ZEALAND

timber, a famine of that article most m a   cars ensure.

Several European traders in park are about this part of the country   

with Kawea and Wangaron, on the western coast about two day

from hence. Otawoa the country), is capable of supporting it large pupalation, and being generally level, is well adapted for culture with the plough ; and having water carriage to the spot, possesses faculities for taking the produce to Waikato; from there it might be transported to Maunkau by way of the Awaroa.

Otawao is about 120 miles from Waikato,   45 miles from Mata Mata, and about 60 miles

from the landing place up the.

The natives were anxious to known the object of my visit, and what dependence they ought to place on the reports in circulation. They had heard that his Excellency Sir Georg Gipps was legislating for them, and asked why were not his regulation, translated into native, that they might read and judge for themselves,

Were the English the only people interested in the laws he was making? Was the country his otherwise than by theft I had said that they were misled by designing men; "Let us see, let us are whether it is so or not," they replied, " we are now a reading people ; render Government acts and designs into native fair/y, and then we will think for ourselves for the future."

I endeavoured to appease the minds of the natives, who were evidently a good deal excited, and assured them that the Governer had given publicity to his intentions at all public, in the circular, and in the treaty itself, and that one especial object

was the protection of the natives. One fellow artfully replied, " Does be (Sir George Gipps) hive us more than his own countrymen !“ observing that if Europeans' land was to be taken from them, was theirs only to be saved! In their present excited state I found it

would be improdent to say anything in them about purchasing land, but inquired what

purchases had been made by Europeans, and learnt that nothing had been sold, save a few hundred acres to a man by the name of Turner, who has been living some years with a wife on the Watpa.

I inquired how and where they had get their information respecting what was doing on the other side of the water; they told me it was from Europeans and from "Rewa," and that they were advised by his not to sell their land to Government.

After hiring a canon we pulled from a little below Maungapowri, and spent the greater part of the next day in exploring this part of the country, which we found rich and well calculated for farms in any extent. Natives are living scattered on the banks of the river, cultivating here and there a portion of the rich soil. On the 6th we continued our course down the Waipa, landing at different places to examine the country and to speak to the natives.

We a step that. did not us ; the soil good, the banks of the river

high, interspersed with wonds of.   The river is from so to no yards wide, and

about eight feet deep, a   gentle stream sweeping us along at about two and a half miles as

hour. Here the banks of the river were covered with wild-ducks About fifty miles from Maungapami we the Warkate, at a place called Ngaruwaki, the Waipa being only a branch of the Waikata. From Ngaruwaki the river widens from half a Mile to a mile, about 10 miles below which it becomes studded with islands; shoally at places, scareely

admitting a boat   over them: the water, however, is exceedingly low just now.

We went on shore for the night at a place called Pukatia, about 25 miles below, near which, is a Iake called Waken, entered by a narrow stream from the north-east side of the Waikato river, about seven miles long and two wide, and, according to native report, has a suberraneous commnication with the Thames. The middle of the lake is salt, and abounds with the salt-water mullet. At Pukitea I had a

grand meeting with the natives, who me on every side, calling for explanations. A Mr. Marshall had assured them that they and their country were sold to Government; they did not like the treachery of the British Government. If they wished to take their country, why not do it openly, they would then know how to act; but for the paltry consideration of 13 blankets to a present of 13 blankets sent by his Excel-

lency) had they been to sell their country.   " Mr. Manusel," said another, "has

sold us and our country ; Mr. Marshall says so, and he must answer for his conduct."
a great deal of clamour from different parties I was promotted to speak on behalf of

Government and of Mr. Manusel also.

They had, I said, in their hands the magna charta of the country, steering to them everything which would make them respected. Their land and everything they had was there ow n, and no one could possess themselves of an of it without their consent.

England I said, abborned slavery, and would treat with them, and act towards them with a

integrity as free men.   I again adverted to the more than probable disaster in
which they must have been involved had not the Governor been sent to protect them; and

that, as other nations were not unmindful of the country, they themselves being hensive   of their designs to colonise it, measures far less humane would then have followed

in the train of their colounsation, and to them would have ensured their

"No," they replied, " a New Zealander glores in dying fighting, and if the French (for they were alluding to them) had only honestly avowed their intentions, though we in the end might he overpowered, yet we would rather die fighting than be made

slaves, or suffer our comunity to be taken us: we fear nothing so much as treachery

and slavery."

