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/110

 106 During that Season it is dangerous for the Ships to approach that Coast?
 * Yes. The Bay of Islands they may approach at any Time.

With respect to the Missionaries, did you ever hear that there had been some great Difference of Opinion between Mr. Busby and the Missionaries?
 * Not at the Time I was there; they were on the best Terms possible.

Did you hear that there had been?
 * I saw it referred to in a Letter of Mr. Busby's, which was published.

Are you aware whether many of the Masters of Whalers attend the Church Service at the Bay of Islands when they are there?
 * I do not think they do.

Were there any Ships of War there while you were there?
 * No.

Are there any Schools now kept by native Teachers?
 * In some Places. At one Place I was at, Waronico, at some Distance from the Bay of Islands, they had a native Teacher. The Missionary goes once a week to visit it; he goes on Saturday, and comes back on the Monday.

In those Parts of the Country that were not immediately in the Neighbourhood of the Missionaries were there Christians?
 * In one Village I slept in there were a Number of Christians.

Was not there a good deal of Land purchased some Years ago by an Association?
 * I did not hear of that.

You did not hear that at the Time when Mr. White was resident there they came to him, and requested him to state to the Purchasers that they were very willing to fulfil the Engagement or to give him back the Price, but that they wished the Land to be cultivated?
 * I did not hear that.

When you said that the Son in some Instances had come and resumed the Land his Father had parted with, was that in Cases where he conceives that the Consent of all Parties interested had not been given?
 * I cannot tell what the Reason might be. I think it is from a Sort of Idea that the Father cannot alienate the Property.

You do not know what it is that gives the Claim upon Land to any particular Person besides the Chief?
 * I do not.

You said that if the Land was continued to be sold the Chief might be left destitute in the end; do you think that would be the Case if there were certain Districts settled on the People in which all Purchases by Europeans would be void ?
 * I think that would be a sufficient Protection. But I do think that if there was a Government there the New Zealanders would rapidly increase. There is plenty of Food; they would have an Opportunity of providing for a Family, and their Wars would be done away with. An insignificant Chief who has hardly an Acre of Land now may embroil a whole Community.

You do not know the Number of Europeans Landholders in the Island?
 * I do not.

Are they increasing?
 * I should think they are; the Natives are very ready to sell to them.

Supposing the Son to have concurred with his father in selling Land, have you known any Instance in which, after a Transfer solemnly made in this Manner, the Son has proceeded to resume the Land?
 * I have not.

Do you think that likely?
 * I do not know whether he would from a European, but he would from a Native. I think the strong Arm is the Protection to their Property. Rh