With regard to the Traders who are settled in the Northern Part of New Zealand, what may be their Number?
- I believe the Number is greater than has been stated; they are settled in every Bay; not only in the Northern Bays but the Southern Island.
Will you confine yourself, at first, to the Northern Island?
- I cannot give a distinct Statement of the Number of them.
A Witness has stated that he did not consider the Traders in the Bay of Islands as more than five or Six?
- Not the respectable Traders in the Bay of Islands; only the runaway Convicts have begun carrying on Trade to a large Extent, and some of the Sailors as well.
Do you think there are as many as Fifty or Sixty respectable Traders in the Bay of Islands?
- No; but there may be that Number including all the Stations. There are some in the Neighbourhood of the Wesleyan Station.
As to the Proprietors of Land; are there any Europeans who are Proprietors of Land except the Missionaries?
- Yes, some.
Are there many?
- No, not many that I am acquainted with; but the major Part of my Time has been spent in the Interior.
Are there any other Descriptions of Europeans except Missionaries, Traders, and Runaways, and their Families?
- No.
Have you known any Instances of Natives being employed by Europeans to guard their Houses?
- We consider the Natives employed round the Missionary Stations to be a Protection.
You were in New Zealand in the Autumn of 1835?
- I was.
About that Time did any formal Acknowledgment of the Independence of the Island take place in the Presence of Mr. Busby?
- I heard of it in consequence of Charles Baron De Thierry being there; I saw the Account in private Letters; I had Letters myself concerning it.
There was a formal Declaration of Independence?
- Yes; it was drawn up by Mr. Busby.
Will you have the goodness to state to the Committee what you know upon the Subject?
- There was a Circular drawn up and printed by Mr. Colenso, the Church Missionary Printer, calling upon the Chiefs to prevent the landing of Baron Charles de Thierry; but any thing further I cannot state.
There was a Petition to the King, signed by certain Settlers in New Zealand, in the course of the Year 1836, for Protection; you signed that Petition, did you not?
- I did; at Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty.
Was that sent to you by any body?
- It was brought round by the Rev. Henry Williams.
Was he the principal Mover in that?
- Not the Principal, but he was one of the Movers among the Missionary Body.
Do you know others who moved in it?
- No; only as far as the Missionary Body were concerned. Some few of the Missionary Body had not seen it, being at Manukau.
