Sailing of their first ship. most favourable situations, and the gradual resale of CHAP. X such lands according to the value bestowed upon them by emigration and settlement." In May, their first ship sailed, under the direction of the Company's chief agent, who was instructed to pay particular regard to the mode of dealing with the natives in the purchase of land, to the acquisition of general information respecting the country, and to preparations for the establishment of settlements. From the outset, a strong preference was manifested for Cook's Straits, as being in the main track between Great Britain and her Polynesian colonies. The directors accordingly secured the whole of the territory on both sides of the Straits, including Port Nicholson, said to be one of the finest harbours in the world; and there the principal colony was successfully formed, and in 1841 contained upwards of four thousand inhabitants. Nor have the interests of the natives been in any degree overlooked. There is reserved to them onetenth of the whole lands purchased; an inheritance which, in a little while, will become of greater value to their families, and the source of more extended comfort, than if they had retained possession of the whole district in its wild state. The views of the Company touching the aborigines were for some time fully realized in the colony, not merely by their own officers, but by the settlers at large. In particular, their agent, Colonel Wakefield, all along acted on the most liberal and conciliating principles. By his equity and good temper, qualities to which the natives were not blind, he soon succeeded in gaining their confidence; and, accordingly, when the first body of emigrants arrived, they found a predisposition to receive them with friendship, and to perform for them such services as they immediately required. In constructing the basis of this colony, the Company assigned eleven hundred acres for the town called Wellington, and one hundred and ten thousand acres to form the rural sections of one hundred acres each. These lands were divided into eleven hundred sections, each Reception o the emi grants. The settlement of Wellington. CHAP. X. comprehending one hundred rural acres and one town acre. Deducting the land reserved for the aborigines, the remainder was offered for sale at one pound the acre, or a hundred and one pounds for each section. On paying this sum, the purchaser received a land-order on the Company's local officer, entitling the holder to select his section according to priority of choice, determined by lot. The amount realized in the course of a few weeks was £99,990, after deducting the native reserves. Of this sum, seventy-five per cent., or £74,992, 10s., was set apart to form the emigration-fund: that is, to supply means for defraying the expense of conveying settlers to the colony, and thereby to increase the value of the lands already sold. By the conditions of sale, indeed, the buyers of land-orders were entitled to 75 per cent. of their purchase-money, either in the shape of free passages for themselves and families, or for their servants and labourers; and where no claim was made, the benefit was equally conferred on the landowner, as the whole of the emigration-fund would be devoted to the conveyance of useful hands to the colony.* the settlers. It was in the month of July that the land-fund was formed, and before the close of the year between eleven and twelve hundred persons were conveyed to the colony. Character of Of these the great majority were labourers, well fitted by their age and physical qualities to realize the purpose of their mission; being for the most part in the prime of life, in full health, and of approved moral character. Among the wealthier classes were some of birth, education, and refinement, who, carrying out with them the seeds of civilisation, hoped soon to extend the happy fruits of it over the whole land which they had adopted for their home. At this stage the government, who had hitherto felt themselves impeded by difficulties arising from the pecu *Encyclopædia Britannica, article New Zealand. Information relative to New Zealand, compiled for the use of Colonists, by John Ward, Esq., Secretary to the New Zealand Company. Lond. 1841. Measures for government liar condition of New Zealand, resolved to take steps for CHAP. X. erecting a part of it into a British colony. Captain Hobson was instructed to proceed thither in quality of con- erecting a sul, to treat with the chiefs for the cession of part of colony. their territory to the crown of England; it being understood that the islands were to be held as free and independent until the transference now contemplated should be accomplished. This step, as it implied the relinquishment of all claim on the ground of discovery and occupation, was attended with the inconvenience of throwing open the country to all European powers who might think proper to form colonies in it. France, immediately availing herself of the privilege thus tacitly granted, sent out sixty settlers in a regular transport, who were only twenty days too late to take possession of the southern island in the name of Louis Philippe. Captain Hobson, probably aware of this expedition, had in the mean time proclaimed the queen's sovereignty over the whole group, including the smaller islands on the coast. But ministers seem not to have been prepared for so Obstructions decided a measure on the part of their agent. On the to these mea 18th March 1841, there was laid on the table of the House of Commons the "Correspondence with the Secretary of State relative to New Zealand;" when, after some discussion, a memorandum was recorded, in which the pretensions made in behalf of her majesty to the sovereignty of New Zealand were repelled, and that country declared to be a substantive and independent state. Soon afterwardsa public meeting was held in the city of London, when a petition to the queen and the two houses of parliament was numerously signed, praying that the subject might be taken into immediate consideration, and “these valuable islands preserved to the British dominions." The cabinet now saw the propriety of no longer opposing the wishes of the public, or of subjecting the emigrants to the disadvantage of being surrounded by foreign settlers, who, besides proving rivals in trade, might rouse the jealousy of the natives against the local government. Towards the end of October, the Company were enabled CHAP. X. Establish ment of the colony. to announce that the differences which had existed between Government and themselves were finally adjusted. It was made known, at the same time, that New Zealand was no longer to be a dependency of New South Wales, as originally stipulated, but was thenceforth to be held as a separate and independent colony. A charter was granted to the Company, on certain equitable conditions, and the process of settlement then began to be conducted with great success.* Encyclopædia Britannica, article New Zealand. At the end of 1840, the white population of New Zealand, being chiefly emigrants from this country, was as follows: Wellington and Port Nicholson, Other parts of New Zealand..... .3177 2350 5527 CHAPTER XI. Recent History and Present Condition of South-Eastern Geographical Division of Polynesia by the Equator and the Prime Meridian-Juan Fernandez and other Islands inhabited by European Solitaries-The United States Exploring Expedition-Dog Island, Wytooliu, Raraka, Anaa, and other Islands of the Low Archipelago The Austral Islands-The Customs of the Marquesans-Adventures of Dr. Coulter and Herman Melville-Protestant and Roman Catholic Missions in the Marquesas-Seizure of the Marquesas by the French-Progress of Religion in TahitiInfractions of the Independence of Tahiti by the French-Proceedings for Erecting a French Protectorate in Tabiti-War between the French and the Tahitians-Consequent state of Morals and Religion in Tahiti-Queen Pomare's acceptance of the Protectorate -Condition of Emeo-Condition of the Society Islands-Invasions of these Islands by the French-Progress of Civilization and Religion in the Hervey Islands-Savage state of Penrhyn Island— Evangelization of Manaika--Duke of York's Island-Discovery of Bowditch Island-Condition of the Navigator's Islands-Revival in Tutuilo and Upolu-Intestine Wars in the Navigator's Islands -Popery in Savai and Upolu—The Tonga Islands-King George of Vavaoo's Code of Laws, and his exertions in favour of the Wesleyan Missionaries-Proceedings of the French, and Progress of Protestant Missions on the Tonga Islands-Popery and Wesleyanism on Wallis' Island. Polynesia. A SKETCH of the recent history and present condition of CHAP. XI. Polynesia, of such length as to be in keeping with the Threefold previous parts of this volume, may be conveniently distri- division of buted into three chapters on respectively the south-eastern, the south western, and the northern sections of the region. The section lying south of the equator, and east of the prime meridian, we shall call South-eastern Polynesia, and |