NEW Z E A L AND. 375 



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 understood 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 February, a meeting was 

 called at the dwelling of Mr. Busby. The meeting was large and 

 numerously 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' ineffectual 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 arguments 

 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 



0,0'.' 



meeting was broken up, and the following Friday appointed for a 

 second. Tobacco 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 Englishman acting as 

 American consul, the missionaries, and many interested persons 

 residing there, or about becoming settlers, were made to understand 

 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 overreach the rest of the natives, and overcome 

 their objections. About forty chiefs, principally minor ones, — a very 

 small representation of the proprietors of the soil, — were induced to 

 sign the treaty. The influence of Mr. Clendon, arising from his posi- 

 tion as the representative of the United States, was among the most 

 efficient means by which the assent, even of this small party, was 



