Page:Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand.pdf/42

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38
Minutes of Evidence Before Select Committee on
Mr. John Flatt.
is not less than Twenty-five Miles long in its greatest Length; it is supposed to be Thirty Miles by some Persons in New Zealand.

What has been done with that Land?

I left shortly afterwards, on a Visit to England, for the Purpose of being married, and I cannot say what has been done since. I came to the Bay of Islands and remained there from February to May.

Do you know any thing of Land purchased by a Mr. Baker?

Mr. Shepherd pointed out a large Purchase at Wangaroa.

Was Mr. Baker a Missionary?

He was a Catechist of the Church Missionary Society. In April 1835 I accompanied Mr. Shepherd to Wangaroa, and was Five Days with him, sleeping at the native Fortifications at Night.

Has Mr. James Davis, a Catechist, purchased Land?

Yes; adjoining the Society's Farm at Waernati.

Has Mr. Clark purchased a Tract?

Yes; a large Tract on the Western Side of the Society's Farm.

Has Mr. Kemp?

He has purchased Land at Wangaroa and at Kerikeri.

Has Mr. King purchased any?

Mr. King has made a small Purchase.

Do you know yourself the Manner in which any of these Purchases were made?

They were purchased previous to my Arrival; they had commenced purchasing more than Six Years ago.

Were the Lands they had so purchased marked out and cultivated by them?

The Rev. Henry Williams commenced first cultivating a large Tract he purchased at Titirianga; I have rode over it, and I consider it Seven Square Miles.

Do you know how any of those Purchases were made, except in the Instance you have stated?

I was present at only one.

During the Time you were there, what do you consider the Extent of the European Population; did it increase or diminish while you were there?

The Families of the Missionaries increased rapidly; there were upwards of 100 Children before I left.

How was the other Population?

There were very few of the other Europeans married, except Mr. Busby, Captain Clendon, Mr. Mair, Mr. Greenway, and some few others, whose Names I do not know.

What do you consider to be the Number of Europeans in the Island when you were there?

I consider there were 500 Convicts and runaway Sailors on the Seacoast; not in the Interior.

In what Sort of Way do they live?

They lead a most reckless Life, by keeping Grog Shops, selling spirituous Liquors, both to Europeans and Natives; living with the Native Females in a most discreditable Way, so that the Natives have told me, in their own Language, to teach my own Countrymen first before I taught them. They have called us a Nation of Drunkards, or mad with Drink; the Form of the Word imports Madness. This arose from their seeing a Majority of Europeans of that Stamp in New Zealand.

Is there much of Violence and Theft among the European Population?

They frequently fell out; while I was at the Bay there were Two Murders.

And no Punishment for them?

No; Mr. Busby had not the Power.
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