You think he would not like your ordering him not to do it?
- I think not.
Would he consent to not being allowed to go to War except with the Sanction of the British Agent, or whoever might be there?
- I do not know how to answer that Question. I think that they would be very glad to settle down in Security, and not to go to War; but how far they would like to be coerced I do not know.
One of the Reasons why they would like a Colony to be settled, you are understood to say, would be that it would defend them against the Aggressions of other Natives?
- Yes; I think they would like British Protection.
That the Colonists should defend them by Force of Arms?
- Yes.
Would not that be likely to bring the Colonists into their Wars?
- I think the Tribes that would be in hostility with that particular Tribe would be deterred by the Strength of the Colonists from making any Attack upon it; but, even if they did so, I do not know that any very ill Consequence would ensue from it, as they would be soon put down, and deterred from making a second Attempt.
Do you think that the Interference of the British between Tribe and Tribe would have the Effect of checking the Influence of the Missionaries?
- No, I think not. A Colony composed of Men of moral and respectable Characters would tend very much to promote the Labour of the Missionaries.
The Witness is directed to withdraw.
Mr. John Watkins is called in, and examined as follows:
You are a Professional Man, a Surgeon?
- I am.
Have you at any Time been in New Zealand?
- I was there in the Years 1833 and 1834.
Are you a naval Surgeon?
- No, a private Surgeon.
Did you visit it from this Country?
- No, I went there from Sydney.
With whom did you go?
- I went with a trading Vessel, as Surgeon of the Vessel.
How long did you remain there?
- About Three Months altogether in New Zealand collectively. I availed myself of the Opportunity of traversing the Country and searching for Flowers and natural Curiosities,—botanizing; these were my Objects.
Did that lead you to walk about the Island a good deal?
- It led me to walking a good deal; Forty or Fifty Miles in the Interior, in various Directions, about the Bay of Islands. I went over to Hukianga.
Were you accompanied in those Walks?
- Frequently, in short Walks for Six or Ten Miles, alone. In my long Walks I had One Native with me; sometimes I had an English Person with me, one of the Residents there; sometimes I was in company with one of the Missionaries. I became acquainted with the Missionaries very soon after I went there; I made it a Point to call upon them to have every Information I could from them, and they were very kind to me; the Natives saw that, and hence I was enabled to go any where I liked without any Fear.
Did the Natives at all make out what your Object was?
- Perfectly.
