OFFICIAL ACCOUNT 
176 
“ The Settlement* at Paihia was commenced 
in August 1823. It is situated on the south side 
of the Bay of Islands, on a pleasant piece of 
ground, a quarter of a mile in front, and contain- 
ing fifteen acres of level land, available for culti- 
vation. At this place, the Rev. Henry Williams 
and Mr. Fairburn, with their families, commenced 
their labours, in the midst of several tribes, who 
occupied the land for a considerable distance on 
each side of them. A raupo-house, forty feet by 
fourteen, was erected in a few days ; in which both 
families lived during the first year. The natives 
around, at this time, were in an exceedingly wild 
and uncontrollable state; and though nothing was 
lost for many days after the landing of the Mis- 
sionaries, it was soon found needful to make every 
thing as secure as possible. Their rush habitation 
was continually beset, from day -light till dark, by 
friends and neighbours, who were attracted by 
the novelty of the things they beheld ; and who 
felt themselves also at full liberty, upon every op- 
portunity, to thrust in their persons at the doors, 
or their heads in at the windows: the fences 
were no obstruction to them. A few boys and 
girls came to live with the Missionaries ; but a 
single word, from any of the chiefs, would send 
them all off in an instant. It was frequently the 
* This account of operations at Paihia, extending from 
August 1823 to June 1831, and touching also on the state of 
things during the subsequent year, is taken from an official 
Report sent to England by desire of the Committee of the 
Church Missionary Society. — E d. 
