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/48

 44 Is it not a native Feeling, in selling their Land, that they shall get Employment from the European?
 * It is that they will become Gentlemen, to use their own Word, in selling it and in working it; that is the Term many of the young Chiefs have used to me.

Can you speak too strongly of the State of Society in the Bay of Islands?
 * I consider that it is impossible for it to be in a worse State than it is.

There is every Sort of Vice?
 * Every Sort of Vice known to Europeans is prevalent there, I am told.

Have not those Natives who have had much Intercourse with that part of the Country been very much demoralized by Association with those People?
 * The Natives in the Interior I consider far superior in point of Morals to those in the Bay of Islands.

Were the Natives in the Interior many of them Christians?
 * Very few of them were Christians.

Still you consider them better Men than those who had been associating with the Europeans in the Bay?
 * Decidedly. I took Two or Three Natives from a native Village in the Interior, who had not associated with bad Europeans, I mean such as are found on the Sea Coast, who appeared perfectly at home with us, and they appeared far less wild than many of those at the Bay of Islands.

Did they conduct themselves steadily?
 * Yes.

Are there much spirituous Liquors sold in the Interior of the Country?
 * Not any, except to a few Europeans who may reside among them for the Purchase of their Flax; neither are they in the habit of taking any; they drink only Water.

That is not the Case in the Bay of Islands?
 * No.

The Natives, particularly the Chiefs, are found in a State of Intoxication, I have been informed?
 * They are frequently drinking, but I believe it takes more to intoxicate them than Europeans, from what Cause I do not know. A Chief at Kororerike has been known to take Half a Pint of spirituous Liquors before Breakfast; it may have been adulterated with Water, perhaps.

The English Traders probably adulterate the spirituous Liquors?
 * Yes. If the whole Country were to get into the habit of taking ardent Spirits to a large Extent the Consequences might be serious.

Do you think that in selling their Land they have the slightest Idea of the Probability of this Country taking the Sovereignty of their Island?
 * They do not think any thing of Sovereignty. I have no Reason to think that they take that View of it. Their simple View is, that their Land may be cultivated, and that they may be benefited by that. At present they cultivate no more than is necessary for their daily Food, except cultivating Potatoes round the Bay of Islands and other Parts for the Shipping; this is by Slaves.

Do you think that if it was put to a New Zealand Chief, that it was the Intention of this Country to make Laws which should coerce him, he would like the Plan?
 * Some few of the head Chiefs, the elder Chiefs, who have been at War many Years, perhaps might state their Objections to it; but the young Men, I am confident, would be anxious for it; they see the Propriety of it; they say there would be no Fear of a Party coming and falling upon them then, and that unless something is done they would be all dead; this has been stated to them by all the Missionary Body, that such a Thing will be the Consequence of their going on as they are doing, viz. be all dead.

You showed them very properly the Evils of War?
 * Yes; and that if it goes on, and one Half of the Island was to rise up against the other, they would be exterminated. Rh