The Treaty of Waitangi; or, how New Zealand became a British ColonyBuick, Thomas Lindsay
History
The Treaty of Waitangi; or, how New Zealand became a British Colony
Buick, Thomas Lindsay
New Zealand -- Politics and government; Treaty of Waitangi (1840)
Although Captain Hobson had every reason to be gratified with the
result of his mission at Waitangi, it was perfectly obvious that the
signatures obtained there were only sufficient to give him jurisdiction
over a very circumscribed area of country. It was equally evident that
if the full intentions of the British Government were to be given
effect to, it would be necessary to put into practice the Mahomedan
principle and go to the mountain, since the mountain had failed to
come to him. He accordingly arranged a campaign by which the districts
north of the Bay of Islands would be visited, either by himself
personally, or by his duly accredited officers. Pursuant to this
arrangement on the morning of the 10th, the Lieutenant-Governor
(accompanied by Captain Nias) and his suite left the Bay of Islands
and rode over to the Mission station at Waimate, where on the 12th
they held a meeting and obtained the signatures of all the chiefs
present. With two of the Church Missionaries, Messrs. Taylor and
Clarke, added to his company, Captain Hobson left Waimate next day and
continued his journey to Hokianga, where it was anticipated a great
meeting would be held. On arriving at Waihou, a settlement on the
banks of the river about seven miles above the Wesleyan Mission
station,--for he was now within the Wesleyan sphere of influence,--the
Governor was met by the members of the Mission and all the principal
European settlers in the neighbourhood. Here he received, probably in
the form of an address, the warmest assurances of the settlers'
fidelity to the Queen, and the most hearty congratulations to himself
upon his selection as her representative.
From this point the journey was continued by boats supplied by the
settlers, and the progress down the river was marked by frequent
evidences of cordiality and even enthusiasm. On passing the settlement
at Hauraki a salute of thirteen guns was fired from a miniature fort
of European construction, and on arrival at the Mission station the
Governor was again the recipient of congratulations from the settlers
and the Missionaries.
In response to these graceful felicitations Captain Hobson delivered a
brief address, in which he expressed the high sense he entertained of
this earnest of their loyal zeal in forwarding the views of Her
Majesty's Government, and of the honour they had conferred upon him
personally by their flattering attention. At the same time Captain
Hobson took occasion to announce that in accordance with notices
already published, he proposed to hold a meeting of the chiefs there
next day, to which a cordial invitation was extended to the European
population of every class and nation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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