...the increase in national wealth and power, promised by the acquisition of New Zealand, would be a most inadequate compensation for the lnjury which must be inflicted on this kingdom itself by embarking in a measure essentially unjust, and too certainly fraught with calamity to a numerous and inoffensive people whose title to the soil and to the sover-eignty of New Zealand is indisputable... (p 71 )
The necessity for the interposition of the Government has, however, become too evident to admit of further inaction it can be no longer doubted that an extensive settlement of British subjects will be rapidly established in New Zealand , and that unless protected and restrained by necessary laws and institutions they will repeat unchecked in that quarter of the globe the same process of war and spoiliation under which uncivilised tribes have almost invariably disappeared as often as they have been brought into the immediate vicinity of emigrants from the nations of Christendom. To mitigate, and if possible, avert, these disasters, and to rescue the emigrants themselves from the evils of a lawless state of society, it has been resolved to adopt the most effective measures for establishing amongst them a settled form of civil Government. To accomplish this design is the principal object of your mission. (pp 71-72)
I have already stated that we acknowledge New Zealand as a sovereign and independent state so far at least as it is possible to make that acknowledgement in favour of a people composed of numerous dispersed and petty tribes, who possess few political relations to each other, and are incompetent to act or even deliberate in concert. But the admission of their rights, though inevitably qualified by the consideration, is binding on the faith of the British Crown. The Queen , in common with Her Majesty's predecessor, disclaims for herself and her subjects every pretension to seize on the Islands of New Zealand , or to govern them as a part of the Dominions of Great Britain unless the free intelligent consent of the natives , expressed according to their established usage's, shall first be obtained . Believing, however, that their own welfare would, under the circumstances I have mentioned, be best promoted by the surrender to Her Majesty of a right now so precarious, and little more than nominal, and persuaded that the benefits of British protection and laws administered by British judges would far more compensate for the sacrifice by the natives of a national independence which they are no longer able to maintain, Her Majesty's government have resolved to authorise you to treat with the aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her Majesty's sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those Islands which they may be willing to place under Her Majesty's dominion (p 72)
All dealings with the natives for their lands must be conducted on the same principles of sincerity, justice and good faith as must govern your transactions with them for the recognition of Her Majesty's sovereignty in the Islands . Nor is this all: they must not be permitted to enter into any contracts in which they might be the ignorant and unintentional authors of injuries to themselves. (p 75) |
The questions apply to the sections in bold type:
What is Lord Normanby saying that the British government recognises?
What does the British government believe is going to happen in the near future?
When did the British government recognise New Zealand 's independence?
What was Hobson told he must obtain from Maori?
What was Hobson being asked to do here? |
