New Zealand; In a Series of Letters: Containing An Account of the Country, Both Before and Since Its Occupation by the British Government; with Historical Remarks on the Conduct of the Government, the New Zealand and the Manakau Companies; [. . .]

Martin, S. M. D. [Samuel McDonald (d.1848)]

Published by Simmonds & Ward, London, 1845

About this Item

Ex-libary, General Assembly Libary, New Zealand. Library stamps and markings. Rubber stamp "Withdrawn From Parliamentary Library". Rebound in 20th Century, with new endpapers.; Scarce. Title continues: "Also A Description of the Various Settlements, the Characters of the Aborigines, and the Natural Productions of the Country." xii, (9)-379, [1 (blank)] pages. Rebound in tan cloth boards with black lettering piece on spine. Page dimensions: 215 x 131mm. "At the Waimate, near the Church Missionary Station, there resides a young chief named John Heki, formerly a follower of the Missionaries, but now returned to Heathenism. Heki is related to the celebrated warrior Honghi, and is in many respects like him. He is reckoned a great warrior, and a person strongly possessed of a love of power, with a desige to exercise influence over his own countrymen, and he felt annoyed at the submission of his country to a foreign power, he himself having taken such an active part in persuading the Northern chiefs to declare their independence on a former occasion." - page 217. [References: Bagnall 3416 - "Martin arrived at Hokianga from Sydney in mid 1839, crossed via Waimate to the Bay of Islands and later bought 2,500 acres at Thames. He spent much of the ensuing six years in New Zealand although as a land-claimant he quickly found himself in opposition to Hobson and Shortland. [. . .] The book gives in 16 letters a roughly chronological account of his impressions and activities in words, as Hocken says, of 'trenchant, even libellous force'. Disputes with Government to his reconciliation with FitzRoy, some of whose policies he strongly defends, the Maoris, the misssionaries, Selwyn, the follies and deceptions of the New Zealand Company together make up one of the most readable source book sfor the country's first quinquennium as a British Colony. The appendices include an English text of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Property-rate ordinance and FitzRoy's notice on waiving of pre-emptive right to land purchase."; Hocken p.122 - "Dr. Samuel McDonald Martin was editor of the first Auckland newspaper - the 'New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette' - in which he boldly denounced the Government mismanagement."; Collier p.39 - "Dr. Martin, at one time editor of the 'Auckland Gazette,' was one of the signers of a letter to Lord Stanley, intimating the intention of settlers at the Bay of Islands to emigrate to an island in the Pacific for the purpose of forming a permanent (republican) settlement."].

Seller Inventory # 25459

Bibliographic Details

• Title: New Zealand; In a Series of Letters: Containing An Account of the Country, Both Before and Since Its Occupation by the British Government; with Historical Remarks on the Conduct of the Government, the New Zealand and the Manakau Companies; [. . .]
• Publisher: Simmonds & Ward, London
• Publication Date: 1845
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good-
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket As Issued