TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 609, 8 September 1858, Page 3

TARANAKI.

ELECTION OF A KING OF NEW tfEALANrJs We copy the following from the1 ' Hawlsti's Bay Herald ' of the 10th July •— " The arrival from the Waikato* of Moatuil and his attendants, has brought us aft interesting pkce of intelligence from the interior—nd less than that the king movement, so long in" progress, and so pointedly referred to the other day by the General Assembly in its address id the Queen, has terminated in the election of a veritable Maori monarch.

"It appears that a very large meeting had been held in the district of Lower "Waikatd* which was attended by delegates from most 01 the tribes in this islands as well as by a largd number of missionaries and other white meni Potatau (te Wherowhero) was elected King of* New Zealand—that if. over the Muories and srJ liinch of the land as yet remains in their hands.- ---" His Majesty is to exercise his functions in strict unity and amity with those of the Queen of England, whose equal he is supposed to he 1 The chief objects at present contemplated seem to bf to cultivate a good understanding with the English, and by every possible means t«i advancu the Maori in the scule of social impimoment anil civilization, lieeogmsing the importance of the fourth 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 attempt was made to establish anything1 like an organized opposition^ and it was decided that everybody was to do as lie pleased with his own. Any tribe fighting for their just rights against an attempt at oppression, as in the case of Ihaia and Wiaetnu Kingi at Taranaki, is to be supported by the confederation, under the direction of the King. Murder, robbery, and oilier heinous' crimes and offences, are to be put down and punished tvitb. a high hand; and a simple code of laws is to be established, in the compilation of which it | is said ihey have been promised the assistance !of Government. A snm of 1,800 was subj scribed and paid up on the spot to meet present j and urgent demands on the Eoyal Exchequer, | "Next mail from Aucklaud will doubtless bring us further particulars —which we shnll look forward to with interest —of this strange episode in the history of Xew Zealand."