GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF TREATY OF WAITANGI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 19, 26 August 1843, Page 2

GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF TREATY OF WAITANGI.

Her Majesty Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, regarding with Her royal favour the native chiefs and tribes of New Zealand, and anxious to protect their just rights and property, and to secure to them, the enjoyment of peace and good order, has deemed it necessary, in consequence of tho great number of Her Majesty's subjects who havo already settled in New Zealand, and the rapid extension of emigration, both from Europe and Australia, which is still in progress, to constitute and appoint a functionary properly authorised, 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. Her Majesty, therefore, being desirous to establish a settled form of civil government, with a view to avert the evil consequences which must result from the absence of the necessary laws and constitutions, alike to the native population and to Her subjects, has been graciously pleased to empower and authoriso mo, William Hobson, a Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Consul and Lieutenant-Gov-ernor of such parts of New Zealand, as may be, or hereafter shall be ceded to Her Majesty, to invite the confederated and independant chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the following articles and conditions :—: — Article Ist. The chiefs of the confederation of tho united tribes of New Zealand, and the sepcratc and indopendant chiefs who have not becomo members of the confederation, ccdo to Her Majesty the Queen of England, absolutely and without reservation, all the rights and powers of sovereignty i which the said confederation or individual chiefs respectively exorcise or possess, or may be supposed to exorcise or to possess, over their respective territories as the sole j sovereigns thereof. Article 2nd. Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the chiefs and tribes of .Now Zealand, and to the respective families and individuals thereof, the full, exclusive, and undisturbed possession of their lands and estates, forests, fisheries, and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess, so long as it is their wish and desire to retain tho same in their possession ; but the chiefs of tho united tribes, and tho individual chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of pre-emption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate, at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective proprietors, and- persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them on that behalf. Article 3rd. In consideration thereof, Ilor Majesty the Queen of England, extends to the natives of New Zealand Her royal protection, and imparts to them all the rights and privileges of British subjects. (Signed) W, Hobsox, Lieut. Governor. Now therefore, wo, the chiefs of the confederation of the united tribes of New Zealand, being assembled in congress, ' at Victoria in Waitangi, and we, the sepcrate and independant chiefs of New Zealand, claiming authority over the tribes and territories which are specified after our respective names, having been made fully to understand the provisions of the foregoing treaty, accept and enter into tho same in the full spirit and meaning thereof. In witness of which, we have attached our signatures or marks at tho places and dates respectively specified. Done at Waitangi this Gth day of February, in tho year of Our Lord 1840. * Kawanalanija is not a native word, it hag beet ernor llobson, to express Governorship. % He Xt which cannot be translated. § Kawana intended i

opinion of Mr. Swainson or any other person: in New Zealand may be as far as this mat* tor is concerned. The question must be de-|* cided and determined at home. The truthshas too long been withheld. The Home Go> vcrnment have been by the Authorities heref kept in total ignorance of our true positions in New Zealand. They will however be en-L abled from the facts which we have aboW stated, to perceive, j Ist, That the British Government have' no other title to New Zealand, excepting that which they may acquire- by tho. inlelli-\ gent consent of the natives. 2nd, That tho . Treaty entered into by Captain llobson for the Cession of Sovereignty has not been signed by one tenth of the Chiefs of New Zealand. 3rd. That many of those who have signed it wore paid for so doing. 4th. That none of the natives understood its nature or meaning. sth. That the Treaty itself is perfectly, useless ; — that nothing whatever is conceded by the natives to tho Crown of England ;-- that tlio- whole concern is a tissue of nonsonso and a gross deception practised upon tho Home Government. '■ Such is the Treaty of Waitangi.