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/83

 Rh Does it suffer from the Way in which it is picked?
 * In doubling it, the Part outside, if Wet gets to it, is destroyed. There are Two Descriptions of New Zealand Flax; some growing on the Marshes and some on the Hills.

Is there a Difference in the Colour?
 * There is a considerable Difference.

The Witness is directed to withdraw.

 

Mr. JOEL SAMUEL POLACK is called in, and examined as follows:

YOU have been a good deal in New Zealand, have you not?
 * I have.

You are a British Subject?
 * I am a Londoner.

Have you resided a Length of Time together in New Zealand?
 * I should say about Six consecutive Years.

In what Capacity?
 * A Commercial Trader.

In what Year did you go out?
 * In 1831. I left the 15th of May last.

In what Part of the Island did you reside?
 * I resided in Hokianga about Twelve Months, afterwards in the Bay of Islands, about Four Years at one Time; I was travelling in various Parts also, and during that Period I went on an Expedition in search of a navigable Port for Vessels or for Convenience, and was a long Time among the Natives, and being among them I could listen to all their Ideas of every thing they had to say about the Country; not belonging to a Body of Men attached to any Society, they freely told me their Thoughts without Disguise; they are very particular on that Head.

Did you understand their Language?
 * I did.

Did your Conversation turn at any Time upon the Chance of Europeans settling there in larger Numbers?
 * Yes, often.

Did the Natives appear to understand what was meant by Colonization, or by Europeans settling there; and what appeared to be their Feeling and Wish about it?
 * In the first place, the Missionaries have been invariably against Europeans settling there; of course the Natives regard the Missionaries Ideas on the Subject much; but, as far as I have heard from other Europeans, many of them would like it much, because if they plant they do not know whether they will reap what they have planted, in consequence of the continual Wars amongst them.

Do you think that they would look to the Introduction of more Europeans as a Mode of introducing Quiet in the Country?
 * They would undoubtedly.

Are they intelligent with respect to the Cultivation of their Lands?
 * There is no Nation more intelligent on Land or any other Subject. As a Proof of that there is at the present Moment sailing out of Sydney a Mr. Bailey, a New Zealander, Chief of the Tribe of Waitangi in the Bay of Islands; he is chief Officer of the Earl Stanhope Whale Ship; and if he had not been a Foreigner, as a New Zealander, he would long since have had the Command of the Vessel. There are at the present Moment sailing on the Pacific Ocean Ships with Cargoes worth from 20,000l. and upwards steered by New Zealanders Day and Night. Where they had an Opportunity of being instructed they have shown great Ability; their Farms have astonished every Stranger who

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