ADDENDA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume VI, Issue 430, 12 August 1851, Page 4

ADDENDA.

Extract from a Letter dated 22nd October, 184 7, from Mr. Hobbs, Wesleyan Missionary at HoManga to the Chief Justice of New Zealand. When Captain Hobson had obtained ai many signatures at he could at Waitangi, he came overland to Hohianga for the tame purpoie. We were honored by His Excellency's presence at our Million station, and I became his interpreter. Great excitement had for some time existed in consequence of the prevalence of the yarious reports, that the Queen had sent her officers to take this country as they had done New Holland, and that the chiefs would thereby loie both their dignity and their country. Captain Hobson's object was announced to a large meeting composed of the principal natives and most of the Europeans resident in the District. Many speeches were made and questions proposed by the natives, and I interpreted His Excellency's most tolemn assurance that if they signed the Treaty truth and justice would always characterize the pro- - ceedings of the Queen's Government. Considerable opposition was offered by several influential natives lest the land should be taken from them, and repeated assurances were given by his Excellency th»t the Queen did not want the Und, but merely the Sovereignty, that she, by the officers, might be able more effectually to govern her subjects who had already settled here, or might hereafter arrive, and punish those of them who might be guilty of crime. That if the Queen wanted land she would purchase it from them, and that it should never be forcibly taken from them;.... and many reiterations of such pledges as these (for the negotiation was unremitted from breakfast time until nearly six in the evening) ; one of the principal chiefs turned to me and my colleague! and asked " What is your opinion as to our signing the document ? will it be for our good ?" We replied that we thought it would.