Chap. III. STIFLING OF NATIVE RESERVES. 75 
Captain Hobson left the land question in its former 
uncertain state ; reserving for the consideration of a Com- 
missioner, who had not yet been heard of, the claims of 
the natives ; and he did not even define these claims, so 
that they might not be augmented in quantity and extent 
during the indefinite delay. 
Although the Native Reserves seemed to offer a very 
easy means of satisfying the natives in the meanwhile, 
he rather took pains to make them useless and unpro- 
fitable, than to have them explained to the natives, and 
worked for their benefit. I do not hesitate to assert, that, 
had a well-arranged plan for the management of these 
Reserves been carried into execution, even so late as after 
Captain Hobson' s visit, and its effect thoroughly explained 
to the natives by the experience of its benefit, there would 
have been no case for the investigation of the Commis- 
sioner when he opened his court about eight months 
afterwards. Mr. Halswell, a gentleman of excellent 
education, of very kind and benevolent disposition, and 
extended views, who acquired the confidence and respect 
of the natives in a wonderfully short space of time, 
would certainly have succeeded in so establishing an 
improved state of things by means of the Reserves, that 
the Commissioner, when he began to take evidence in 
May following, would have found the natives over- 
flowing with gratitude to the white people for having 
come among them, and for having taught them to live 
with so much happiness and comfort. But Mr. Halswell 
was made to understand that he could not be allowed to 
take more extended views as Sub-Protector than his 
chief, Mr. Clarke; and he was restricted, as the Com- 
missioner of Native Reserves, during the short time that 
their management was left in his hands, to the granting 
leases of seven years' duration. It may of course be 
conjectured that none of the Native Reserves were let on 
