Die Martis, 10° Aprilis 1838.
Evidence on the present State of the Islands of New Zealand.
The Earl of Devon in the Chair.
Mr.J.S.Polack
Mr. Joel Samuel Polack is called in, and further examined as follows:
Were you at the Bay of Islands as a Trader?
- I was.
Were you a Retail Trader?
- Retail and Wholesale.
Did you keep what is called a Grog Shop?
- No, decidedly not. I sold, as every Person in the Bay of Islands did, ardent Spirits. I have sold them in Sydney, without seeing any thing of the Kind; by giving Certificates. In such a Place as New Zealand we cannot do that, but I have sold them wholesale; decidedly not retail.
You have never sold Spirits to be consumed on your Premises?
- Decidedly not.
You are well acquainted with Mr. Montefiore?
- I am.
Did you associate with him while he was at the Bay of Islands?
- He was the only Person I did associate with there, except Captain Powditch, a Person equally respectable.
The Witness is directed to withdraw.
Rev. F.Wiklinson
The Rev. Frederick Wilkinson is called in, and further examined as follows:
You were in New Zealand lately, were you not?
- I was in New Zealand for about Three Months this Time last Year.
Will you state what led you to go there, and with whom you went.
- I went with the Rev. Mr. Marsden, the Chaplain of New South Wales, having been myself a Chaplain in New South Wales, and was on my Passage to England, and took this Opportunity of going to New Zealand, that I might see the Country, and the Progress that had been made by the Missionaries.
You are not at all connected with the Church Missionary Society yourself?
- Not at all.
Where did you first go?
- We went to Hokianga, one of the Places.
On landing, what was the Course you took as to Residence?
- I remained for a few Days with the Wesleyan Missionaries with Mr. Marsden, and then I walked across the Country, with a native Guide, to find out a Road that Mrs. Wilkinson might be able to accompany me to Waimate.
Did Mrs. Wilkinson afterwards accompany you?
- Yes; Mr. Marsden, Miss Marsden, Mrs. Wilkinson, and Two little Children.
Did you cross the Island more than once?
- I travelled Four or Five Times across from Hokianga to the Bay of Islands.
In the course of that Time had you much Intercourse with the Natives?
- I was entirely with them Three Days. The first Time I went across I was
