HISTORY. 
209 
station at Wangaroa ; it was soon burnt down, and they were 
obliged to leave the country. 
In 1825, a company was formed in London to colonize 
New Zealand. George Lyall, Stewart Majoribanks, George 
Palmer, Colonel Torrens, the Earl of Durham, Edward Ellice, 
&c., bought land at Hokianga Heads, Hurd’s Point, and at the 
Thames, but the scheme fell to the ground. 
In 1827, the whale fishery was established in the Middle 
Island, and in Foveaux’s Straits. 
In 1828, the Wesleyans again commenced another station 
at Hokianga. 
In 1831, a letter was sent to William IV., applying for 
British protection; it was signed by thirteen of the Bay of 
Islands’ chiefs : this led to the appointment of Mr. Busby, 
as British resident; but having no means placed at his disposal 
for maintaining his authority, the natives facetiously described 
him as the man-of-war without guns. 
In 1835, a confederation of the Bay of Islands’ tribes was 
formed, and acknowledged by Great Britain, which gave them 
a flag, as a token of their independence. 
In 1836, the Church Missions were extended to the Thames, 
Tauranga, Rotorua, and Waikato. 
In 1837, the New Zealand Land Company was formed 
under the auspices of the Earl of Durham and other gentlemen. 
In 1838, the Bishop of Australia paid a pastoral visit, and 
held a confirmation at the Bay of Islands ; he also consecrated 
a burial ground at Kororareka. At the same time, Baron de 
Thierry, an adventurer, who styled himself the King of Nuku- 
hiva, and Sovereign Chief of New Zealand, came and tried to 
establish himself as such : he brought with him several persons 
as the heads of different departments of his government; but 
the natives laughed at his pretensions, which were soon 
forgotten. 
In 1837, the New Testament was first printed at the Mission 
press of Paihia; it has had a remarkable influence on the 
country, and has not only tended to assimilate the language 
throughout the island, and fix it, but has been the grand means 
of destroying heathenism in New Zealand. About the same 
p 
