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/46

 42 : and being not satisfied with being detained so long, he ran away without giving any Reason.

Are the Slaves Persons taken in War?
 * Yes; and they are purchased by Means of Blankets.

You permitted your Labourers to plant?
 * Yes; we permitted them to plant on the Ground.

Did they consider that they had any Right on the Soil in consequence of being so permitted to plant?
 * They were employed in the Settlement; we considered them as belonging to us. It was a Promise from us that they should have the Produce of the Work they worked over Hours; simply as a Labourer would do in England.

Did they consider that planting there gave them any Right over the Soil?
 * Not at all.

They would have considered it so, but for the Bargain which they had made with you, probably?
 * If a Stranger came and planted they would consider that quite an Insult upon the Purchaser when we were present on the Spot.

Did any of the White Men take a Part in the Skirmishes which took place?
 * Not one, while I was there.

Why did the Tribe friendly to you strip a White Man, which led to Retaliation in your Case?
 * It was the great Temptation for the Property; it was a Retaliation in destroying the Natives at that Time; it is the Custom of the Natives, in all Cases of an Injury received by their Countrymen, to retaliate, even though the Individual who suffers was not concerned in it. They sent Mr. Tapstall away in his Boat.

Do you consider that a Chief when he sells his Land thinks he is selling it for ever, or only his Life Interest?
 * That he sells it for ever.

Would he be disappointed afterwards if Iron was found on that Land?
 * Not at all; not if Gold was found.

Do not they consider Iron more valuable than Gold?
 * They do not consider Iron so highly valuable now as formerly, because they have had Payments from the Missionaries and others in Axes and Spades and so on for many Years.

There is no Iron Ore worked in the Island?
 * No, not any.

Can you tell what is the Amount of Land that has been purchased by Europeans, not only residing there but residing in this Country?
 * I cannot say how much is purchased by Gentlemen residing in this Country; no more than what Mr. Fairburn had purchased. I am informed that had been previously purchased.

Have not the New Zealand Association, as it is called, made extensive Purchases of Land?
 * Not any, unless it was the Purchase I have alluded to. It was purchased in the Year 1825, or thereabouts.

Do you know any Company in this Country now possessed of any Land in New Zealand?
 * I do not know of any Company in existence that possesses any Property in New Zealand.

Do you know of any Company that has purchased Land in that Country?
 * I simply know from the native Report and Conversations with Europeans that Tamaka had been purchased by Europeans, or by some Company.

That is sold again?
 * Yes; it was bought by Mr. Fairburn. Rh