[CONTENTS]
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE NATIVE RACE--PAST AND PRESENT.
The Native Race--Their probable origin--Traditional history of their arrival in New Zealand--General character of the Race --Their estimated numbers--Ancient notions of the Creation --Influence of their belief in a world of spirits--The Tapu-- Their food--Dress--Social and domestic life--Progress of amalgamation--The half-caste race--Reception and progress of Christianity--Impediments to its influence--The native language--Its figurative character--Style of public speaking --Declining influence of the Chiefs--Introduction of English law --The first trial--Native education--Progress in industrial pursuits--Contrast between the "Past and Present,"--Political status of the natives--Future prosperity......1
CHAPTER II.
COLONIZATION.
Project for colonizing New Zealand--Reluctance of the Government to engage in the undertaking--The New Zealand Company and their proceedings -- Treaty concluded with the natives, ceding the Sovereignty to Great Britain--New Zealand erected into a British Colony--Position chosen for the seat of Government--Hostility of the New Zealand Company --Land claims -- Early legislation -- The first Governor -- Review of his proceedings.......74
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CHAPTER III.
COLLISION WITH THE NATIVES.
Difficulties of the settlers sent out by the New Zealand Company before British authority was established in New Zealand-- Defects in the New Zealand Company's titles to land--Fatal collision with the natives at the Wairau -- Alarm of the Southern settlers--Excitement of the natives--Critical and defenceless state of the country--Views of the natives, of the local authorities, and of the Imperial Government, of the fatal catastrophe at the Wairau...... 102
CHAPTER IV.
JOINT-STOCK COLONIZATION.
Distress of the Southern settlers--Dissatisfaction of the land purchasers at Wellington and Nelson--Character of the New Zealand Company's proceedings--Their suggestion to set aside the treaty by which the New Zealanders have been recognised as the owners of the soil--The New Zealand Company's debt--Its origin and history--Review of their career.......124
CHAPTER V.
NATIVE INSURRECTION.
Native law of real property--Jealousy as to their territorial rights--Military prowess of the New Zealanders--Their early mistrust of British rule--The native insurrection--Its origin, &c. -- The destruction of Kororarika -- Military operations -- Martial law--Policy of the Government........150
CHAPTER VI.
THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.
Early difficulties and anomalous position of the New Zealand Government--Difficulty of governing different races by the same code of laws--Exceptional laws for the administration of justice--The native "Protectorate"--False position of the Government for want of an adequate military force...........173
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CHAPTER VII.
NEW ZEALAND AS A FIELD OF EMIGRATION.
New Zealand as a field of emigration--General description of the country and its natural resources--Impetus given to the Colony by the Australian gold discoveries--Population--Revenue--Agriculture--Shipping and Exports of New Zealand--Characteristic features of its several Provinces.........191
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CAPITAL OF NEW ZEALAND.
Auckland and its neighbourhood--Its position--Its two harbours --The suburbs--The Isthmus--The neighbouring country-- The town of Auckland--Its population--Society, amusements, &c. --Auckland, social and domestic.....2l5
CHAPTER IX.
SCENERY AND BUSH TRAVELLING.
Scenery of New Zealand--Lakes--Boiling springs, and mountains --Travelling in New Zealand--River and forest travelling-- The Waikato river--Descent of the Whanganui river--Coast travelling---The night encampment--The tapued road: an incident in New Zealand travelling--The pleasures of bush travelling..........238
CHAPTER X.
THE CLIMATE.
The climate of New Zealand--Description given by early travellers --General character of the climate and seasons--Comparison with the climate of England and the south of Europe--Comparative table of the mean temperatures--General salubrity of the climate -- Its sanative character with reference to pulmonary disease--Meteorological table.........263
CHAPTER XI
THE NEW ZEALAND CONSTITUTION.
Measures to prepare the Colonists for the exercise of political powers--Their indifference to municipal institutions--Constitution proposed by Earl Grey: its unfitness--Difficulty of devising political institutions suited to the country--The New Zealand Constitution: critical examination--The provincial system: its evils and their remedy............282
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CHAPTER XII.
POLITICAL PROGRESS.
"Responsible Government" not established by the Constitution-- First meeting of the General Assembly--Struggle to obtain "Responsible Government"--Temporary compromise--Rupture between the Government and the House of Representatives--Mr. E. G. Wakefield--Violent proceedings of the House --The Assembly prorogued--Mr. Wakefield's explanation-- Effect of the temporary prorogation of the Assembly--The introduction of "Responsible Government" sanctioned by the home authorities--Proceedings for bringing the principle into operation..........315
CHAPTER XIII.
"RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT."
"Responsible Government"--The office of a Colonial Governor-- Change effected by the introduction of Ministerial responsibility--The difficulties which stand in the way of the complete adoption of the principle in New Zealand--Anomalous position of a Colonial Governor where the principle is only partially adopted--Reasons for continuing to retain to the Crown the government of the native race..........358
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN NEW ZEALAND.
The Church of England in New Zealand: the number of its ministers, and the means of their support--Want of organization--Obstacles to the establishment of local self-government for the Church of England in the Colonies--Conference of Bishops, Clergy, and Laity in New Zealand--Outlines of the Church constitution framed by the Conference--Power and jurisdiction of the General Synod proposed to be established in New Zealand--Conclusion.......382
[PREFACE]
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PREFACE.
FROM a variety of causes, the experiment of founding a Colony in the Islands of New Zealand has, from the outset, been regarded with unusual interest. What are the advantages offered by New Zealand as a field of British Colonization? What are the characteristic features and the comparative advantages of its several Provinces? What has experience proved to be the sanative value of its climate? What has been the progress of the Colony in agriculture, commerce, population, and wealth? and What is the nature of its Constitution, government, and laws? are questions of interest to all who may be seeking for themselves a home among the Islands of the South. But there are questions of yet deeper and wider interest connected with the Colonization of these Islands. Is it possible that two distinct portions of the human race, in the opposite conditions of civilization and barbarism, can be brought into immediate contact without the destruction of the uncivilized race? or, in rendering the Colonization of a barbarous country possible, is the Christian
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Missionary but the pioneer of the destruction of its heathen people? is a problem still waiting its solution in New Zealand. On what principle, with reference to native rights, have these Islands been erected into a British Colony? and what are the obligations contracted by the Crown of England in subjecting them to British rule? To what extent have the native race adopted the habits and usages of civilized life? and what progress has been made by them in industrial pursuits? What is the prospect of their permanent preservation? and what means have been taken for saving them "from that process of extermination under which uncivilized tribes have too commonly disappeared when brought into contact with civilized men?" To these, and questions such as these, the following pages will be found to contain a faithful answer. Contemporary events, however, are seldom rightly discerned or fully appreciated, even by their principal actors; but when the subject shall have become a matter of History, the Colonization of these Islands and the commingling of the Races will be read with all the interest of romance.
