162 



Dr. i'ickeiiiig's visit to Hokianga. 

 Missionary establishment at Pallia. 



NEW ZEALAND. 



British treaty with the New Zealand 

 chiefs. 



operation, which the guides took care to point out 

 with no little exultation. This, together with the 

 fences, and well-cultivated fields, were the works of 

 the missionaries. He remained with Mr. Davis for 

 the night, who advised his proceeding direct to 

 Hokianga; but the guides who had hitherto accom- 

 panied him were ignorant of the route, and another 

 became necessary. 



The next day they passed over the flank of 

 Te-ahooahoo, a volcanic cone, and the most promi- 

 nent elevation in this region. A little further on, 

 a fine lake was passed, about three miles in length. 

 At nine miles from Waimati, the wooded region 

 was entered, which extended to Hokianga. Just 

 before crossing the Hokianga river for the first 

 time, the Baron de Thierry was met with, who was 

 exceedingly polite. The road after this became 

 difficult, it being necessai-y to cross the river re- 

 peatedly, and to follow the stream for some dis- 

 tance. The usual manner of crossing here is to be 

 carried. The guides, under various pretexts, pre- 

 vented them from reaching Hokianga, and they 

 were compelled to stop four miles short of it, at 

 a chief's called Tooron, of rather doubtful cha- 

 racter. 



Tooron, with his family, had worship both morn- 

 ing and evening, as is customary with converted 

 natives, he himself officiating. The accommoda- 

 tions were none of the best. An open shed, with 

 fire and blanket, were however sufficient to insure 

 a good night's rest. Tooron was liberally paid, and 

 so well pleased, that he said he was determined to 

 carry his guests over the river himself. The road 

 was any thing but good, being miry, and filled with 

 roots of trees, so that their attention was wholly 

 engrossed in seeking a good foothold. The river 

 was again repeatedly crossed. On the way they 

 met natives loaded with baskets of peaches, the 

 season for which had arrived. They freely offered 

 their fruit, for which tobacco was returned. Before 

 noon, they arrived at Baron de Thierry's house, 

 where they were hospitably received by his lady. 

 This house is situated at the head of tide-water on 

 the Hokianga river, about thirty miles from its 

 mouth, and boats can ascend as far as this place. 

 There is no village at the mouth of the river, but 

 many whites reside at different points on its banks. 

 There is a bar between the headlands at its 

 mouth, which will admit only of small vessels 

 entering. 



Our travellers had intended to return the next 

 day, but one of their guides, by the name of Pooe, 

 was missing. He had been allowed to take up his 

 quarters at a short distance, on condition of his 

 being ready for an early start; on inquiry, how- 

 ever, they were informed that Pooe had said he did 

 not intend to go back until Monday, which was two 

 or three days off. They departed without him, but 

 before reaching Tooron's, Pooe again joined them, 

 having a piece of pork, which one of his friends had 

 furnished for the doctor's supper. 



Mr. Davis's was reached at dark, and the same 

 warm greeting experienced as before. The next 

 day they reached the Bay of Islands at Pahia. 



Pahia is the principal missionary establishment 

 of the Episcopal Church. It is pleasantly situated 

 on the bay, opposite Kororarika, and is the residence 

 of all those attached to the mission, and their print- 

 ing-presses are there. It is too much exposed to 

 afford a good harbour for shipping, but as it is the 



most favourable side for communication with the 

 interior, the advantages and disadvantages of its 

 position are nearly balanced. 



Kororarika is still the principal settlement, and 

 contains about twenty houses, scarcely deserving 

 the name, and many shanties, besides tents. It is 

 chiefly inhabited by the lowest order of vagabonds, 

 mostly runaway sailors and convicts, and is appro- 

 priately named " Blackguard Beach." 



The appointment of the police magistrates was 

 one of the first acts under the new order of things. 

 Mr. Robert Shortland, the first poliee magistrate, 

 after the illness of Governor Hobson, styled him- 

 self acting governor, and a more ridiculously pom- 

 pous functionary could scarcely be imagined. He 

 paid a visit to the vessel in which some of our 

 gentlemen had made the passage from Sydney, and 

 demanded the reason why the mail-bag had not 

 been sent to the new government postmaster. The 

 master of the vessel replied, that he thought it his 

 duty, not having been informed of any change, to 

 deliver them to the old postmaster, until he should 

 be directed otherwise by Governor Hobson. This 

 pompous functionary, in an improper tone as well 

 as manner, exclaimed " I wish you to know that I 

 am governor now !" In the words of one of the 

 gentlemen, " had he been the viceroy of the Indies, 

 he could not have made his inquisitions in tones of 

 loftier supremacy." 



Some of our gentlemen arrived at the Bay of 

 Islands in time to witness the ceremonies of 

 making the treaty with the New Zealand chiefs. I 

 mentioned, whilst at Sydney, the arrival of H.B.M. 

 frigate the Druid, with Captain Hobson on board, 

 as consul to New Zealand. It was well under- 

 stood that he had the appointment of lieutenant- 

 governor in his pocket, in the event of certain 

 arrangements being made. His arrival at the Bay 

 of Islands, in H.B.M. ship Herald, seemed to take 

 the inhabitants, foreigners as well as natives, by 

 surprise. A few days afterwards, on the 5th Feb- 

 ruary, a meeting was called at the dwelling of 

 Mr. Busby. The meeting was large, and nume- 

 rously attended by the chiefs. Many arguments 

 and endeavours were used to induce them to sign a 

 treaty with Great Britain, all of which were but 

 little understood, even by those who were present, 

 and had some clue to the object in view. Great 

 excitement prevailed, and after five hours' inef- 

 fectual persuasion, the meeting broke up, every 

 chief refusing to sign or favour Captain Hobson's 

 proposition, which was in reality nothing more or 

 less than a cession of their lands, authority, and 

 persons, to Queen Victoria. Among the argu- 

 ments made use of, he stated that unless they 

 signed the treaty, he could do nothing more than 

 act as consul ! Nothing having been effected, the 

 meeting was broken up, and the following Friday 

 appointed for a second. Tobactfo and pipes were 

 given them before they departed, which restored 

 their good humour, and they went away shouting. 



In the mean time, Mr. J. R. Clendon, an En- 

 glishman acting as American consul, the missiona- 

 ries, and many interested persons residing there, 

 or about becoming settlers, were made to under- 

 stand that their interest would be much promoted 

 if they should forward the views of the British 

 government. Every exertion was now made by 

 these parties to remove the scruples of the chiefs, 

 and thus to form a party strong enough to over- 



