1840 Early 1840 William Purves buys 2560 acres near Banks ...

28 June Major Bunbury reports on his expedition to the South Island: at Akaroa he
found a native village and some Europeans connected with whaling
establishments. He obtained the signatures on the Treaty of Waitangi of “a
brother of the late chief Temaiharanui” and “a very intelligent well-dressed
native, who spoke English better than any that I have met with in this colony”.
Captain Rhodes has bought land there from Taiaroa, and resold some to Captain
Leathart, who has left 2 stockmen to look after about 30 head of horned cattle.
30 June The Colonial Secretary writes to C.B. Robinson, asking him to take up his
office as magistrate at Kororareka as soon as possible [IA4 Misc./1].
1 July Decazes writes to Lavaud, saying that the new government is less keen on
colonising and on penal settlements. The Colonial Secretary writes to
Robinson, instructing him to treat Maoris according to their own customs as far
as British law allows [IA4 Misc./1].
4 July The N.Z. Journal quotes, with disdain, an article from the Journal du Peuple on
the French colonisation of Banks Peninsula.
7 July In the House of Commons, Lord Eliot blames the French expedition to the
South Island on Russell’s denial of British sovereignty over N.Z.
11 July The French whaler Rubens, Captain Rogerie, begins whaling in Pegasus Bay
[CC5 611]. The Aube arrives at the Bay of Islands, anchoring off Kororareka at
8 a.m. The French whaler, Jonas, Captain Ratau, is in port.
17 July The French landowners of Kororareka write to Lavaud asking for his
protection. Mrs Delarbre writes to Lavaud from Kororareka, asking to be
allotted a section in Akaroa. Lavaud writes to Hobson asking him to explain his
policy with regard to the land titles of the French settlers. A letter from the Bay
of Islands (published 28 July in Australian newspapers) reports that the French
are taking possession of the Middle Island and that three emigrant ships are
ready to leave France. Hobson instructs C.B. Robinson to proceed to Port
Nicholson to assist M. Murphy, who has been appointed Chief Magistrate of
the Southern District of the Northern Island [IA4/305].
18 July Hobson writes to Lavaud, saying that Lavaud must first recognise Hobson as
Lieutenant Governor before he can answer his questions.
19 July Lavaud writes to Hobson saying that he cannot pre-empt the French
government’s right to recognise British claims of sovereignty over N.Z.
Lavaud’s dispatch: Aimable Langlois has been unwell. There has been discord
among his missionary passengers. Lavaud was welcomed by Stanley. He
visited Pompallier. He found out that British sovereignty had been declared
over N.Z. Thierry has visited him. Langlois will occupy the land he has bought
on Banks Peninsula. Only Banks Peninsula, not the whole South Island, can
now become a French possession, but Lavaud will not declare French