CHAP. IX.] FOR THE NATIVES? 167 



so independent as to refuse lucrative situations under 

 government, for which, had they been properly edu- 

 cated, they would have been particularly qualified, 

 as being masters of the native language. 



I will insert here a list, which will show in what 

 proportion the land thus claimed is distributed 

 amongst the individuals in question. 



Religion has been at all times the most effective 

 civilizing power, and it evinces a gross ignorance of 

 facts to deny that missions conducted according 

 to pure exalted conceptions of the divine Author 

 of Christianity are the best outposts of the inter- 

 course of Europeans with uncivilized nations. The 

 natives of New Zealand may fairly claim to be 

 placed on an equality with the colonists as regards 

 their religious wants. Many of the missionaries are 

 excellent and disinterested men ; and although only 

 a few of them have had the advantage of a univer- 

 sity education, they seem to be perfectly qualified for 

 holy orders, and to officiate as clergymen. 



The Wesleyan missionaries are not allowed to 

 purchase land, but are restricted to an allotment 

 sufficient for the wants of their families. Their 

 success amongst the natives has been quite as great 

 as that of their brethren of the Church of Eng- 

 land. 



The Catholics evince in New Zealand, as every- 

 where, the restless spirit of proselytism, and there 

 results from this the singular spectacle of a lively 

 controversy on religious points being carried on 



