590 



MR. KUSBY MEASURES SCHEME. 



Dec. 



to show what anarchy has been caused in this country, by the 

 partial, half measures, which have been taken, I will try to 

 describe the state of things, at the Bay of Islands, as we found 

 them. 



I will not attempt to give the slightest sketch of events 

 which had occurred anterior to the Beagle''s visit, full and 

 authentic details being accessible in other publications ; farthei- 

 than to say that the rumoured approach of de Thierry had 

 stimulated Mr. Busby (holding the undefined office of British 

 resident) to take measures adverse to such foreign intruders, 

 by issuing a public announcement,* and by palling together 

 the principal chiefs of tribes inhabiting the districts of New 

 Zealand, north of the Thames, with a view of urging them 

 to frame a sort of constitution,-]- which should have a steady- 

 ing influence over their unwieldy democracy, and leave them 

 less exposed to foreign intrusion. 



Thus much had been done by words and on paper ; the 

 chiefs had departed, each to his perhaps distant home, and the 

 efficiency of their authority, in a ' collective capacity ' was yet 

 to be discovered. No ' executive ' had been organized ; the 

 former authorities — each chief in his own territory — hesitated 

 to act as they had been accustomed, owing to a vague mysti- 

 fication of ideas, and uncertainty as to what they really had 

 agreed upon, while the authority of Mr. Busby was absolutely 

 nothing, not even that of a magistrate among his own coun- 

 trymen ; so of course he could have no power over the natives. 

 To whom then were the daily squabbles of so mixed and tur- 

 bulent a population, as that of the Bay of Islands and its vici- 

 nity, to be referred ? 



Late events had impressed the natives with such a high 

 idea of King William"'s men-of-war, that even the little Beagle 

 was respected by them, and, in consequence, appeals were made 

 to me — by natives, by men of the United States of America, 



• Appendix, No. 35. 



t A copy of the constitution, or form of g-overnment, decided upon at 

 a meeting of all the chiefs of the northern districts (excepting two or 

 three of minor consequence), is in the Appendix, No. 36. 



