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/58

 54 What is the Proportion of Population of Foreigners, Europeans, and Subjects of England in New Zealand?
 * I do not know; we hardly knew how to distinguish.

Are there Frenchmen and Americans?
 * There are very few Frenchmen; there are some few North Americans, but we do not distinguish between the North Americans and the English; there are very few Frenchmen; there is a French Doctor in the Bay of Islands.

Have they no Settlement of their own, apart from the English?
 * I am not aware of any.

The Natives make no Distinction between them?
 * I have not heard that they have. I do not think that they are aware of it; they class all under the Head of Europeans.

Did they consider Baron Charles De Thierry as a Countryman of yours?
 * No; they called him Kingi Pukanoa; Pukanoa means taking false Leave,– a King coming without Leave.

You said you did not know the Number of Settlers; do you know, in fact, whether they are increasing or not in the Island?
 * They are increasing rapidly. This I have from Report; I have not been ashore at all the Places; but I have very good Authority for this, from the Information I have received from the Missionary Body, that they are increasing

rapidly.

Do you know to what Extent they are increasing?
 * No; having been so much in the Interior I did not see so much of them.

Is there a great Disproportion between the Sexes?
 * I likewise have been informed that there are Ten European Men to One Female, and even more than that.

Have the Disorders which have prevailed to such an Extent in the Island increased with the Population?
 * I am informed so.

That they are more frequent now than they were a short Time ago?
 * They increase, I believe, every Day.

With respect to the Purchase of Land; has it been steadily progressive from Year to Year?
 * Yes, I believe so.

At the Close of the Year there is a good deal more than at the Beginning of it; it is going on in a certain Ratio from Year to Year?
 * Yes; I consider by this Time the Island of Waiheke in the River Thames is purchased, and the Island of Wakatiwai.

Do you conceive that as Things are the Acquisition of Land will go on till it has to a great Extent covered the Island?
 * If Things are left in their present State the whole Northern Island will shortly be in the Possession of the Europeans, the North Americans classing themselves with the Europeans.

So that, in fact, if Things were left in the Situation in which they are, the Land will be taken almost entirely out of the Possession of the Natives?
 * Yes; the whole Northern Island, and the smaller Islands adjoining thereto.

They have considerable Intercourse with Australia, have they not; sending Articles there?
 * Yes.

Is that principally Timber?
 * Timber and Flax and Pork.

Do they receive from Australia British Articles sent there?
 * Either from Australia or from England; Blankets, Axes, Adzes, Knives, Razors, and many other Articles. Rh