The first attempt at colonization was made in 1825 by a company formed in London, and called the New Zealand Company. An expedition was sent out under Captain Herd, who acquired tracts of land at Hokianga, at Manakau, and on the borders of the Thames. This Company was prevented by adverse circumstances from forming a settlement. In the same year two other persons, namely, Baron Charles de Thierry and Mr. William Stewart, were trying to form colonization companies in London. The former chose for his sphere the North Island and the latter Stewart Island, but neither scheme was successful.
In consequence of frequent visits of whaling vessels to the Bay of Islands a settlement grew up at Kororareka—now called Russell—and in 1833 James Busby was appointed British Resident there.
Seven years later, in 1840, Captain William Hobson, R.N., reached the Bay of Islands and issued a proclamation extending the British Colony of New South Wales to include any parts of New Zealand the sovereignty of which he might acquire from the Maoris. Hobson formally read his commissions at Kororareka on January 30th, 1840, and on February 6th of the same year the Treaty of Waitangi was signed whereby all rights and powers of sovereignty were ceded to Queen Victoria, all territorial rights being secured to the Maoris. On May 21st, 1840, Hobson proclaimed
