74 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chav. III. 
lency did not scruple to misrepresent matters in order to 
defend his senseless choice to the Colonial Minister. 
Every one who heard him in Wellington felt convinced 
that he deeply regretted having made his election on the 
hearsay evidence of others. His visit to Akaroa had 
undeceived him completely as to one opinion which he 
had very rashly formed, that Auckland was a " cen- 
trical" position, because the Middle Island was hardly 
habitable, and not fit to be colonized ; and the ease with 
which the shipping came and departed on their various 
errands in opposite directions, must have convinced 
him, as a practical naval man, that Cook's Strait, with 
its excellent harbours, and room for the evolutions 
of a navy, is a much more advantageous communica- 
tion between the two coasts than the isthmus of 
three or four miles which separates the port of Auck- 
land from the bar-harbour of Manukao, a port often 
closed for weeks together by the prevailing westerly 
winds. 
'1( The Governor's conduct with regard to the " Nelson" 
settlement was pitiful in the extreme. He left not a 
means untried of dissuading the foundation of this 
colony on the Middle Island, because he foresaw that 
any commencement of population there would more 
clearly point out the absurdity of considering Auckland 
a " centrical position." He raised up the claims of the 
Nanto-Bordelaise Company, at Banks's Peninsula, in 
opposition to the founding of Nelson at Port Cooper ; 
thus, apparently, wishing rather that France should 
colonize New Munster, than that its occupation by 
Englishmen should prove the fallacy of his hobby. 
Even when they determined on Blind Bay, he tried to 
alarm the Company's Agents by the exaggerated account 
which he gave of the number of claims said to be 
existing in that district, in right of purchases j)rior to 
the Company's ! ..i' :>,/ 
