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/126

 122 Mr. J. D. Tawell.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE ON

Should you say that generally the Chances of Life to the Natives are as good there as in most Parts of Europe ? I think the Average Duration of Life is not equal to the Average existing here. How is that with respect to the European Inhabitants ; is the Wear and Tear of the Constitution greater in that Country than in Europe ? I think we have hardly sufficient Data to enable us to form an Opinion upon that Subject. Did any Cases of Infanticide come there ?

under your Notice while you were

That has quite ceased in the Part of the Island in which I was. You mean among the Christians, probably ? Yes, and the others too in that part of the Island , Do you know whether there are any American Missionaries residing in the Island ? None, to the best of my Knowledge. Are there any that are called Independents ? None. Do you know whether the Missionaries in those Islands are connected at all with the Trade of the Islands ? Not directly

Are they indirectly ? The Church Missionaries are in the habit of obtaining their Supplies in some measure from the Natives. Do they barter ? Only for the Necessities of their own Families ; not further than that. They do not trade by Vessels or by Storehouses ? No, not now. They have done so formerly ? They have the Repute of having done so ; I cannot speak to the Fact. The different Missionary Societies in this Country, by an Understanding among themselves, have agreed to consider New Zealand as the Field of Labour peculiarly of the Church and the Wesleyan Society. There are other Societies which have Missionaries in the South Seas, the Baptists and Independents, what is called the London Missionary Society, and so on. It is an understood thing that the Independents are not to interfere with the New Zealand Mission ? That is what I have collected from the Secretaries here. The Two Classes of Missionaries, the Wesleyan and the Church of England, perfect Harmony there ?

live in

Perfectly ; on the very best Terms. Mr. Marsden and others.

I have seen Letters mutually between

Mr. Marsden has left New Zealand, has he not ? I saw Mr. Marsden after his Return from New Zealand to New South Wales ; He was never resident in New Zealand. he returned in the Rattlesnake.

Do you know what is the Number of European Landholders ? In the River Hokianga almost every Resident is a small Landholder, more or less.

Does the Number considerably ?

of

Landholders

among

the

Settlers

increase

very

It has not for some Years past in that River. Has it in other Parts ? I am only guided by common Rumour.

Does