470 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. XVIII. 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
New Zealand is made a separate colony — The New Zealand Com- 
pany is Chartered — Reconciled with the Government — Lord John 
Russell's agreement of 1840 — A Bishop of New Zealand is ap- 
pointed — Magistrates are appointed — Abuse of authority by the 
Police — Address of the Magistrates to the Governor — West of 
England colonists — Mr. Halswell — Company's roads — Wreck — 
Plunder by natives — Party of volunteers — Stagnation in the 
Government settlements — " Hobson's coming ! " — The Harbour- 
master is discharged — Wish for a Municipal Corporation — Pro- 
gress of Wellington — Cattle-driving — Mr. Bell, the Scotch 
farmer — He drives the first herd to Wanganui — Sale of town- 
allotments at Auckland. 
Great and good was the news which, had arrived 
from England while I was away. The Bailey, a fast- 
sailing schooner, had been sent by the Company with 
the announcement of the favourable aspect which 
things had taken at home. 
New Zealand had been proclaimed as an independent 
colony, and Captain Hobson as Governor. But the 
inquiry so ably set on foot and directed by Lord Eliot 
had furnished a complete exposition of the absurdities 
which had marked the first era of the colony as one of 
rivalry between the Colonial Office and the Company 
at home, and between the local Government and the 
Company's settlers here. The consequence had been, 
a complete reconciliation between the discordant parties 
in England ; for which great credit was given to Lord 
John Russell, the then Colonial Minister. The famous 
" Agreement " between the Government and the Com- 
pany guaranteed to the latter a grant of an acre of land 
for every five shillings which they had expended upon 
