28 ' ' ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEAXAND. Chap. II. 
-. Towards the end of July we had a batch of news 
from " Hobson's Choice," as Auckland was very gene- 
rally called. This came by a cattle-ship from Sydney, 
as our dates from that place were two months later 
than those from our own metropolis. -'' 
From Adelaide, Port Philip, and Hobart Town we 
had also two months' later news than from the seat of 
Government, which Captain Hobson had chosen on ac- 
count of " its centrical position." 
The three islands had been proclaimed, in accord- 
ance with instructions from the Colonial Office, as 
New Ulster, New Munster, and New Leinster. Ex- 
cept in official papers, these names have never been 
used, from their great similarity and inconvenience. 
I doubt whether, even at this day, the great majority 
of European inhabitants know which is which without 
looking at a map. 
The proclamation had been accompanied by another, 
recommending the Europeans to be " kind to the na- 
" tives." 
This advice came with peculiar grace and naivete from 
the Auckland Government, which had not yet pretended 
to produce a farthing of revenue from the valuable re- 
serves of the natives at Wellington. It had not made 
the slightest provision for their education or comfort. 
It had not cared whether they were hungry or fed, 
naked or clothed, clean or dirty. It had taken no 
pains to make them acquainted with the laws under 
which they were now living. It had neglected every 
one of the statesmanlike processes necessary to assimi- 
late this numerous population to the more advanced 
race with which they were daily coming into closer 
contact, by gentle and imperceptible degrees. It had 
not yet made an attempt, in any way, to secure for them 
the improvement of circumstances, both bodily and 
mental, which they had a right to expect on becoming 
