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Historical Records of New Zealand

Extract From The Report of The Committee Delivered To The Annual Meeting, 4th June, 1811, At The New London Tavern, Cheapside

Extract From The Report of The Committee Delivered To The Annual Meeting, 4th June, 1811, At The New London Tavern, Cheapside.

* * * *

The settlement at New Zealand is the object to which your Committee next beg leave to direct the attention of the Society.

page 313

By letters, dated Parramatta, New South Wales, April 25th, 1810, from the settlers Wm. Hall and his wife, and John King, and from the Rev. Samuel Marsden of May 3, your Committee learnt, with pleasure, their safe arrival at Port Jackson on the 27th of February preceding.

Your Committee cannot convey to the Society a more succinct account of the circumstances, which had retarded the formation of the settlement, than in Mr. Marsden’s words:—

“On our arrival at Port Jackson, I found the merchants here had formed a determination to make a settlement at New Zealand, in order to procure hemp, &c., which that island produces. The people were appointed, who were to form the settlement; and every other necessary preparation made, and the ship ready to sail under the sanction of the Government: when, at the moment, a vessel arrived from New Zealand, bringing information that a ship called the Boyd, which had sailed from Port Jackson for timber to carry to India, had been burnt by the natives, and the ship’s crew murdered, with the exception of eight persons. This was very alarming news, and deterred, for the present, the merchants from their intention of forming a settlement on New Zealand.

“Had this settlement been formed, it would have afforded great protection to the missionaries; as a regular communication would have been constantly kept up between this place and that island.

“The merchants here will, I believe, endeavour to make a settlement on the island if it can be effected. The difference between the New Zealanders and Europeans is, so far as we know, confined to one district. The last ship which came in with spars met with every attention from the natives. What has taken place at New Zealand has not in the least altered the intention of your settlers of going thither.

The Society may be assured that every necessary attention shall be paid to their missionaries, and that I shall feel a pleasure in communicating to them such knowledge as may be of use to them in future. Should circumstances render it necessary for them to continue in New South Wales, it is my intention to see if anything can be done for the instruction of the natives of New Holland. I purpose to place Wm. Hall, his wife, and John King, on a piece of land, and to make some little establishment for the accommodation of our own natives, and those of the islands who may visit us, and who have no place of protection. How far I may succeed I cannot say as yet. I shall write to you again when opportunity offers.“

Subsequent communications from the same zealous and able friend, dated Parramatta, July 29th and Oct. 25th, 1810, confirm this representation,—

page 314

…“It is generally believed here, that the whole that has happened to the Boyd has been owing to the conduct of the Europeans themselves. I have conversed with many who have been at New Zealand, some before and some since the affair of the Boyd, but they all concur in one opinion that we are the aggressors. I am still persuaded that Divine Goodness has some gracious intentions towards this noble race of human beings.

“I have sown two acres of flax, which are now growing: as soon as this is ready, it is my intention to set John King to teach the New Zealanders how to spin line and make rope, as this will apply to their immediate wants. Port Jackson will be the proper place to begin the instruction of these people, both in religion, morals, arts, and commerce. They are very attentive, sober, and willing to learn all they can. I shall be happy to have a school formed for them in this place, where they may be taught everything that may be of use to them, in their present state: I mean the simple mechanics, agriculture and the knowledge of the Scriptures.

“Nothing can be effectually done with the natives of the South Sea Islands, without the means of keeping up a constant communication with them from Port Jackson. The missionaries can neither be safe nor comfortable without this. A communication cannot be maintained without a ship.“ …