Is the Land immediately round the Bay of Islands a Portion of that with which the Chiefs have parted?
- Most of the Land round the Bay of Islands the Chiefs have parted with.
Do you know whether it is in the Hands of the Missionaries or the Hands of other Individuals?
- The Land from Waitangi round to Kawkaw belongs to the Missionary Society, to Mr. Henry Williams, and Mr. Fairbairn's Children; it was pointed out to me as such.
Upon that Land are any of those Interlopers settled?
- They are not. The Land was purchased to keep them off; to prevent any Settlement of Europeans on that Side.
Where is it the Europeans principally live?
- At Kororarika and Otoiku; that is Pomarree's Part.
To whom does that Land belong on which they have settled themselves?
- To various Proprietors; I do not know the Names.
The Chiefs have part of it?
- Yes; the Chiefs have kept possession of Kororarika.
When you were there was Mr. Busby there?
- He was.
Where did he reside?
- He resided near Waitangi; I forget the Name of the Place.
Is that in the Bay of Islands?
- Yes.
Does he exercise any Authority over those casual Settlers?
- Not any at all.
Do the Chiefs retain any Authority, and exercise any Authority over them, in the Country round the Bay of Islands?
- I do not think they do at all.
At present they are under no Law whatever?
- They are under no Law whatever.
You do not know the Amount of the Population of that Class?
- No; if I were to guess I should say about Five hundred.
Are they permanent Settlers, or do they belong to Ships which come in there to trade?
- A good many of them are permanent Settlers, but not respectable Settlers; several are Persons who are respectable, and who have permanent Establishments for the Supply of Ships; but there are a Parcel of Fellows who keep Grog Shops and Beer Shops, who are Runaways from Ships.
Upon whose Property have those Persons established their Domicile?
- Most likely those Men purchase small Pieces of Land from the Chiefs for the Purpose of putting up their Houses. One of the Missionaries has got a Section in Kororarika which he purchased at a Sale.
Was that a Sale on the Part of the Chiefs?
- No; a Person who purchased it from the Chiefs.
Suppose Mr. Busby had any Authority by Law to remove Persons, do you think that would tend to improve the Character of Foreigners settling there?
- I do not know what Authority could be given to him, unless it was well supported by Constables and Troops; for there are so many Ways for those Men to escape. They might stir up the Natives to assist them in opposing Mr.Busby. He has always been well inclined to settle their Disputes, if they would apply to him; and he has used his Influence, I know, as much as he could, with the Natives, to get back Boats. The Natives take the Law into their own Hands, and take away the Ship’s Boats if they are not paid.
