Though Governor Hobson landed in January, the formal annexation of the Colony did not take place until May.  He had first to take possession; and this could only be effectually done with the consent of the native tribes.  The northern chiefs were therefore summoned, and came to meet the Queen’s representative at Waitangi (Water of Weeping).  Tents and a platform were erected, and the question of annexation argued at length.  The French Bishop Pompallier appeared in full canonicals, and it was found that chiefs under his influence had been well coached to oppose the new departure.  Behind the scenes, too, that worst of beachcombers, Jacky Marmon, secretly made all the mischief he could.  On the other hand, Henry Williams, representing the Protestant missionaries, threw his weight into the scale on the Governor’s side and acted as translator.  While many of the chiefs were still doubtful, if not hostile, Waka Nene, the most influential of the Ngapuhi tribe, spoke strongly and eloquently for annexation.  His speech gained the day, and a treaty was drawn up and signed.  By the preamble, Queen Victoria invited the confederated and independent Chiefs of New Zealand to concur in Articles to the following effect:—­

  (1) The Chiefs of New Zealand ceded to Her Majesty, absolutely
      and without reservation, all their rights and powers of
      Sovereignty.

  (2) Her Majesty guaranteed to the Chiefs and Tribes of New
      Zealand, full, exclusive, and undisturbed possession of their
      Lands and Estates, Forests, Fisheries and other properties;
      but the Chiefs yielded to Her Majesty the exclusive right of
      Pre-emption over such lands as the proprietors thereof might
      be disposed to alienate, at such prices as might be agreed
      upon.

  (3) Her Majesty gave to the natives of New Zealand all the Rights
      and Privileges of British Subjects.

Nearly fifty chiefs signed the treaty there and then, and within six months—­so energetically did the missionaries and Government agents carry it throughout the tribes—­it had been signed by five hundred and twelve.  Only about one chief of first-class rank and importance refused to sign it.  This was that fine barbarian, Te Heu Heu, whose home lay at the foot of the great volcanoes by Lake Taupo on the plateau in the centre of the North Island.  Te Heu Heu was the last of the old heathen warriors.  Singularly fair-skinned, and standing fully six feet high, he looked what he was, a patriarch and leader of his people.  Scoffing at the White men and their religion, he defied Governor and missionaries alike until his dramatic end, which came in 1846, when he and his village were swallowed up in a huge landslide.  At present, as he could neither be coerced nor persuaded, he was let alone.  For the rest, it may fairly be claimed that the Maori race accepted the Treaty of Waitangi.

They had very good reason to do so.  To this day they regard it as the Magna Charta of their liberties.  They were fully aware that under it the supreme authority passed to the Queen; but they were quite able to understand that their tribal lands were guaranteed to them.  In other words, they were recognised as the owners in fee simple of the whole of New Zealand.  As one of them afterwards expressed it, “The shadow passes to the Queen, the substance stays with us.”