Page:Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand.pdf/101

 Rh Did they appear to enter into what was going on?
 * They were particularly attentive. I was present at one of their Love-feasts, when the Service continued until very nearly Eleven o'Clock at Night; and they all spoke, and spoke with great Ease, and very well. Some of them seemed a good deal affected; altogether I could not doubt their Sincerity.

Did that Feast exhibit any of the Disorder or State of Excitement which is sometimes said to follow?
 * No, not the least; they ate a Piece of Bread and drank Water.

It was conducted altogether with great Decorum?
 * It was, with very great Decorum.

You are yourself a Clergyman of the Church of England?
 * I am.

Had you an Opportunity of observing whether, among the Natives who had not had the Advantage of being visited at all by the Missionaries, there was any Notion of Religion?
 * The Second Night that I slept in the Bush in New Zealand I came to a Native's House, and was exceedingly tired; he begged of me to stop there, and made me very comfortable indeed, they gave me a clean Blanket and plenty of Fern to sleep on, which I did. After their Supper (which was Potatoes) they got their Book down (their Testament)— they most of them had a Testament— and read a Chapter out of the Testament, and the Family collected round, and afterwards they knelt and prayed, and then we retired to rest. In the same Way they began the Day the next Morning. That Man was not a baptized Christian, but he was a Christian. I have seen him at the Service afterwards; but he had not yet been baptized, nor any of his Family. He belonged to the Church Missionary Stations at Waimate.

In what Language was the Service read?
 * In the Native Language. They are exceedingly fond of reading; they never go away without their Book in their Blankets. It did not appear to be done for Effect, but as if it was their common Habit.

They had no Expectation of getting any thing from you?
 * Nothing at all. The Man was very kind to me; when I returned from Waimate he came to tender his Services.

What Observation did you make on the State of Cultivation?
 * They cultivate Potatoes very well; the Patches are very neatly kept, and they are very particular in not passing across the Sweet Potato Grounds. They could have an Abundance of Food; the Country is rich, and extremely well watered, much more so than New South Wales. They could irrigate in New Zealand if there was a Scarcity of Rain, but in New South Wales they would not have Water sufficient to do it.

How is the Climate?
 * It is a beautiful Climate; it is never so hot as New South Wales, nor is it so cold; it is more moist.

At what Period of the Year were you there?
 * From February to the 17th of May.

That would be corresponding with our Autumn?
 * Yes. The Summer was just over, and the stormy Season was beginning when we left the Island.

Were you much towards the Bay of Islands?
 * I was there about Six Weeks.

What is the State of the European Population there?
 * I think it is as bad as can be; quite as bad as can be. I was at Kororika. I do not know that I ever saw such a bad Community; there was Drunkenness and Profligacy of all kinds.

Is there much European Population on the West Coast, where the Wesleyans are?
 * Yes; a good deal, but not so much as at the Bay of Islands. They were

(123.3.)