G.—1

4

of Berlin, a naturalist; Edward Jerningham Wakefield(') son of Edward Gibbon, then a youth of nineteen years ; and an interpreter, Nayti( 2 ) (Ngati), a New Zealand chief who had resided in England for two years and had acquired the English language and habits( 3 ). The news that New Zealand was about to be colonized was by this time attracting speculators, known as " land-sharks "( i ) from New South Wales, who flocked to the country and bought large tracts of land from the Natives for a trifling consideration. Wakefield, in describing the operations of these gentlemen, stated that( s )— " Adventurers go from New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land and make a treaty with a Native chief, a tripartite (triplicate) treaty, the poor chief not understanding a single word about it, but they make a contract upon parchment, and with a great seal, and for a few trinkets and a little gunpowder they obtain land." Other schemes for colonization were also on foot in England, and the directors, realizing that time was precious, hurriedly completed their arrangements for the despatch of the preliminary expedition. On the 29th April, 1839, the Marquis of Normanby was advised that the " Tory " was about to sail for New Zealand, and he was requested to furnish Colonel Wakefield with letters of recommendation to the Governors of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land( 6 ). His Lordship, in reply, expressed himself as being surprised to learn, for the first time, that a body of Her Majesty's subjects were about to proceed to New Zealand, to purchase large tracts of land there, and to establish a system of government independent of the authority of the British Crown. " It is impossible " (said his Under-Secretary), " that His Lordship should do any act which could be construed into a direct or indirect sanction of such a proceeding. Lord Normanby thinks it necessary that the parties concerned should be distinctly apprised that Her Majesty's Government cannot recognize the authority of the agents whom the Company may employ ; and that if, as is probable, the Queen should be advised to take measures without delay, to obtain cession in sovereignty to the British Crown of any parts of New Zealand which are or shall be occupied by Her Majesty's subjects, officers selected by the Queen will be appointed to administer the executive Government within any such territory. Lord Normanby wishes it to be further understood that no pledge can be given for the future recognition by Her Majesty, of any proprietary titles to land within New Zealand which the Company or any other person may obtain by grant, or by purchase, from the Natives. Under the circumstances Lord Normanby must decline to furnish the. Company with the introductory letters for which they apply."( 7 ) None the less, the " Tory," armed with eight guns and laden with articles of merchandise suitable for barter with the Natives for land, sailed from Gravesend on the sth May, 1839. She was followed on the Ist August by the barque " Cuba, ' 273 tons, which conveyed the surveying staff under the direction of the Surveyor-General, Captain William Mein Smith, of the Royal Artillery, described as an officer of the first ability and of great energy.( 8 ) Captain Smith had under him three assistant surveyors and twenty-two men, and full instructions were furnished him in regard to the surveys and to the laving-out of the plan of the town. The " Cuba " carried a further cargo of goods for the purpose of barter, and to provide against the possible contingency of any accident to the " Tory." As the " Tory " cast anchor at Plymouth, her last port of call before undertaking her long voyage to Cook Strait, New Zealand, Dr. Garnett, in his life of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, describes how— " A stout, fresh-complexioned, middle-aged gentleman left London in a post-chaise driving rapidly to the south-west. This was no other than Edward Gibbon Wakefield, whom rumours had reached that Government intended to stop the departure of the vessel. He urged the ' Tory ' off, and she sailed unmolested on 12th May, 1839. Wakefield's vigorous action was the fitting crown of a series of vigorous actions which won for our Queen as bright a jewel as any of her diadem, and saved the Britain of the South from, becoming a French convict settlement, a nuisance hateful to God and man, only to be abated at the cost of a bloody war."( 9 ) 4. The Wellington Prospectus. On the Ist June, 1839, the Company offered for sale a limited portion of the lands to be comprised within the first and principal settlement to be founded. The following extract from the terms of sale, dated the Ist June, 1839, express the conditions under which these preliminary sales were made( 1 °) : — " The object of the Company will be to determine the place of their first settlement, and to insure its becoming the commercial capital of New Zealand, and, therefore, the situation where land will soonest acquire the highest value by means of colonization. Within this district the site of the company's chief town will be carefully selected ; after which, out of the whole territory, a further selection will be made of the most valuable portion as respects fertility, river frontage, and vicinity to the town. The site of the town will consist of 1,100 acres, exclusive of portions marked out for general use, such as quays, streets, squares, and public gardens. The selected country lands will comprise 110,000 acres.

(') Afterwards well known as the author of " Adventure in New Zealand." ( 2 ) Spelt " Nayti "in parliamentary papers. (■') " Information relative to New Zealand," by John Ward, Secretary to the New Zealand Company, 2nd ed ; 1840. ( 4 ) " Colonization of New Zealand," by Dr. J. S. Marais, p. 123. ( 5 ) Great Britain—Parliamentary Papers, 1836, p. 614. ( 6 ) Appendix to New Zealand Company's 12th Report, p. 13d ; and Great Britain—Correspondence relating to New Zealand, 1840. ( 7 ) App. 12th Rep.; and Great Britain —Correspondence relating to New Zealand, 1840. ( 8 ) New Zealand Company's Ist Report, p. 13. ( 9 ) " Builders of Great Britain—Edward Gibbon Wakefield," by Dr. Garnett, p. 154. ( 1 °) New Zealand Company's Ist Report, 14th May, 1840.