Chap. III. DEGRADATION OF CHIEFS. - 4$ 
The branch of the local Government which was especi- 
ally directed to the protection of the aborigines, when 
it had any fixed system, proceeded upon that of the 
missionaries, which consi^d in at once overthrowing 
the native aristocracy without substituting any effective 
organization for that destroyed. The suddenness of 
the change seemed highly dangerous for so tender a 
nursling as the aboriginal race. 
Captain Hobson, however, had carefully nursed a 
great chief, who was in opposition to some of the 
Company's land-claims. He brought with him Te 
J^erowero, the TVaikato chief, who had formerly con- 
quered Taranaki from the Ngatiawa ; and when 
Colonel Wakefield spoke to the Governor about the 
settlement of New Plymouth, his Excellency introduced 
JVerowero as the " sole owner of Taranaki^ He even 
afterwards paid him 250/. for that claim. JVerowera 
visited his old enemy, RauperaJia, at Kapki, and then 
returned to the north with the Governor. 
It soon became very clear that Mr. Clarke had con- 
sidered it the main part of his duty to collect every 
complaint that he could hear of on the part of the 
natives against the white people. But, more than this, 
a scene of which I was an eye-witness, proved that 
" the level of the lower orders. It is veiy evident that this is felt 
" to be the case by the chiefs themselves. Many of you have 
" seen the letter addressed by a New Zealand chief to Mr. Marsdeii, 
" After mentioning several matters respecting which he requests 
*' Mr. M. to give them a law, he concludes his letter by the remark- 
*' able words : — " ' Another thing of which we are afraid, and 
" ' which also degrades us, is this, — slaves exalting themselves 
" ' above their masters : will you give us a law in this ?' This ex- 
" pression from a Christian chief is very affecting ; and it is clear, 
" that unless something be done for the purpose of obviating such a 
" result, the natural consequence of the progress of civilization would 
*' be to degrade them from the position which they occupied in their 
" savage state." 
VOX. n. E 
