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/112

 108 Do you think that where they have resumed the Land they resumed it on any Principle?
 * They had some Claim to it; but they did not balance the Claims to it much, I believe.

Are you able to give any Information as to the Interior of the Land One hundred Miles from the Sea Coast?
 * I only went across from Hokianga to Waimate; I went up the Kawa-Kawa on one Journey, and to Karakara, and back to Hokianga. A Person who came in the Ship with us had been to Kiapara; he told me it was a magnificent Country; that the River was navigable for One hundred Miles, and one of the Missionaries has a Purchase there, Mr. Baker of Manahia.

When you spoke of the Propriety of making a Reserve of Land for the Natives, are you aware whether the Island affords Land enough to make that Reserve, and still to afford Land for Occupation by a good many Europeans?
 * Yes, certainly. The Population, I have understood, at Kiapara is very trifling; for One hundred Miles there are not above One hundred People; it is a very productive Soil if it were well cultivated.

The Witness is directed to withdraw.

  Mr. JOHN DOWNING TAWELL is called in, and further examined as follows:

YOU are a Surgeon?
 * I am.

Did you visit New Zealand in your way from New South Wales lately?
 * I did.

At what Time was it; and how long did you remain?
 * We arrived on the 16th of September, and left on the 19th of November last.

You were there therefore more than Two Months?
 * Yes.

That would be the Spring there?
 * Yes.

What State of Weather had you when you were there?
 * A general Prevalence of exceedingly fine Weather, with the Wind from the South-westward.

Did you reside in one place, or move about?
 * I was a good deal about the Tributaries of the Hokianga.

Where did you reside?
 * In the Ship; but I visited all the Places round.

Were you connected with either of the Religious Societies there?
 * In no respect whatever.

Had you an Opportunity of much Intercourse with the Natives during your Stay?
 * Very extensive indeed, for the Time.

Were you Surgeon of a Vessel?
 * No; I took my Passage at Sydney with a view of following the ordinary Pursuits that would Interest a Man of Science. The ordinary Time of the Vessel's sailing from Sydney being about December, I thought I might pass the Time profitably in New Zealand. I left this Country Three Years ago, in an infirm State of Health, being sent there for my Health.

Did you acquire a Knowledge of the Language of the New Zealanders?
 * Not at all, beyond the ordinary negative and affirmative Terms.

Not so as to converse?
 * Not at all.

Had you an Opportunity of seeing their Mode of the Cultivation of Land?
 * Yes; in visiting them I had Occasion to notice that. Rh