Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Historical Records of New Zealand South

[Introduction]

Rev. Mr Marsden writes March 19, 1821:—"I think Government will be induced to attend to these islands, as they will be of national importance in time. New South Wales must be dependent on New Zealand for timber.

We are not surprised to hear of the numerous runaways in New Zealand when we recollect the three lately carried off from Preservation Island by the sloop Woodman. Perhaps they are not worth the sending for. The stern habits of the natives will not be slow to dispense the merited reward of justice. —Hobart Town Gazette, June 17, 1826.

Every vessel which leaves the harbour instructs us more and more of the necessity of strict scrutiny to prevent runaways. Attempts at escape are more particularly made on board whaling ships, which proceed to ports where there is no constituted authority or Magistrate, affords every facility, as at New Zealand and other islands in the South Pacific. It is well known that in New Zealand alone, about 100 runaways from sentence in these colonies are now at large. These being characters of the worst description, must do our nation considerable prejudice in the eyes of the brave and independent natives, who are well able to determine between good and bad conduct, but cannot be expected to make that distinction, which even we, in similar circumstances, could not judge between that self-degraded portion and the whole body of the English people. Whaling ships, being comparatively empty, offer many hiding-places for bad characters, who thus secrete themselves until they are fairly out at sea. The safety of the ship itself may thereby be endangered. One vessel, not very long ago, sailed in this way with no less than 40 runaways aboard, and without the knowledge of the ship's officers. We would therefore suggest a special constable should be placed in these ships in harbour, and fixed punishment assigned to these offenders.—Hobart Town Gazette, September 9, 1826.

In a savage state of society, such as New Zealand now is, every man is either a robber or the victim of robbery; it is a scene of universal violence and depredation. Yet this is what some writers call the reign of absolute liberty of the strong to tyrannise as they choose over the weak—which is an exact definition of an absolute despotism. Without protective institutions, such a country is also without all those things which are calculated to flourish under their protection. No arts or manufactures, or next to none—no general distribution of the people into trades or professions—no diffused appearance of general industry —no commerce, domestic or foreign—no coin or circulating medium,—these are a few of the more conspicuous deficiencies that must strike even the most ignorant observer of savage life, who has been accustomed to another condition of society. They will force themselves upon his attention, in fact, as he page 18looks even upon the landscape around him. The country is nearly a wilderness— all swamp or woodland, except a few scattered patches by the sea-side, or along the course of the rivers; the only cultivation to be seen is in the heart, or in the immediate vicinity of the villages: and these (how unlike the populous cities and towns of a civilised country, with their streets of palaces, and intermingled spires, and towers, and domes) are merely small groups of hovels, that dot the earth like so many molehills. Then, there are no roads, those primary essentials of all improvement; and, it is needless to add, no artificial means of conveyance from one place to another. To make a journey of any length is an enterprise of labour and peril, which can only be accomplished by the union and co-operation of a band of travellers There is not an inn throughout the land—nor a bridge—nor a direction post—nor a mile-stone. The inhabitants, in fact, have not, in any sense of the word, taken possession of the country, which they call their own. It is still the uninvaded domain of Nature; and they are merely a handful of stragglers who wander about the outskirts.—Hobart Town Courier, May 7, 1831.