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our independence of a people so fickle and uncertain." Such a proposition would allow the abandoned party to go over to the Kingites with a good grace, as showing a becoming degree of indignation for Jreatment so humiliating. An instance of a similar kind occurs to me, which took place in the North. When the seat of Government was removed from the Bay of Islands to Auckland, the Natives at the North felt degraded in the eyes of the Southern Tribes who had previously been conquered by them, and their vexation at being thus abandoned was very great. Soon after that time, the Government flagstaff at Kororareka was cut down, and then followed what is called the war of Hone Heke. I felt it my duty to try, as far as possible, to prevent persons in our vicinity from joining the opponents of the Government ; and when reasoning with Papahia, one of the principal Chiefs of the Rarawa Tribe, on the general evils that Heke's conduct would bring upon his adherents, the old Chief replied, "If a man set up a Rahui,* and go away and leave it, will anyone respect it ?—why should it not be cut clown ?" No doubt he considered this argument unanswerable, although he was induced to remain neutral. I mention this to show that nothing is so mortifying to the Natives as to be abandoned. Their pride is equal to that of any people on earth. Tamati Waka had to endure many taunts from other Chiefs of the North, because he allied himself with strangers, that is, with a foreign nation; and in their harangues they often called him an adulterer, and repeated it dozen times to make it impressive. But Waka has courage and character enough to brave anything, and has remained firm as a rock. I merely mention these things to show that if we do excite the expectations of the Natives, it becomes a serious matter to disappoint them. John Hobbs, Wesleyan M issionary.

The Rev. Mr. Buddie called in and further examined. 478. Chairman.] Have you read Mr. Fenton's Report ? —I have. 479. The Committee would be very glad to hear from you generally your views respecting the matter of that Report? —I have jotted down my opinion, which I will read : — Remarks on Mr. Fenton's Report on Native Affairs in the Waikato District by Rev. Thos. Buddie, Chairman of the Wesleyan Mission for the Auckland District. I consider Mr. Fenton's Report of the political movements among the Natives in the Waikato District, as contained in the papers forwarded to me by the Chairman of the Select Committee appointed to enquire into these affairs, as generally correct. I regard Mr. Fenton's remarks on the duties of the Government in relation to those movements as judicious, and the plans suggested in his report as means by which the efforts of the Natives to improve their political and social condition might be successfully directed, well adapted to meet their wants, and set them at rest on the subjects that were agitating their minds. I entertained similar views on the subject, and expressed those views in a letter to the Wesleyan Missionary Committee in Sydney, dated October 22, 1857, from which the following are extracts : — " It would be well for the country if His Excellency and his advisers could take advantage of fie prevailing feeling, and assist them (the natives) in this most desirable work. There is no greater obstacle to their progress in civilization and Christianity than the present state of their land claims They are feeling this themselves, and it is one of" the reasons urged by those who wish to have a Maori king. They say, —■" At present, when two tribes are disputing, we murder each other and there is no power to prevent it. We want a king, and laws to meet these cases, that such things may end." If a general convention of the principal chiefs could be called, it is not improbable that the Government might make such arrangements as would for ever settle this vexed question." Again, after describing the transactions 1 had witnessed in a native court, I made the following remark :—" What an improvement on the old plans of Maori retribution and recovery by fighting ! Does it not show their appreciation of the superior customs of civilized life, that they are prepared for a wider application of our laws, and are ready and willing to receive and conform to them *? They are looking for some better means than they now possess of punishing and preventing crime amongst themselves, and of otherwise improving their social condition." I regret that the attempt to introduce Civil Institutions into the Waikato district which was made by Mr. Fenton, should have been so suddenly suspended; for I am of opinion that if those plans which he initiated bad been discreetly and patiently prosecuted, the King movement might have been completely absorbed, and the native from those agitating and promiscuous runangas (assemblies) which have fostered disaffection and gradually led the tribes into a hostile position in their relations to the Queen's authority. In support of this opinion I refer the Committee to the remark of an intelligent Waikato chief, made to me in May last during the native meeting at Ngaruawahia, to which I have referred in a

Rtt. T. Huddle. 9 Oct. 1860.

* A Kahui is a mark set up to prohibit any other person from using anything in its "vicinity,—such as flax, cockles fish, &c.

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