Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1835. iiEsiDENTS ^>:mbarrassmknts. G15 there are missionaries from the United States, but none from England. At Otaheite, also, there is now consular authority. At New Zealand there are two officers, holding the indefinite station of 'Resident.' One of these officers had a salary, but denied having any authority to act as a consular agent, or even as a magistrate. The other resident (who lived at Hokianga) was not in the receipt of any salary ; his appointment having been given for the reasons stated in a letter from the Colonial Secretary at Sydney, dated 29th June 1835, of which a copy is inserted in the Appendix (No. 37), accompanied by extracts from an excellent letter addressed to Mr. Busby. (No. 38.) Upon reading these statements, it will not be difficult to form an idea of some of the embarrassments of a secular nature, which perplex the missionaries, after having overcome all the primary dangers and difficvdties of establishing themselves in savage — even cannibal countries. Although they ai'e now able to assist their own countrymen, who have eagerly profited by their exertions, — settling in every direction upon those very lands to which access was obtained by their hardy, daring enthusiasm, and is preserved by the united efforts of the supporters of missionary societies, assisting and encou- raging individual exertion, — their own strength is failing ! Embarrassments of many kinds are arising ; one, jealousy of that influence which has enabled even those who are jealous to approach the spot upon which they now stand, and oppose the missionary as he exerts himself to suppress licentious habits and the use of ardent spirits. While assisting their early settlement, the missionaries were the best friends of those adventurers who sought a livelihood among the islands of the Pacific — in New Zealand especially. But when once esta- blished, ingratitude and utter want of reflection became too prevalent among the worst sort of settlers, whose only occu- pations were those of publicans and especial sinners. The few respectable settlers — men of character and property such as Mr. Clendon and Mr. Mair at New Zealand, Mr« Bicknell and Mr. Henry (junior) at Otaheite, have acted — rejoice to say — in the most honourable and praiseworthy man-