CHRONOLOGY. 
709 
Hokianga ; the Lieutenant-Governor then proclaimed the 
British assumption of sovereignty over the Isles of New 
Zealand ; the seat of government was fixed at the Bay of 
Islands, the site being named Bussell. 
1840, January 22, Port Nicholson settlement was com- 
menced, and the Wanganui Mission founded. A French 
expedition arrived at the Bay of Islands on the invitation 
of Baron de Thierry, but finding the North Island had been 
proclaimed a British colony, it sailed for Akaroa, to take 
possession of the Middle Island, Captain Stanley being then 
in the Bay, at once proceeded there, and planted the British 
flag ; the French expedition almost immediately afterwards 
arrived, and landed some settlers, who then commenced a 
colony as British subjects ; during this year the settlement 
at Wanganui was founded, also that at Taranaki, which was 
called New Plymouth. 
1841, the Antarctic Expedition arrived in the Bay of 
Islands. 
1842, the seat of government was transferred to Auckland 
— te Wai-te-Mata ; and New Zealand was declared inde- 
pendent of New South Wales. It also marks the com- 
mencement of the settlement of Nelson, as well as the death 
of Captain Hobson, the first governor of New Zealand, and 
the arrival of Bishop Selwyn, who took up his abode at the 
Waimate, where he founded a college. Lieut. W. Shortland, 
B.A., became the acting-governor. 
1843, the Bev. John Mason drowned in fording the Tura- 
kina river, January 5th. The fatal affray at Wairau : also 
the last act of cannibalism committed by Taraia at the Kati 
Kati, near the Thames. In July Wanganui was disturbed 
by severe earthquakes. In December, Captain Fitzroy, B.N., 
arrived ; he issued debentures as low as half-a-crown. 
1844, the Governor declared the ports of New Zealand 
free; abolished all customs and duties, and attempted to 
collect a graduated property and income tax ; he was led to 
adopt this measure from the Bay natives complaining, that 
since the island had become a British colony, the whalers had 
entirely deserted them ; and having declared the Bay of 
