The State of the Islands of New Zealand
87
- I was in Hokianga for Twelve Months, in 1831 and 1832; I paid them a Visit in January or February 1837, and I was perfectly astonished at the Alteration of the Natives.
Have they purchased any Land?
- The present Missionaries, I believe, have not; the late Mr. White did purchase some.
To whom does the Land they reside on belong?
- To the Wesleyan Missionary Society. They purchased Land at Wangaroa, from whence they were ousted. One of the Missionaries, a Mr. Stack, some Years afterwards went to Wangaroa. A Native asked Mr. Stack if he would not come again; he said, "Oh, if we come, we shall have to purchase Land." "What," says he; "have not you got Land here?" "Oh, but we were turned off. The Native replied , "If the Land was made over it belongs to you, does not it?" Of course the Land you bought remains yours; we can never take away the Land from you. Come, and let us hear you karakia," that is, "preach;" which shows that the Ignorance of Mr. Stack to their Customs would have enabled the Native to act wrong, if he had thought proper; but it was the native Law.
Have you visited any of the Schools at the Wesleyan Missionary Stations?
- The Missionaries' behaved in the kindest Manner to me,- showed me their Schools and Improvements; but there was a Crusade at the Time among the Natives, so that every thing was at a Stand-still; they had no Opportunity of getting on with any thing. That was occasioned by a new Religion which has sprung up, called Papahurihia. It has been said the Captain of a Ship first introduced it, but it is impossible to believe it. They have made their Sunday on the Saturday, and work on the Sunday, which they had hitherto refrained from, for they had left off working on the Sunday. There was a Quarrel between those who had embraced the Tenets of the Wesleyans and those new Lights; there was some skirmishing among them, and many Lives lost. I was there when the wounded were brought in; they were relieved by the Europeans; but the Influence of the Wesleyans over the Natives had caused a Cessation of that War.
Are you aware whether the native Children have been educated, so as to be able to read and write?
- In their own Language, many of them. I have some of their Letters, which I shall be happy to produce.
Does the Church Missionary Society possess much Land?
- Yes; and the Members belonging to the Mission.
Do you know whether that has produced an injurious Effect, so far as their Labours go?
- No.
Do you think that leads them away to secular Pursuits?
- No; I have always been inclined to think that secular Pursuits have been of Service to the New Zealanders, for they are constantly active, more in Mind than in Body; they must have something to do or they would be thinking of Harm. A Colonization would employ their Minds as well as their Bodies. Now, when they sit idle, they think how their Forefathers have been conquered and have been eaten, and so on, and that causes Quarrels. It is impossible to prevent Colonization; but it will be Colonization of the worst Kind which must annihilate the People. The generality of the present European Population now residing in New Zealand will destroy, will extirpate and annihilate, the People ; it cannot be otherwise. Many of those Men are superior to the Missionaries in their Influence. A Native looks to the People who will give him most Payment. What is a Man who understands Greek or Latin, or Drawing, or Music, or has superior Manners? the Native does not like him so well; but those who come nearest to themselves will have most Influence. They take the Natives Daughters, and a Native gets a certain Payment for that Concubinage; no Respect for the Missionaries creates an Influence like this.
(123.2.)
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