104   

No. 35.

Governor Hobson to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, is Oct. 1840.

the missionary, when Mr. Williams told hen that he had little doubt, but that I send some blankets through him for distribution.

I afterwards visited the chiefs at the Maungatapu pa, all of whom hod previously signed with the exception of two, who were, I regret to say, absent with their families. We were well received; the chief, a fine, intelligent-looking fellow, named Nuka, said that he had dined, but if we would take some dinner, it would soon be prepared for us. Thin pa and the tribe are of considerable strength and importance. I was much taken by their chief's manners, and from the good chancier he bean, if any mark of distinction is ever to be shown to any of them, it would be well to secure the good-will of this chief, who appears to be well disposed to the Government.

I have deemed it expedient to enter more fully into the detail of this conference, as one which not only shows fully the general character of the natives, but also the nature of the obstacles I may hereafter expect to meet, when principles alien to the Government have been instilled by interested Europeans into their minds, as exemplified also at Coromandel Harbour; neither will I disguise from your Excellency my regrets, that men possessing Christianity, should, in a country merging from barbarity, whose inhabitants are scarcely able to comprehend the simplest doctrines of the Christian religion, endeavour to meat., distrust of its ministers, of whatsoever persuasion ; Christianity in any shape, with these people, being better than the deplorable condition of many of them at present It is not the specious professions of a religion which asserts itself unconnected with civil government, which should blind us to the political disunion it creates; but rather its sincerity should be tested by its acts and their effects, and whether it seeks to open a new field of labour before uncultivated, or to paralyze the efforts of those who have laboured to improve the soil by establishing themselves upon it. The latter I conceive incompatible earth such professions, whilst this country contains so vast a field untried, but still it is to be hoped reclaimable.

I have given to Captain Bateman a certificate of having chartered his schooner for 11 days at per diem, also for 9 10s. 8d. paid by him to Mr. Webster at Coromandel Harbour for pork and potatoes given to the natives. We arrived here dos morning, having left Tauraraga Harbour on the 13th instant. The native chiefs at Ottomoetet pa still display their chancier for strict observance of previous engagements, until outbidden by the promise of an increased premium.

I have, &c.

To his Excellency the Lieutenant governor(signed)   Thos. Banbury,

of New Zealand.   Major 80th Regiment.

(8.)

Sir,   Paihia, 11 June 1840.

I HAVE much pleasure in forwarding to your Excellency the treaty committed to my care for the signatures of the chiefs in Cook's Straits.

On my. arrival at Port Nicholson I experienced some opposition, from the influence of Europeans at that place, and it W29 not until after the expiration of ten days that the chiefs were disposed to come forward, when they unanimously signed the treaty.

The chiefs of Queen Charlotte's Sound and Rangitoto, in the ueighbourhood of Port Hardy, on the south side of the Straits, as also those chiefs on the north side of the Straits with whom I communicated, as far as Wanganui, signed the treaty with much satisfaction, and appeared much gratified that a check was put to the importunities of the Europeans to the purchase of their lands, and that protection was now afforded to them in common with Her Majesty's subjects.

I had been my intention to have proceeded to Cloudy Bay, Banks's Peninsula and whereby the signature of the whole of the tribes of the Southern Island would hare been obtained ; for which purpose, I felt it important to prolong the charter of the schooner " Ariel " in the service of the Government ; but upon my return from Wanganui to Kapiti, I received intelligence that Her Majesty's ship Herald had left the Bay of Islands for the Southern Island, and that an officer had beers appointed to proceed with a copy of the treaty; I therefore concluded to return to the Bay of Islands.

I have much satisfaction in stating to your Excellency that Captain Clayton rendered me every assistance in his power, and upon nay application to him at Port Nicholson to convey me to Otaka, &c., he unhesitatingly gave up his vessel for the service of the Government, though to the serious detriment of his private business on the coast.

I have, &c.

To Captain Hobson, R. N.   (signed)   Hony Williams.
Lieut-governor of New Zealand.

