Hill. — Early Printing in Neiv Zealand. 421 



such a state of things to continue such as the evidence dis- 

 closed. " Such is the depravity evinced by some Europeans, 

 Americans, &c, at the Bay of Islands that one place is termed 

 ' Hell ' " ; and the same authority says, " A wicked New-Zea- 

 lander will turn on one sometimes, when reproved, and say, in 

 reference to our countrymen, ' Physician, heal thyself.' It is 

 a lamentable fact that where European society increases there 

 is in proportion also a laxity of morals among the heathen 

 with whom they reside. ... I could write facts which 

 would make a modest person blush for our countrymen"' 

 (" Report on the Present State of New Zealand," page 

 311). 



Following the issue of the report the British Government 

 decided to take a more active part in the maintenance of law 

 and order in New Zealand, and on the 14th August, 1839, 

 Lord Normanby issued to Captain Hobson, on his appoint- 

 ment as British Consul, certain instructions, from which the 

 following extract is taken. These instructions are to be found 

 in New Zealand parliamentary papers, 1840, pages 37, 38, and 

 they show the views held by the British Government at that 

 date as to the rights of the New Zealand chiefs to independ- 

 ence : " We acknowledge " (so runs Lord Normanby 's instruc- 

 tions, and speaking for his Government) " New Zealand as 

 a sovereign and independent State, so far as it is possible to 

 make that acknowledgment in favour of a people composed of 

 numerous dispersed and petty tribes who possess few political 

 relations to each other and are incompetent to act or to deli- 

 berate in concert. But the admission of their rights, though 

 inevitably qualified by this consideration, hangs on the faith 

 of the British Crown. The Queen, in common with Her 

 Majesty's immediate predecessor, disclaims for herself and her 

 subjects every pretension to seize on the islands of New Zea- 

 land, or to govern them as a part of the dominion of Great 

 Britain, unless the free and intelligent consent of the natives, 

 expressed according to their established usages, shall be first 

 obtained." 



Captain Hobson, R.N., arrived in New Zealand on the 

 29th January, 1840, in H.M.S. "Herald." He was autho- 

 rised to assume the title of Lieutenant-Governor in the event 

 of the aborigines being "willing to recognise Her Majesty's 

 sovereign authority over the whole or any parts of the 

 country." Mr. Colenso's "Day- and Waste-book" gives us 

 information that is of unusual interest and public importance, 

 and, as it is entirely new and deals with matters bearing 

 upon the events that are of historic value in the history of 

 this country, I shall quote them in full. On the 30th Janu- 

 ary, 1840, occurs the following entry: — 



