimously decided that no more should be sold by the natives to the Government; that Tongariro should be the centre of a circle, of which the Hauraki or Thames, Waikato, Kawhia, Mokau, Taranaki, Ngatiruanui, Waitotara, Wanganui, and Titiokura, formed the circumference ; thatthiswas to be a HoJieTapw or boundary, which on no account should be broken; (this line of course excluded the parts already alienated to the Europeans); that from Tongariro lines should be supposed to run and connect it with the mountains which stand in the circumference—Haungaroa, Maungatautari, Taupiri, Taranaki, Wanganui, Ruahine,&c.; that a document to this effect should be written and sub-

scribed to by all the head chiefs. The next subject was that of the Queen's sovereignty; most refused to acknowledge it, some were silent, a few agreed to it. The prevailing opinion was that, if submitted to, the Queen would eventually take possession of their lands, and the chiefs would, lose all their dignity and influence ; that they had been repeatedly warned of this by foreigners, and especially by- —; that the prayers for the Queen and Prince Albert should not be read where her power was not acknowledged ; that roads, if permitted to be made, would destroy their control over their own lands. The third subject was whether they should elect, a native king; this was unanimously negatived. The fourth was respecting Maketu. The fifth related to European ministers ; —this was mooted by the Waikato chiefs, whether they should be listened to, and be permitted to go up and down amongst them, lest they should upset their plans. This proposition found no supporters. Such is a brief summary of the principal topics of discussion. It plainly shows that the natives are on the alert, and jealous of the Government, and that designers are endeavouring to render them so, and that they do not think their alliance with the Europeans advantageous to them. Wanganui Chronicle, Dec. 18.