No. 35

Governor to the Secretary of

State far Me Colonies, 15 Oct 1840.

(9)

My Dear Sir.

Paihia, Saturday, 27 June 1840.

Church Missionary Station, Tauranga,

23 May 1840.

Is the absence of the Rev. A. N. Brown, I have, agreeably to Major Banbury's directions, copied the treaty of Waitangi, and I hare now the honour to forward to you the original by the " Aquilla" cutter, the first opportunity since Major Bunbury left Tauranga.

Two of whom are considered " high chiefs," have refused to sign the treaty ; their minds have been disturbed by some evil-minded person trying to prejudice them against Government ; they may possibly sign the copy I have taken by-and-by. Major Banbury told me signatures on the copy would be as good as those on the original document you seat. As Major Banbury was hindered, in consequence of war between the tribes, from visiting Rotorua, I sent a copy of the treaty in to Rotorua to-day, to Mmers. Chapman and Morgan, to use their influence to get the signatures of the chiefs. An unexpected opportunity occurring yesterday by the arrival of the schooner Mercury with Mr. James Fedarb on board nssapercargo, I prepared a copy of the treaty, which I gave in eharge to him with letters to our native teachers at Opouki and the Koha, to do what they could in obtaining signatures of chiefs in that quarter.

Either Rev. A. N. Brown or myself should feel most happy by personal visitation amongst all the tribes in the Bay of Plenty to forward the views of Her Majesty's Government were it just now practicable ; but unfortunately it is not ; Mr. B. being on a missionaryvisit in an opposite direction, of necessity one of us must remain at home to take charge of the station.

I have distributed the eight blankets left by Major Banbury to those chiefs whom he directed should have them; I have added four others out of our society's atom. Several more blankets may. yet be wanting if Tupaia and his friends should sign.

I beg to apologize for the very soiled state of the treaty, but the native habits are so filthy it could hardly be avoided.

All the names marked in red ink, are either head chiefs or cone of deceased chiefs of rank. Nuka and Tau are the two greatest chiefs who have signed the treaty in Tauranga us yet.

I have, &c.

Willoughby Shortland, Esq. Acting Colonial Sec.   (signed)   James Rororauka,Bay of Islands.

IT should appear, that in May last Mr. Main chartered a vessel to go a trading to the Bay of Plenty, placing a young man (whose name is W . Fedarb), on board as trading master. This vessel touched at Taurauga, and Fedarb was furnished by Mr. Stack (one of our missionaries) with a copy of the treaty, and instructions to get as many signatures from the chiefs at the places at which he should call as he possibly could. He accordingly copied the treaty, and has got it signed by several, as your Excellency will perceive by the enclosed document. At Opotiki the chiefs, who am well disposed towards us, the Protestant missionaries, wished him to make a between them and those who made a profession of adherence to the Roman-catholic bishop, which he did by prefixing a x before their names. There were four names so marked, but one afterwards begged to have the mark erased, as he would belong to them no longer ; this accounts for the erasure perceptible on the document.

It should also appear, my dear sir, that Mr. Stack had desired Fedarb to give them a

little tobacco, &c., which he has done from the trading stores he bad in charge, the property of Mr. Maw, the bill for which is also enclosed.

Fedarb wan once is my employ; and a sober, steady, trustworthy person be is. This I suppose to be the season for his bringing the document to me, which I have now the honour to transmit to your Excellency.

Hoping that your Excellency enjoys goal health, and praying for a continuance of the same,

I am, &c.

To His Excellency, Captain Hobson, R. N.   (signed)   William Colenso.

Lieut-governor, &c.   &c.

(10)

Her Ship Herald,

28 June 1940.

Sir,

SINCE the lath ultimo, when I last bad the honour of addressing your Excellency, we have encountered eery weather. The Herald, during the night of the 24th, on making Banks's Peninsula, was becalmed, and baying anchored to prevent her drifting the Parted with her anchor and 20 fathom of cable below she could be again got under 311..   weigh,