Chap. XVn. MISSIONARY LAND-SHARKING. 447 
Wales, in his Legislative Council, described this so- 
called declaration of independence, the recognition of 
the flag, and the other attendant measures, as a " con- 
cocted manoeuvre" of the missionaries and their ac- 
credited agent. I have elsewhere described it ; but have 
recurred to it here because it forms so important a part 
of the history of the Church Mission in New Zealand. 
Marsden writes with evident gratification of the 
progress made by the great institution which he had 
founded 23 years before, and which he enjoyed an 
opportunity of beholding in a last visit which he paid 
to the missions in 1837. 
It was about this time that the missionaries, seeing 
the constant influx of settlers from New South Wales, 
and the probability of a British colony being founded 
ere long in the country, began to acquire large tracts 
of land in their private capacity, distinct from those 
farms which were purchased and cultivated for the pur- 
pose of maintaining the mission stations, and instruct- 
ing the natives in agricultural operations. With scarcely 
any exception, they made use of their knowledge of 
the language and spiritual influence among the natives 
to make these purchases. We have ample testimony, 
which has been often before the public, both of the 
large extent of the possessions which they thus acquired, 
and of the fact that, by means of their thorough 
knowledge of the language and experience of the 
native customs, they succeeded in obtaining a more 
secure title to their land than could be obtained by the 
greater part of their secular competitors in this early 
land-market.* Mr. Flatt, one of themselves, says that 
they had begun to purchase about 1832, just after the 
♦ Evidence of Mr. Flatt before the House of Lords' Committee 
of 1838, on New Zealand. Also that of Mr. John Blaekett, before 
the House of Commons' Committee of 1840, on New Zealand. 
