CHAP. IX.] FOR THE NATIVES? 159 



Their powerful frames, their indifference to wet, 

 and their habit of labouring unclothed, renders 

 them, if once roused to exertion, particularly suited 

 to such kind of work. If the tribe nearest the place 

 where the work is to be done is unwilling to assist, 

 it has often happened that a very distant tribe has 

 engaged to perform it, and this has created no feel- 

 ing of envy. In all cases, therefore, where public 

 works suited to their powers are to be executed, 

 an offer should be made to the natives on terms 

 similar to those offered to Europeans ; the na- 

 ture of their engagement should be explained to 

 them, and a written agreement drawn out. As it 

 is probably intended to establish settlements in many 

 different parts of the island, it would be advisable 

 to establish the system of employing the natives 

 some time before the scheme is put into execution, 

 as this will not only facilitate the subsequent ar- 

 rangements, but materially diminish the price of 

 labour, and will, in fact, often be the only way to 

 have works executed at all. 



X. I believe that, even in their present state, 

 the natives of New Zealand are well qualified to 

 enjoy all the personal rights of British subjects. 

 They are trustworthy when called upon to give 

 evidence in public, as was fully shown in their 

 depositions before the court for examining into 

 land claims ; and I believe they might with ad- 

 vantage be admitted into the land and sea service. 

 Formerly many hundred natives served in British 



