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/15

 Rh Who was Governor of New South Wales at that Time?
 * General Macquarrie.

Were you furnished with any Document or Instrument of Authority from him?
 * Mr. Kendall was sworn in as a Magistrate; and a printed Proclamation was issued by the Governor giving him Authority as a Magistrate to apprehend all runaway Convicts and Sailors, and to punish any Abuses committed against the Natives by any of the Captains of our Vessels; and in this Proclamation the Three Chiefs who went down with us to New Zealand were joined to aid Mr. Kendall in the Punishment and Apprehension of Offenders.

Having been some Time at New South Wales, were they at that Time competent to understand for what Purpose they were joined?
 * I think perfectly.

Do you recollect the Names of the Three Missionaries who were left there?
 * Mr. Kendall, Mr. Hall, and Mr. King; each of them married Men, with their Families of Children.

By what Right did the Governor of New South Wales appoint a Magistrate to act in New Zealand; are you aware of any Act of Parliament that at that Time authorized him in doing so?
 * I recollect the Proclamation was laughed at a good deal as an Assumption of Authority; but it was considered that it might have the Effect of deterring Captains of Ships from injuring the Natives, and they would not argue very nicely as to the Authority of the Governor.

Do you conceive that the Chief understood himself to be ceding, with other Rights, the sovereign Rights; and that, understanding the Nature of what he was doing, he would be willing to give up the Right of Government, and to hand that over to another Country?
 * I think he would object to that, decidedly.

He would be capable, you think, of understanding the Nature of the Arrangement, but would object to it if proposed?
 * I think so. He would be very glad of the Protection of British Laws.

You think he would not like to have the Country transferred from his own Dominion to that of another Country?
 * I think he would not like to be interfered with in the Management of his own People, and that he considered himself perfectly independent of any other Country; at the same Time I think he would be exceedingly glad to put himself under the Protection of British Laws.

As regards British Subjects?
 * Yes; and supposing a Colony to be settled in his Country, he would be glad of the Protection of the Colonists against other Tribes.

You mean to say, the same Man who would not object to selling his Land would still object to having the Government transferred from the Chief to the British Government?
 * I think so.

The Government of his own Tribe?
 * Yes.

Is there one general Chief over the Island, or are they all independent in different Portions of the Country?
 * The Northern Island appears to be divided between Nine or Ten of what are termed Areekees, who have a great Number of subordinate Chieftains under them.

Is each one of those supreme within his own District?
 * Yes.

Do you think that the New Zealand Chief would very much like a Law being passed to prevent his eating a Prisoner taken in War?
 * I think that would be better left to the Influence of moral Feeling. (123.1.)