280 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. d^AP.lX. 
which he meant to sell to the whaling-ships on the 
coast to the southward. To escape some rough 
weather, he had run in here one night, seeing an ap- 
pearance of shelter, and had been highly astonished hi 
the morning to find himself in the midst of an active 
European settlement of more than a thousand persons, 
where he had thought to find an uninhabited country, 
or at any rate only natives. He had consequently 
named his vessel the Surprise. 
Colonel Wakefield chartered the craft by the month, 
and caused to be put on board a large quantity of 
goods, approved by J^ Kuru, and considered by him 
sufficient for the purchase of the IVanganui district. 
He then requested me to proceed to Tf^anganui in the 
vessel, and act as agent for the Company in procuring 
the confirmation of the resident chiefs to the deed 
executed by E Kuru, his father, and another chief, at 
Kapiti, in November 1839. I readily acceded, feeling 
much pleasure in being able to assist in such a pro- 
ceeding, as the first step towards the accomplishment 
of my friend E Kurus dearest hope. The third chief, 
Te Kiri Karamu, was also at Port Nicholson, and had 
already entered into some negotiations with JNIac- 
gregor ; and I soon found that some jealousy existed 
as to which chief should have the honour of taking 
the first vessel into the ff^angnnui river. These 
scruples were easily adjusted, as I said both should go, 
and I would claim the envied distinction. Several 
other natives of ff^anganui were allowed a passage on 
board, and Captain Chaffers was instructed to accom- 
pany me in order to make a survey of the entrance and 
bar of the river. 
Our craft was no crack sailer, but she was safely 
and strongly built, round as a Dutch dogger, under- 
rigged, and as comfortable below as could be expected 
