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/90

 86 : and wounded proves that though there were perhaps 3,000 Natives engaged the Loss was but a Cipher. At another Period the valiant Fellows lost Three.

You are of opinion that hereafter the Population will not decrease much by War?
 * The Population will not decrease by War, on account of the Equalization of Fire-arms; but the Loss of the Population, and a frightful Loss it has been to a small Population, has been on the Introduction, when one Party had Fire-arms and the other Party had not; they have no Bows and Arrows to fight at a Distance.

On what do you found your Estimate of One Native to Three Square Miles?
 * I have inquired of the Natives, when I have been travelling, how many lived under such a Chief. When I have been bivouacking in the Forest they have come round me to converse. I do not think the Population of the entire Country, from what I have heard from the Natives, exceeds 130,000 Inhabitants.

Can you state how many there are in the Northern Island?
 * I cannot say.

Do you know how many Acres there are in the entire Country?
 * Nearly 100,000 Square Miles, I should say.

You have stated that Mr. Kemp the Catechist has purchased the Wood in that Part of the Country to which one of Her Majesty's surveying Vessels has gone to purchase Spars?
 * He has purchased the Land on which there are Spars, which were devoted expressly for Captain Sadler on his next Return. Whether the Return was to have been in Twelve Months or Twenty-four Months, I cannot say; but after that Time Tetaris, who supplied His late Majesty with Spars, sold it; and he has quarrelled with other Persons in that Country about other Spar Land.

Why do you think that Her Majesty's Ships will not get Spars; will not it be Mr. Kemp’s Interest to supply them to Her Majesty?
 * He may act so, but the Captain will not get them from the native Chief; he has sold the Land.

You do not mean to say that the Spars will not be procured?
 * No. The Man of course will see to his own Interest; he may sell them to the Captain.

How do you account for the Chief having promised his Spars to Captain Sadler, and after that Promise having sold the Land?
 * The Chief acted honourably; he said he would tabu it for a certain Time; that Time expired, and then he sold it.

You did not bring that as a Charge against the Chief or against Mr. Kemp?
 * No.

Do you know the Proportion of Europeans in that Country?
 * It is so straggling it is impossible to say; it is continued from the North Cape to the South, where there are European Seamen who settle on a Portion of the Land.

The Committee understand that there are Ministers of the Church of England; are there any of your Faith?
 * Of the Jewish Persuasion none, with the Exception of Mr. Montefiore, who is Cousin of the Mr. Montefiore who has been before the Committee To-day; there are only Four of that Persuasion; the only Person I am acquainted with or have Intercourse with, as a Friend, is Mr. Montefiore.

There is no Synagogue there?
 * No.

Do you know whether the Roman Catholics have any Missionaries there?
 * No; the only Missionaries are those of the Church Missionary Society, who have several Stations North and South, and the Wesleyan Missionaries. The Wesleyan Missionaries have done Wonders for the Time they have been there.