I assured

I assured them itimately they would not have to regret the establishment humane government them, and begged that they would suspend their judgm and avoid harsh expressions, until circumstances arose to justify them ; and even then, whatever the grievance, or supposed grievance, might be, to present them unaccompanied with that temper and clamour with which our present conversation was conducted. William Hau again made his remarks, telling them that they had nut seen so much of the Governor as he had ; and for want of better knowing him they made their several remarks. They had known the missionaries some years; they had not yet disappointed them. Mr. Maunsel had never intended the blankets otherwise than as presents to the chiefs ; at any rate sit quietly until you see your land taken, and your fathers and your children killed, then you will have cause for complaint. With this we hardly quieted the natives, who, although so late, wanted to have more ' kororo.'

We left Pakelia soon after sunrise, pulling down the river, assisted by the stream, at the rate of four miles an hour. This part of the river is beautifully studded with islands, most of which are heavily timbered, and several of them large. They were, however, low, and must be under water in heavy floods.

In about eight hours we reached the Rev. R. Maunsell's, one of the church mission

stations, where we spent the following day.

The Waikato district is very extensive, not less than 130 miles from the mouth of the river to the upper part of Wmpa, to which place it is navigable for boats and canoes. The water is perfectly fresh to within eight or ten miles of the Heads, and but slightly influenced by tide, more than 20 miles up; not more than six feet water on the bar at low water; a miserable entrance, and at all hazardous, and a number of shoals in the river. Small craft drawing from five to six feet water, by keeping the channel, May go too miles up the river ; a large proportion of the country is good ; the first 40 miles well wooded, but low ; the upper part is also well supplied with wood, and well adapted for farming establishments to almost any extent.

From Waikato to Maunkou, where the news reached us of a massacre having taken place in the Bay of Islands.

The Rev. H, Williams, C. M. S., the military, and others, had fallen victims. It was represented that an attack was also contemplated upon Auckland ; the place was being fortified, and all were in an attitude of defence. The whole tale seemed so very improbable that myself and naitives that were with me did not hesitate pronouncing the whole a fabrication, and when we reached Maunkau, a church mission station, We found that though such

a report had been carefully circulated by two Europeans from Wakeko, and considerable alarm given thereby at Auckland, that it was altogether without foundation, and was eventually contradicted by the arrival of a small schooner from the Bay of Islands. The following day I met Davis, and other chiefs, who carefully detailed all the consternation, with the formidable preparations they were making at Auckland, the narrow escape of the Government horses, and Captain Symond's boat, and boat's crew, from the military and armed mechanics, the mighty parade of officers, the watchword of sentinels, and above all the ludicrous appearance of Pa Kaiko (Cask Fort.) I could searcely refrain from laughing at the native recital, and at the gravity of some of the chiefs, who with me were listeners and won seriously told by them that the preparations that were making to quarrel with them ought not to be so lightly treated ; that I ought to ask the Governor if he really wished to quarrel with them; they were apprehensive he was seeking some pretext. They would not, they said, begin the quarrel ; but what were they to do when they saw their countrymen fall. They were more jealous than ever that some evil was lurking behind for them. The

Governor was evidently losing confidence, an were they, for they had heard it was contentplated to stop the sale of guns and powder. " If this is a fact, what do you think must be our thoughts upon the matter? Does the Governor wish us to be friendly ? Tell him, then, never to make such a negotiation as to stop the sale of guns and powder."

replied that I had no doubt but that the Governor was as unacquainted with the whole of the grave matter at Auckland as I was. Again, I assured them he had always shown a friendly feeling towards them, and would continue so to do while they conducted themselves friendly to him. I had never myself seen such a notice as they named, namely, that the Europeans were not to sell and powder, and that I did not think there was such a thing in existence. I advised them to be more temperate in their expressions, and to conduct themselves with propriety, and they had nothing to apprehend.

I retuned to Auckland after an absence of a month from thence ; visited Kalmkott at Wahike, who said he could not sell the land about Ramaki until he had consulted with some of his friends on the other side of the names, and that he intended making a reserve there of land for himself.

I left Auckland to return to the Gay of Islands on the 21st January, arrived on the 26th.

Remarks,

From the outlines of my visit his Excellency will at once perceive the necessity of approved officers being stationed so as to visit the natives, to correct evil disseminations and misapprehensions arising therefrom ; it is of the greatest importance that such officeres should be of strictly moral habits, acquainted with the native language, and deeply interested in the social and moral welfare of the natives. They must also have the confidence of the natives as well as of the government. The New Zealanders are jealous of their liberty, us well no of their lands ; they see them intimately connected, and they are carefully watching and

comparing every public act, deducing from thence positive conclusions to the of

509.   conduct

NEW
ZEALAND.