Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 581, 29 May 1858, Page 4

Colonial.

TARANAKI.

We'gather'from the 'Taranaki Herald,'of the Bth instant, that there had'been some efforts made to turn the native quarrels and war to the advantage .of the Maori King movement. Some Waikato natives who have recently arrived from the north, offered aid to Wiremu'.Kingi and his allies, on the condition that they declared in fay.our of Potatau (Te Wherowhero) the proposed Maori King.. The offer was declined and then made to Ihaia's party with similar results. The. following is a report of the grand meeting or Hui Hui held on the occasion, and reported by an eye witness .- —

There was a large muster of native;* afc Waitara to hear what the VVaikato chief'Anatipa had to say. He first addressed Wiremu Kingi,

telling him that he came as a Christian to endeavour to bring about a peace. Wiremu Kingi assured him that so long "as Ihaia remained unpunished he would not make peace, but that Anatipa might take him. away to his king, PotntauV Anatipa reminded him that if Ihaia went away for a time to Mokau or Whanganui he would probably wait until Wiremu Kingi's allies had'-..dispersed and then' suddenly return and attack him, he would therefore suggest that as the land was the origin of the quarrel that he (Wiremu Kingi) should place Waitaha in his hand-and he would take Ihaia with :the other. Whereupon "Wiremu. Kingi replied that' his hands would be then too full; the land or Ihaia would escape, in order to prevent which he (Anatipa) had better take Ihaia away with him toPotatau; he further added that Ihaia had precluded him from making peace by swallowing Katatore's blood. . Anatipa then proceeded to Ihaia's pah and told him he came in the name of the Lord as a peacemaker, and to prevail upon him to accompany him. to Kawhia; he stated that W. Kingi refused to make peace because he had drank of KatatoreV blood.

Ihaia denied this, and challenged any of W. Kingi's supporters to the proof; he stated his willingness to accompany Anatipa to Kawhia and give up his land at Waitara, provided that W. Kingi would retire an equaldistance to the Southward. He first enquired where Eatatore fell. The reply was near Waitaha. He then asked where Rawiri was killed. Near Waitaha rejoined Anatipa. And can you say thatEatatore %vas murdered, was it not retribution for Kawiri's s death ? It was, replied Anatipa. Why do you come to me said Ihaia; go to those who planned Katatore's death, to Karipa, Haeana, Tikikuku, Raniera, Tahaua, and Mahau, ask them if Katatore was murdered. Wi te Corovvhiti (the Whanganui chief) then spoke, to the following effect. Ihaia must not abandon his people and his land until the cause of the quarrel be removed. Let the land go to the Europeans. What would Ihaia do in Potatau's territory ? He is ready to.make peace and sell his land. Anatipa returned to W. Kingi's pah and communicated what Ihaia had told Mm and called upon Karipa, Haeana, Tahana, Raniera, Mahau and Tikikuku to come forward and answer for themselves. Karipa said that sufficient payment had .been taken for Katatore, and thai peace should now be made. Temihana then rose and declared that if peace were made and Ihaia allowed to escape punishment he would shoot Karipa and his five accomplices: The meeting then broke up and during the night Karipa, Haeana, and Tahana and Raniera went to the Hua. - _

■A numerously signed requisition from the Grey and Bell district had been forwarded to Dillon Bell, Esq., to induce hitn. if possible, to become their representative in the' General Assembly, but no answer had been received up "to our last dates, although hourly and anxiously expected. In the event of Mr. Bell's declining to accede, Mr. Thomas Hirst offered himself for the representation of the district.