Historical Records of New Zealand
Lieutenant-Governor King to Under Secretary Nepean
Lieutenant-Governor King to Under Secretary Nepean.
Dear Sir,—
By your brother * I am enabled to send this, which, with the accompanying despatches and the information he will be able to give, will I hope be satisfactory. I have made your brother walk every inch over the island; therefore he knows all about it. To my publick letter and to him I beg to refer you for every information respecting this I’d, &c. If it should be thought necessary to settle N.Z., and I should happen to be the person fixed on, I hope my family, which is now growing numerous, will be considered.
Will it not be possible for my agent to receive my pay ? I have no opportunity of getting certificates from Major Grose, as all the vessells which touch here are homeward bound.
I wish much to have certain instructions respecting pur-chasing maize and swine’s flesh from settlers, &c., as at present I am in the dark and doing it on my own head, which I shall continue untill I receive directions to the contrary.
Two or three hundred more men could be very advantageously employed here. Enough flax ready for spinning might be pro-cured from Eaheinomane † to clothe all the inhabitants of N.S.W., for trifles such as axes, hoes, and carpenters’ tools, knives, and good lead.
As your brother will tell you all about us, I shall conclude this with my sincere wishes for your health, and am, with best respects to Mrs. Nepean,
Dear Sir, &c.,
Phillip Gidley King.
* Captain Nepean.
† Eaheinomanive, the native name of the north island of New Zealand.
I have sent a case of Norfolk pine by your brother, which I have to beg Mrs. Nepean’s acceptance of for a piece of fur- page 169 niture. I hope you received the two cases of pine and yellowwood which I sent by Manning in the Pitt.
Jamieson, the superintendant,* tells me that Mr. King and Davison gave him reason to hope for five shillings a day. He certainly is deserving, and has a wife and family.
* John Jamieson.