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/16

 12 You think he would not like your ordering him not to do it?
 * I think not.

Would he consent to not being allowed to go to War except with the Sanction of the British Agent, or whoever might be there?
 * I do not know how to answer that Question. I think that they would be very glad to settle down in Security, and not to go to War; but how far they would like to be coerced I do not know.

One of the Reasons why they would like a Colony to be settled, you are understood to say, would be that it would defend them against the Aggressions of other Natives?
 * Yes; I think they would like British Protection.

That the Colonists should defend them by Force of Arms?
 * Yes.

Would not that be likely to bring the Colonists into their Wars?
 * I think the Tribes that would be in hostility with that particular Tribe would be deterred by the Strength of the Colonists from making any Attack upon it; but, even if they did so, I do not know that any very ill Consequence would ensue from it, as they would be soon put down, and deterred from making a second Attempt.

Do you think that the Interference of the British between Tribe and Tribe would have the Effect of checking the Influence of the Missionaries?
 * No, I think not. A Colony composed of Men of moral and respectable Characters would tend very much to promote the Labour of the Missionaries.

 

YOU are a Professional Man, a Surgeon?
 * I am.

Have you at any Time been in New Zealand?
 * I was there in the Years 1833 and 1834.

Are you a naval Surgeon?
 * No, a private Surgeon.

Did you visit it from this Country?
 * No, I went there from Sydney.

With whom did you go?
 * I went with a trading Vessel, as Surgeon of the Vessel.

How long did you remain there?
 * About Three Months altogether in New Zealand collectively. I availed myself of the Opportunity of traversing the Country and searching for Flowers and natural Curiosities,—botanizing; these were my Objects.

Did that lead you to walk about the Island a good deal?
 * It led me to walking a good deal; Forty or Fifty Miles in the Interior, in various Directions, about the Bay of Islands. I went over to Hukianga.

Were you accompanied in those Walks?
 * Frequently, in short Walks for Six or Ten Miles, alone. In my long Walks I had One Native with me; sometimes I had an English Person with me, one of the Residents there; sometimes I was in company with one of the Missionaries. I became acquainted with the Missionaries very soon after I went there; I made it a Point to call upon them to have every Information I could from them, and they were very kind to me; the Natives saw that, and hence I was enabled to go any where I liked without any Fear.

Did the Natives at all make out what your Object was?
 * Perfectly. Rh