Do you think the Church Missionary Society is hostile to the proposed System of Colonization?
- Decidedly.
Are the Wesleyans also?
- I have never heard their Opinion; but I am decidedly of opinion that the Church Missionaries and their Members have been invariably hostile to it.
Do you know on what Ground?
- Solely with a Wish to keep People out of the Country and have the Place to themselves.
You state that the Property is equally divided between the Chief and his Children; can he disinherit his Children?
- Yes, he can. If the Chief likes, he can disinherit a Child, or give one of them more than another; but I do not remember a Case of the Kind.
You know that he has the Power?
- Yes. He has the power to kill One of his Children or One of his Wives; but he must bear the Onus, as the Relations of the Wife or Children would perhaps demand his Life in payment, for they consider the Life of the Child as theirs.
When you made a Purchase of Land, did you understand that to make a Title to the Land there was any Consent necessary but the Consent of the Chief?
- I regarded the Chief as sufficient; but I never so treated it, for I got their Consent, and in my Deeds I have their Names.
If they had not consented, should you consider your Right as equally good?
- Yes; because he had a Right to take the Land which descended to him from his Forefathers, or which came to him by Conquest.
He makes no Distinction between the Two?
- No.
Do you know to what Extent the Purchasers of Land in New Zealand have gone on of late?
- No.
Does the Acquisition of Land by European Settlers proceed gradually?
- Yes. None have purchased Land in so large Quantities as the Members of the Church Missionaries. I say again, I do not think the Wesleyans have bought any as yet, except for the Society. The last Conversation I had was with Mr. Baker, the Catechist. I came from Sydney in January 1837. Mr. Baker asked me, and also Mr. Henry Williams, “What do you think of the Conduct of the Natives of Kororarika?” That is opposite Paihia the Missionary Settlement, which would be a principal Town in the Event of its being colonized. I said, “I am sorry to say the Natives have retrograded; every thing has gone back.” They said, “It is astonishing how the Natives have gone back; we thought the People were paying Attention to us, but we find they have gone rapidly back.” Talking about Maungakahia, Mr. Baker said, “What do you think of Maungakahia?” I said, “What a Pity that such a splendid Valley as that should have so few native Settlements, and no Europeans.” He said, “Oh, you must not say that, for I have got some Land there.” I said, “In what Part?" He said, “Do you know such a Chief? I have got his Land.” I said, “How much; 500 Acres?” “Oh yes; more than that.” Have you got 1,000 Acres?” “Yes; more than that.” I said, “Is there 2,000?” He said, “You may put it down at that.” He has also a House on the Kororarika, and
Land, let at 10l. or 201. per Annum, near to my Settlement. Whether he has any Land elsewhere I do not know.
How long have the Schools been established?
- They have been established from the Time of Mr. Kendall, conducted in the native Language; consequently of course the Language has been obliged to be made a new one almost.
