Suppose he were followed by another Settler, who made another Bargain and bought that Piece also?
- He must move off to a Third.
So that he might ultimately be deprived of all his Landed Property?
- He might.
What Means of Maintenance would he or any Person belonging to him have in that Case?
- I think One of his Friends would take him in; they are very kind and charitable to one another. That was the Case in the Bay of Islands: Parties have come and sat themselves down at Pomarree's Farm, and he allowed it.
If Pomarree were to sell his Property the same Process must be gone through?
- Yes; they would have recourse to that. There is a great deal of Land of no Use to them which would be useful to Europeans, which would produce Wheat, but which they can never get to produce any thing.
Would not the Tendency of those successive Sales on their Part be ultimately to destroy the native Race?
- Certainly it would; they would perish before the Europeans, if there were not some Regulation to restrain the Alienation of their Property.
As far as you were able to see at the Bay of Islands and the Neighbourhood of Hokianga, if a British Resident had Power to arrest such Europeans as were guilty of Acts of Violence against a Native, do you think that would put an end to much of the Evil which at present exists?
- I do not think that would be sufficient, unless the Exercise of his Power were well supported, the Progress of the Settlement is so great. If the Protections for Property were greater there would be much greater Encouragement to Persons to go out and purchase Land.
Would not such Authority be beneficial both to the Natives and to the European Settlers?
- I think it would.
Do many of those Persons who take refuge in New Zealand from New South Wales intermarry with the Natives?
- Yes; I was present at One Marriage.
Are there many Children arising from such Marriages; Half Castes?
- Yes.
Does it appear likely that such a Population will increase?
- Yes, I think so.
You state that the New Zealanders were not willing to take the Trouble of raising Wheat for their Consumption, on account of the Difficulty of grinding it?
- Yes; that appeared so to me.
Are you aware whether they had in any Instances raised Wheat or Maize for the Purpose of Export?
- I do not think that they have raised any for Export; but I know some of the more industrious have raised it for themselves in individual Cases.
It was stated by a Witness, that from the Neighbourhood of Poverty Bay large Quantities of Wheat and Maize had been exported to New South Wales in a Time of Scarcity?
- I never heard of that.
You stated that you left the Island about the Time of the Beginning of the stormy Season; are there periodical Seasons of Storm?
- Yes; the Winter is generally very stormy, especially on the West Side of the Island. It is a very dangerous Coast.
How many Months does that continue?
- tI continues during the Winter.
