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/56

 52 With regard to the Traders who are settled in the Northern Part of New Zealand, what may be their Number?
 * I believe the Number is greater than has been stated; they are settled in every Bay; not only in the Northern Bays but the Southern Island.

Will you confine yourself, at first, to the Northern Island?
 * I cannot give a distinct Statement of the Number of them.

A Witness has stated that he did not consider the Traders in the Bay of Islands as more than five or Six?
 * Not the respectable Traders in the Bay of Islands; only the runaway Convicts have begun carrying on Trade to a large Extent, and some of the Sailors as well.

Do you think there are as many as Fifty or Sixty respectable Traders in the Bay of Islands?
 * No; but there may be that Number including all the Stations. There are some in the Neighbourhood of the Wesleyan Station.

As to the Proprietors of Land; are there any Europeans who are Proprietors of Land except the Missionaries?
 * Yes, some.

Are there many?
 * No, not many that I am acquainted with; but the major Part of my Time has been spent in the Interior.

Are there any other Descriptions of Europeans except Missionaries, Traders, and Runaways, and their Families?
 * No.

Have you known any Instances of Natives being employed by Europeans to guard their Houses?
 * We consider the Natives employed round the Missionary Stations to be a Protection.

You were in New Zealand in the Autumn of 1835?
 * I was.

About that Time did any formal Acknowledgment of the Independence of the Island take place in the Presence of Mr. Busby?
 * I heard of it in consequence of Charles Baron De Thierry being there; I saw the Account in private Letters; I had Letters myself concerning it.

There was a formal Declaration of Independence?
 * Yes; it was drawn up by Mr. Busby.

Will you have the goodness to state to the Committee what you know upon the Subject?
 * There was a Circular drawn up and printed by Mr. Colenso, the Church Missionary Printer, calling upon the Chiefs to prevent the landing of Baron Charles de Thierry; but any thing further I cannot state.

There was a Petition to the King, signed by certain Settlers in New Zealand, in the course of the Year 1836, for Protection; you signed that Petition, did you not?
 * I did; at Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty.

Was that sent to you by any body?
 * It was brought round by the Rev. Henry Williams.

Was he the principal Mover in that?
 * Not the Principal, but he was one of the Movers among the Missionary Body.

Do you know others who moved in it?
 * No; only as far as the Missionary Body were concerned. Some few of the Missionary Body had not seen it, being at Manukau. Rh